01-13-2004, 11:24 PM
Took my daughter up to see the elk at Hardware Ranch today, and did some serious lookin' at the ice. We drove past these places just after 12 noon. Here's the rundown.
Willard: No open water visible. Of course it was still a little hazy, so I couldn't see all the way across, but I doubt it has any open water. Air temp was 15 degrees. They are currently removing dirt from the north marina. I saw one trac machine, and one heavy dumptruck moving dirt out of the chanel. That will be great news for future years if the water gets that low again (lets just hope it never does).
Mantua: Saw 4 ice shacks on the pond, no open water visible. Looked like snowmobile tracks all the way across the lake. Air temp was 12 degrees.
Hyrum: Once again, no open water. Air temp was only 7 degrees. I only saw 2 people on the ice fishing, but sled tracks on the ice went out a long ways.
I'd venture to say that all three places are safe across the whole lake. Wish I would have had time to fish.
Hardware ranch was beautiful! No smog, no haze, and the temp was 33 degrees. There were some nice bulls on the ranch today...the biggest going about 340. One elk had a bum front shoulder, they said it injured it naturally, and they didn't think he would have to be put down, but he won't be a herd bull any more either. Attached is his pic while he is laying down. Not a bad bull, very wide, but not really heavy. If no coyotes get him, he'll be really nice next year. It was a great trip, and if you've never been up there, I highly recommend it. Great family outing.
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Willard: No open water visible. Of course it was still a little hazy, so I couldn't see all the way across, but I doubt it has any open water. Air temp was 15 degrees. They are currently removing dirt from the north marina. I saw one trac machine, and one heavy dumptruck moving dirt out of the chanel. That will be great news for future years if the water gets that low again (lets just hope it never does).
Mantua: Saw 4 ice shacks on the pond, no open water visible. Looked like snowmobile tracks all the way across the lake. Air temp was 12 degrees.
Hyrum: Once again, no open water. Air temp was only 7 degrees. I only saw 2 people on the ice fishing, but sled tracks on the ice went out a long ways.
I'd venture to say that all three places are safe across the whole lake. Wish I would have had time to fish.
Hardware ranch was beautiful! No smog, no haze, and the temp was 33 degrees. There were some nice bulls on the ranch today...the biggest going about 340. One elk had a bum front shoulder, they said it injured it naturally, and they didn't think he would have to be put down, but he won't be a herd bull any more either. Attached is his pic while he is laying down. Not a bad bull, very wide, but not really heavy. If no coyotes get him, he'll be really nice next year. It was a great trip, and if you've never been up there, I highly recommend it. Great family outing.
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