Flaming Gorge Ice Conditions

[wiperhunter2]

I fished Flaming Gorge on Friday 2/28/25 and Saturday 3/1/25, including spending the night on the ice. I accessed the lake off Road 11. From a high point before dropping down to the lake, I took a couple of picture. First is the view down lake where open water is visible just south of Currant Creek. The second view is looking down at the Confluence/Lost Dog area, where pressure ridges and some open water are visible. Third and fourth photos show two prevalent pressure ridges between the Confluence and Currant Creek. Both had visible open water, at least nearer the edge of the lake at mid day.

I fished the west side between the Confluence and Currant Creek. At mid day Friday, I had to make a long step across open water at the edge, but also found spots where rocks were exposed and could carefully walk out. I used my spud bar until I was comfortable with ice conditions. There were spots where the third stroke went through, so just was careful where I walked. At mid day both days the upper 1-2 inches of ice was soft.

Ice was 6-7 inches and just starting to get some of that gray spooky look, but still nice and firm. No snow on the ice and probably 2/3 of it was rough and the 1/3 was bare slick ice. I wore cleats the entire time. 

As the sun went down, the ice started to sing and groan and that lasted all night until mi morning on Saturday. Early Saturday the edges had frozen over enough to walk across.  It got down to 16 degrees over night and was in the mid to upper 40s during the afternoon.

I fished in 60-70 feet of water for pups (caught three and missed a few) and in 15-30 feet of water for burbot (caught 17).

Ice may not last much longer, although others have reported there is still 24 inches at Firehole. If you go, take a spud bar, wear a life jacket, be careful, and have fun!

Nice report and pics, any size to the bots? Your pic of Lost dog is where BFT had the first Gorge burbot bash, I circled where we set up for the bash