02-27-2006, 03:27 PM
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]Fishing Report and Conditions at Bear Lake[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]Monday, February 27, 2006[/black][/size][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]The ice on Bear Lake is holding up remarkably well and thicknesses vary from 2"-7" around the lake. Temperatures warmed up last week but the night temperatures are still getting down to the single digits or low teens, so overall the lake is staying frozen. The ice on the east side of the lake looks scary but there were several anglers out yesterday (Sunday) off Cisco Beach. They are catching a few fish (mainly cutthroat trout) but in general there have been few anglers off the east side due to scary looking ice. The ice I checked on Sunday afternoon was about 3.5" thick off Cisco Beach right behind the guard station. Ice on the rockpile is about 7" over 35-40 feet of water, but when you move out to approximately 90 feet of water the thickness is about 4". The shelved up ice ridges have froze over, but still be careful when crossing them since the warmer temperatures will likely melt those areas first. [/black][/size][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]Over 100 anglers were interviewed over the weekend and overall the fishing has been very good for whitefish and only fair for cutthroat trout and lake trout. The more experienced Bear Lake anglers are catching some nice cutthroat trout and lake trout using jigs tipped with cisco. Using the "superlines" such as Spiderwire make detecting light bites in deeper water much easier than regular monofilament. The inexperienced anglers are having a difficult time since they just have not mastered the technique for deep jigging for trout on Bear Lake. Use ½ to 1 oz. tube jigs tipped with cisco. Using a stinger hook on the jig is helpful with short strikes and prevents you from missing a lot of fish. Fish right on the bottom and constantly raise and lower the jig so it bounces off the bottom. This likely stirs up the sediment and may attract fish to your lure/bait. The bite is sometimes very light so when I doubt, set the hook. Using a sonar unit also helps to spot fish when they are lurking around your bait.[/black][/size][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]Whitefish fishing right on the rockpile has been very good using vertical jigging spoons such as Swedish Pimples and castmasters tipped with nightcrawlers or wax worms. Other anglers are also doing very good using 1/32 or 1/64 jigs fished right on the bottom. Several anglers have been using their underwater cameras and it is truly amazing seeing just how many whitefish are down there. The larger whitefish (Bonnevilles) are feeding on eggs being laid by Bear Lake whitefish. Fish right on the bottom and keep changing locations until you find the fish. The most productive depths on the rockpile have been between 35-40 feet.[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black] [/black][/size][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"][black]When venturing on the ice in areas without other anglers make sure to use extreme caution. It is smart to have a rope to throw to someone in case they fall through. Also wear a pair of ice picks around your neck, on the outside of your clothing to help pull yourself out if you happen to fall through the ice. Make sure to check your proclamation for all the current rules and regulations. The daily and possession limit for whitefish it is 10 fish and for cutthroat and lake trout it is 2 fish, either singly or in aggregate. Remember to immediately release cutthroat trout that are not fin clipped.[/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]Monday, February 27, 2006[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black] [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]The ice on Bear Lake is holding up remarkably well and thicknesses vary from 2"-7" around the lake. Temperatures warmed up last week but the night temperatures are still getting down to the single digits or low teens, so overall the lake is staying frozen. The ice on the east side of the lake looks scary but there were several anglers out yesterday (Sunday) off Cisco Beach. They are catching a few fish (mainly cutthroat trout) but in general there have been few anglers off the east side due to scary looking ice. The ice I checked on Sunday afternoon was about 3.5" thick off Cisco Beach right behind the guard station. Ice on the rockpile is about 7" over 35-40 feet of water, but when you move out to approximately 90 feet of water the thickness is about 4". The shelved up ice ridges have froze over, but still be careful when crossing them since the warmer temperatures will likely melt those areas first. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black] [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]Over 100 anglers were interviewed over the weekend and overall the fishing has been very good for whitefish and only fair for cutthroat trout and lake trout. The more experienced Bear Lake anglers are catching some nice cutthroat trout and lake trout using jigs tipped with cisco. Using the "superlines" such as Spiderwire make detecting light bites in deeper water much easier than regular monofilament. The inexperienced anglers are having a difficult time since they just have not mastered the technique for deep jigging for trout on Bear Lake. Use ½ to 1 oz. tube jigs tipped with cisco. Using a stinger hook on the jig is helpful with short strikes and prevents you from missing a lot of fish. Fish right on the bottom and constantly raise and lower the jig so it bounces off the bottom. This likely stirs up the sediment and may attract fish to your lure/bait. The bite is sometimes very light so when I doubt, set the hook. Using a sonar unit also helps to spot fish when they are lurking around your bait.[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black] [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]Whitefish fishing right on the rockpile has been very good using vertical jigging spoons such as Swedish Pimples and castmasters tipped with nightcrawlers or wax worms. Other anglers are also doing very good using 1/32 or 1/64 jigs fished right on the bottom. Several anglers have been using their underwater cameras and it is truly amazing seeing just how many whitefish are down there. The larger whitefish (Bonnevilles) are feeding on eggs being laid by Bear Lake whitefish. Fish right on the bottom and keep changing locations until you find the fish. The most productive depths on the rockpile have been between 35-40 feet.[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black] [/black][/size][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"][black]When venturing on the ice in areas without other anglers make sure to use extreme caution. It is smart to have a rope to throw to someone in case they fall through. Also wear a pair of ice picks around your neck, on the outside of your clothing to help pull yourself out if you happen to fall through the ice. Make sure to check your proclamation for all the current rules and regulations. The daily and possession limit for whitefish it is 10 fish and for cutthroat and lake trout it is 2 fish, either singly or in aggregate. Remember to immediately release cutthroat trout that are not fin clipped.[/black][/font]
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