02-25-2016, 03:54 PM
Thursday, February 25, 2016
UDWR Bear Lake Fishing Report (with UPDATED ICE CONDITIONS):
The entire lake is frozen at this time and the fishing continues to very good for Cutthroat Trout and Lake Trout. The ice (is from 6-12”) at this time in most parts of the lake. The only place anglers are experiencing some difficult accessing the lake is off the Utah State Park marina where the sun has melted the ice edges where it touches the rocks. Other areas on the lake are providing good access at this time. People are using both 4 wheelers and snowmobiles but please use extreme caution since Bear Lake has many areas where there are springs and/or methane gas vents and there may be no ice or thin ice in these areas. Last week a crack developed off the Utah State Park marina, but that has since refrozen. The town of Garden City is keeping several access points plowed out and free to anglers. The most popular areas are about ¼ mile north of Ideal Beach on 250 East Loop Street (to access the “rockpile”) and off 150 South Street in Garden City.
Fishing for Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout and Whitefish has been good. The “rockpile” off Ideal Beach has been good for both trout and Whitefish. The Whitefish are mainly be taken right on top the rocks in depths of 40-50’. Trout are being found in water depths of 50-75’ in the same general area. Other good spots this week have been along the highway pull-offs south of Gus Rich Point in water from about 50-70 feet deep for trout. The rockpiles just north of the Utah State Park marina haven’t had a lot of pressure this week but the anglers who are fishing them are catching some nice sized cutthroat trout. Be careful of shifting ice in this particular location. Finally, they are doing very good fishing for trout and some whitefish off 150 South Street in Garden City. Try a variety of depths from 25-80’ in this area until you find active fish. There has been light pressure along the east side of the lake at the pump house, 1st and 2nd Points as well as off Cisco Beach. Good lures to use for jigging for trout at this time include vertical jigging spoons such as Kastmasters and Buck Shots, but tube jigs tipped with cisco continue to be the best lures at this time. For whitefish use smaller jigs (1/8 ounce) jigging spoons and ice flys and tip your lure with a small piece of worm, wax worm or salmon egg.
Please remember, all Cutthroat Trout that are caught and don’t have a healed fin clip must be released. Large Lake Trout are not very good eating and take a long time to reach large sizes, and while they are legal to keep, many anglers are encouraging other anglers to release them.
Garden City Community Fishery Pond
The pond is frozen at this time and the ice is up to 10” thick. Pond levels are decling, but fishing has been fair for Rainbow Trout using ice flys and small jigs tipped with worms or meal worms. The parking lot has been plowed. It is a great place to take kids and beginners to learn how to ice fish!
Laketown Reservoir
Laketown Reservoir is also frozen at this time and the ice is about 10” thick. Ice fishing has been good for Rainbow Trout and a few Cutthroat Trout using small jigs or ice flies tipped with a worm or meal worm. Access to this reservoir is only by 4 wheel drive vehicles due to snow and if there is another large snowfall, so you may need a snowmobile or snowshoes to hike in to this water.
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UDWR Bear Lake Fishing Report (with UPDATED ICE CONDITIONS):
The entire lake is frozen at this time and the fishing continues to very good for Cutthroat Trout and Lake Trout. The ice (is from 6-12”) at this time in most parts of the lake. The only place anglers are experiencing some difficult accessing the lake is off the Utah State Park marina where the sun has melted the ice edges where it touches the rocks. Other areas on the lake are providing good access at this time. People are using both 4 wheelers and snowmobiles but please use extreme caution since Bear Lake has many areas where there are springs and/or methane gas vents and there may be no ice or thin ice in these areas. Last week a crack developed off the Utah State Park marina, but that has since refrozen. The town of Garden City is keeping several access points plowed out and free to anglers. The most popular areas are about ¼ mile north of Ideal Beach on 250 East Loop Street (to access the “rockpile”) and off 150 South Street in Garden City.
Fishing for Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout and Whitefish has been good. The “rockpile” off Ideal Beach has been good for both trout and Whitefish. The Whitefish are mainly be taken right on top the rocks in depths of 40-50’. Trout are being found in water depths of 50-75’ in the same general area. Other good spots this week have been along the highway pull-offs south of Gus Rich Point in water from about 50-70 feet deep for trout. The rockpiles just north of the Utah State Park marina haven’t had a lot of pressure this week but the anglers who are fishing them are catching some nice sized cutthroat trout. Be careful of shifting ice in this particular location. Finally, they are doing very good fishing for trout and some whitefish off 150 South Street in Garden City. Try a variety of depths from 25-80’ in this area until you find active fish. There has been light pressure along the east side of the lake at the pump house, 1st and 2nd Points as well as off Cisco Beach. Good lures to use for jigging for trout at this time include vertical jigging spoons such as Kastmasters and Buck Shots, but tube jigs tipped with cisco continue to be the best lures at this time. For whitefish use smaller jigs (1/8 ounce) jigging spoons and ice flys and tip your lure with a small piece of worm, wax worm or salmon egg.
Please remember, all Cutthroat Trout that are caught and don’t have a healed fin clip must be released. Large Lake Trout are not very good eating and take a long time to reach large sizes, and while they are legal to keep, many anglers are encouraging other anglers to release them.
Garden City Community Fishery Pond
The pond is frozen at this time and the ice is up to 10” thick. Pond levels are decling, but fishing has been fair for Rainbow Trout using ice flys and small jigs tipped with worms or meal worms. The parking lot has been plowed. It is a great place to take kids and beginners to learn how to ice fish!
Laketown Reservoir
Laketown Reservoir is also frozen at this time and the ice is about 10” thick. Ice fishing has been good for Rainbow Trout and a few Cutthroat Trout using small jigs or ice flies tipped with a worm or meal worm. Access to this reservoir is only by 4 wheel drive vehicles due to snow and if there is another large snowfall, so you may need a snowmobile or snowshoes to hike in to this water.
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