Where is there ice within 6 hr drive?

[rgreenland]

My son has been looking forward to ice fishing this year but due to his school schedule, weather, my back injury, etc....he has not been able to get out on the ice. I promised to do whatever it took to get him out at least once and I need to make that happen.
No - I am not interested in Strawberry.

Does anyone know where there is safe ice and half-decent fishing within about a 6 hr drive? MT, ID, WY?

Thanks
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[mtncat1]

theres always starvation and fish lake , i hope you make it out this will be year 2 that i didn't get on the ice to fish it .
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[Ktrout]

Starvation has as much ice as Utah lake.
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[BiteMe]

I believe Naughton in Wyoming has close to 2 feet of ice. Check on the Wyoming board to make sure.
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[Delement87]

viva naughton is your best bet, be ready for slow fishing thou.
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[Old_Coot]

[quote rgreenland]My son has been looking forward to ice fishing this year ... I promised to do whatever it took to get him out ... No - I am not interested in Strawberry.[/quote]

I'm surprised that someone this desperate wouldn't want to fish the Berry through the ice. But to each his own.
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[wiperhunter2]

I'm not 100% sure but I think Schofield still has ice, as well as several lakes along the sky line drive above it.
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[Silver_Eagle]

[]I fished scofield with three grand daughters Monday, President's Day. Every whole we drilled in the State Park main marina was 18-20 inches thick. There was no problem with the ice. It's even pushed up on the shore. We caught one chub! That was it! Strawberry last Thursday the ice was fine. We only caught three fish. The best I have heard on BFT is Fish Lake for catching fish on the ice.

Yet, last Saturday the three guys caught 100 fish on Scofield. One guy Monday was fishing west of the docks at the marina and was catching a fish every 5 minutes. I think it depends if you happen to be where the fish are moving through. Good Luck!

Silver_Eagle
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[rgreenland]

Sorry, don't mean to sound like I dislike Strawberry or that I was desperate for just ice.
Not only do I want to take him out on the ice, but I'd like to catch fish and have a memorable trip with the boy as well......not sit for hours for a few fish.
I've fished Strawberry a few times earlier in the year and visited the lodge several times over the past few weeks and listened to the fishing reports and anglers.
I would rather drive several hours for the chance at an ice trip plus a very good chance at a great day fishing than go to Strawberry and catch 3 fish all day long...which is about the average of the reports and anglers I've been talking to up there.
Rereading my post does make it sound as if I am just desperate for ice.....I didn't mean for it to sound that way. If that were the case I would just go to Strawberry.
I'm looking for a memory my son will have with his dad for a long time. We ice fish whenever we can, he just hasn't been able to go out this year. Not only do I want to get him out on the ice.....the memory of a fun trip is just as important.
Someone suggested Hebgen Lake in MT.
I checked into it. They have ice, they have pretty good fishing right now, and a cabin on the lake. Sounds good to me. Should be a fun few days.
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[icerman]

Rob,

I'd recommend Fish Lake. Went there Monday with my sons and couldn't keep the trout off my hook long enough to catch perch. Not sure how many total fish we caught, I'd guess at least 50-60. Our largest was almost 17", the majority were 14-15" with some small ones. We used White with red flecked Gazillia's, vertigo heads, wax worm, and were in 12-30' of water, catching at all depths. 3 Weeks ago we caught over 200 perch and about 24 trout! There is a large pressure ridge by edge (on the south end by Doctor Creek?) that you need to be careful with, I'd bring a plank just in case, don't want to drive 3.5 hours to have problems getting on; I didn't try any farther north on the lake. Best catching was really early. Monday the wind picked up with some pretty strong gusts. Ice was 6-10" where we were at. I'd rather eat trout from Strawberry, prefer perch over everything, but love catching versus fishing! We went to Strawberry on Sat. and only caught 15 between 7 of us!

Have not gone out of state.

Good luck!
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[Ton_Def]

[quote Old_Coot][quote rgreenland]My son has been looking forward to ice fishing this year ... I promised to do whatever it took to get him out ... No - I am not interested in Strawberry.[/quote]

I'm surprised that someone this desperate wouldn't want to fish the Berry through the ice. But to each his own.[/quote]

(Not directed to Rgreen specifically)

Agreed. When the ice is on, I fish Wyoming more than anywhere and often drive hours to a destination, simply for the chance at quality and quantity of fish. This year has been far different. The ice just hasn't been there(or consistent fishing)..and so what better place, less than 2 hours drive from the Wasatch Front that gives the opportunity at good sized fish, than Strawberry. I bought my annual WY license at the beginning of the year, and never iced anything in that state after the first of the year, having spent nearly every weekend at Strawberry. It's been that good.

My girls(with the attention spans of a gnat) have never once complained this year at the slow fishing. They anxiously await the chance at hooking a decent sized fish, and the action that ensues. Being kids, they also want to keep everything they catch, and with Strawberry that can be fairly difficult with most being in the slot. Again, not this year, the Rainbows are hefty and the kids get to take one home each trip.

So, if anyone wants great ice, good fishing, all within your backyard, Strawberry. Hands down. Or one could drive hours out of state...

(Now not to hijack.)

Last weekend. 02-14-15


Can't complain.
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