Where to go in the winter?

[cclaeys]

I just picked up a new boat and need to go somewhere to run this thing - anywhere you fellas can think of that I might actually catch something or just avoid icebergs? Obviously everything local is iced up, but there has to be something in the vicinity of salt lake that is free of ice that is fishable.
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[Lundman]

There's this HUGE lake right outside salt lake city that doesn't freeze - I think it's called the Great Salt Lake []
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[cclaeys]

"[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1] There's this HUGE lake right outside salt lake city that doesn't freeze - I think it's called the Great Salt Lake"

thanks for the tip, hadn't thought of that one yet

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[nomoose]

If it's not to big and deep you may get it on redmond. most years there is no ice on it. a small lake and shallow. could hook a pike there also. humm makes me want to make a trip down there now. I use to do it all the time late jan first of feb and meet other BFTers down there like ocean and his family
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[wiperhunter2]

Bear lake and Flaming Gorge might be too far but your limited this time of the year. WH2
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[cclaeys]

there is no lake within 400 miles of salt lake that has no ice (other than the 1 mentioned) and is fishable? I am not a utah guy, help a fella out and give me a pointer or 2 sheesh!
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[Crimson]

[]If you really want to try the boat out and get some fishing in, then I would suggest Lake Powell, at the Bullfrog Marina. It is a 300 mile plus trip, but if you schedule a 3 day weekend it would be worth it. Go to Wayneswords website and check out some fishing reports, etc.. to find out more. Good Luck!
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[fuzzyfisher]

dude inless you has a salt water motor on your boat i would not even try the salt lake.

your best bet would be like lake powell or one of the lakes down south..


oh and BTW Redmond is very low this year. inless ya got a spair prop around you dont mind banging up..
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[riverdog]

How about Sand Hallow and Quail Creek reservoir. I don't know what the water levels are like with the drought but they are almost certainly ice free and about a 4 hour drive down I-15.
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[N.E.T.O.]

Actually, most years the PWC ramp at Jordanelle is ice free year. Before I took up ice fishing, we would launch there in Jan/Feb, etc. and drive down the rock cliff arm to the ice, throw the anchor out ON the ice, then jig just like we were ice fishing. Had a lot of good days doing that!
I haven't driven past it lately, but I'll bet it is ice free. (Note: I am told that the MAIN boat ramp froze yesterday, but no reports on the PWC ramp.)
Randy
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[cclaeys]

thanks for all of the recommendations, kind of sucks buying a boat in the winter and not being able to try it out.
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[DallanC]

[reply]
There's this HUGE lake right outside salt lake city that doesn't freeze - I think it's called the Great Salt Lake [] [/reply]

I think you better check your history... there has been some pretty good ice floes out there in the past. What happens is the fresh water wont mix up and because its lighter than salt water, it stays on the top and it will freeze. I remember reading some old SLC history and there was actually a road out to antelope island and people would drive through the shallow water to get to it. There was a truck that got swamped because it got pushed into deeper water by a sheet of ice being blown by the wind.


-DallanC
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[fsh4fun05]

Like mentioned, I would avoid Redmond. Head south. What kind of boat did you get? I'm surprised nobody asked, unless I missed it.
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[trollinfool]

That is rough just gettin it but not being able to use it. I bought a (new to me) boat this year and used the hell outa it, but as it got closer to winter i knew i would be out on the hard deck and not in the hull for a few months. But as most these guys have said gonna havta travel south to find some soft water to put it on. Powell rocks if its a big enough boat. GL to ya, i hope ya can find somewhere to play with the new toy.
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[reelfast]

Bell rapids on the snake river at HAGERMAN ID. Excellent trout fishing with warm 53^ water. You can run accross by to Jackpot NV. Its about an hour north of there. I would fish by day and sin some at night at the casinos in Jackpot. Fish run in the 6 pound range plus there are some secret Sturgeon in the area. Never Freezes over.
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[whatyausin]

There is a DWR Norther Utah post dated today that states the Cisco Beach ramp at Bear Lake is open and ice free. Good luck.
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[cclaeys]

nothing fancy, simple lund ssv 16 w 30 yamaha, not fancy, but plenty fishable
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[Wasatch801]

Never been there....
BUT what about Blue Lake south of Wendover?
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[cclaeys]

good suggestion, but that is float/bank only as far as I know
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]No launch facilities for boats. Also, you would not have much of a boat left after trailering it in on the washboard roads.[/#0000ff]
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