12-21-2021, 02:03 AM
Yesterday I did a scouting trip into Willard Bay, North entrance, for a look-see...the whole lake was capped over, and the Marina area also...definitely not safe ice there, maybe an inch at the Marina shore line....continued on up to Mantua, and that entire lake was also capped..snow-covered on the whole South half, and clear ice on the North half...of course the river/creek inlet area had open water...I did not go down to check thickness, but I was surprised to see someone ice skating all over that clear North half...no one ice fishing, except one guy sitting off the end of the swim area dock, and it looked like he had drilled a hole there....I'm guessing there will be early ice fishers there in a few days....but I wouldn't want to risk being the first to be there and bust through...Anyone going early (or any time) be sure to have a partner and all safety gear, esp. ice pics, extra clothes, and a good ice poker to check along the way....Please report back, be safe, and Guluk...