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With the wild swing in weather I thought we needed to do an update of conditions. Yesterday I did a drive by of Willard and Mantua. It looked like we got so much rain and moisture that a big portion of Willard was water to the surface and the snow was all melted into the slush. This is probably bad news short term, but with the return of cold temps by the weekend should make for a nice recovery since the snow blanket has disappeared.
The other half of Willard and Mantua still showed snow so I expect really deep slush conditions there and how well they heal is unknown, but I expect it will be better than if the deep snow blanket had stayed as it was. What are your thoughts and has anyone been out to see conditions first hand? Thanks for the help. Later J
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East canyon was all gray ice with a lot of water on top except for a small patch by the inlet that looked like it was open. I could see it from the dam so it might not actually be open water.
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Viewed the Hyrum Dam cam yesterday and there were large areas of grey along edge and large grey areas out on the ice.
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Thanks for the update, sounds like a lot of similar conditions. I went to try my farm pond to see how bad the slush was and my foot went right through and I almost went over my boot. That might have been partly due to the edge margin since the run off raised the pond level over a foot. Probably a similar condition will exist on a lot of our reservoirs so time to take our planks again for ice access. Thanks for the report. J
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I think in going to leave the ice gear at home this weekend and finish up with my late season cow elk tag. The ice I saw yesterday looked a little gray for my liking.
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I checked the damcam out as well since you mentioned it and it sure looks like the 30" of snow on the ice has been slushified on most of the pond... Sure wonder what the edge margins will be like...also wonder how deep the slush is... Takes a lot of water to soak up 30" of snow... Do you think Hyrum will be fishable again by the weekend? Bound to have multiple layers of ice again... Sure makes it difficult to drill holes when it does this... Thanks for mentioning this so we have an update there as well... Later J
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That sounds like a better option. I think it will be a rough time on the ice. I expect the slush won't be fully healed so it will be a slush fest this weekend. I didn't get out last week so I'm starting into withdrawals so I'm hoping to get out even though I know it won't be the best trip. Later J
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Just got back from Mantua. Ice is still 8 inches under four or five inches of slush. No fish caught, but I only spent an hour. The wind/rain/snow was brutal.
Larry
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I checked the ice on Lake Powell Sunday. It was exactly 0.0" thick. We trolled and spooned 2 dozen stripers in Warm Creek.
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Thanks Larry, good info there for sure. Had it formed a crust on top of the slush yet? What are your thoughts for recovery? Do you think it will be able to freeze up that slush with the coming cold? Thanks for the info. J
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Hey that's good to know, we won't take the ice gear to Powell. That sounds pretty nice about now. Sure beats slush. Later J
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It was a little crusty in places and I found the main trail used prior to this storm. Walked it back to the SE corner parking lot with very few issues. Still frozen and kept me mostly above the slush. I'd expect that Friday and Saturday nights forcasted Temps will stiffen everything back up. The road around the northwest is blocked and not drivable. Going to Hyrum today. Will post current conditions.
Larry
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Thanks for the report Larry, sure hope you don't get too wet on todays trip to Hyrum, it looks like a soggy day... Hope I can get out Saturday, been too long since I've given it a try... But maybe the fish will be rested and ready to give me a tug... Good luck... J
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Any info on what this weather has done to Pineview?
I say I'm going to get up there every year and have yet to ever fish it. I set aside time this Thursday afternoon/evening and am afraid of ice conditions now[frown]
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Thanks for all of the updates. This weather is killing my ice fishing mood, hope that the cold temps can refreeze everything and get back out on the ice. I'm no fan of fishing in slush haha.
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Last I heard was Monday night it was slushy but still okay to fish... so we have had two days of storm and rain since then, so I expect slushy will be happening, and I did hear to watch the edges and maybe take a plank for getting onto the ice.... sorry just second hand info, but if you hadn't heard that I hope it helps.... Good luck... J
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You're welcome, and I know what you're saying about slush, it really ruins the fun of ice fishing... Not to mention making is a whole bunch more work... I'm really hoping for the mess to get frozen over Friday so Saturday will be fishable again.... but that also meets my availability schedule too, so not likely to happen, but what I'm wishing for... Ice fishing really isn't a very long season when you look at all the things that make it a no go.... Guess that's why I never get bored of it and always think the season ends too soon... Seems like it's hard to get everywhere you want to try in a winter, at least when you only have one or two days a week to try it... and what maybe 8 weeks at best... Anyway fun times.. See ya on the pond again soon... Later J
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Any word on Pineview anyone? I've heard its snowing a ton. But im worried warm tempts will put a nasty slush layer on. All i have heard is that the edges are soft and slush. But more detail would be sweet!
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Thanks and maybe this weekend we'll see ya on the ice.... Not sure I'm tough enough to flyfish this time of year, although I know it used to be really good in the winter... Seems like my fingers would really freeze up on me once they get wet this time of year... think I'll stick to the ice with mittens on... Later J
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] I'm sure we'll make it on the ice again though. We need to head out soon, look forward to fishing with ya.