Hyrum Attempt 12/28

[wiperhunter2]

Alan, thanks for the tips.... Shawn, you have the best weather Ap... That morning I checked the first two mentioned above.  Curts was saying 5-9, the Sailwind one was 7-12 and I was almost to call it and not go.... But went anyway... Got there to flat calm conditions just like Shawn mentioned... It was a perfect day for jigging. Unfortunately the fish didn't want to cooperate... We fished till noon and only had 3 bites and I tried to let my nephew catch them and he got too excited on the first fish and tried to horse it in and lost it...  I had one hit and I went to set the hook to hand it to him, but it never had a follow up hit... Last one was on a flig that nailed it hard, but Ethan missed it completely so I went home smelling of skunk on a perfect weather day....  Thanks everyone for your tips and help on this one... Later Jeff

That's too bad you didn't have better luck but at least the wind wasn't bad. Was Obi there, do you know how he did?

[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Curt, Obi was there and I think it was slow for him as well. At least early in the day they were doing similar to us, he headed to the south marina and I didn't talk to him after he ran over there, even though he was back to the north marina area when we were quitting for the day... I thought they were going to pull the plug as well, but they must have found something to stay for cuzz they didn't hit the ramp like I thought they were going to do... Don't know if you seen it in my posts, but there were a lot of boats there Friday and for the most part we only seen a couple fish caught, but my eyes are not the best and I'm not the most observant but I don't think it was a hot bite by any means... What does your crystal ball say for Thursday this week? I'm thinking about trying again... hoping one of these trips will result in a fish to break my drought... Later Jeff

[Jig-fisher]

Hey Jeff, I am off Thursday as well and am looking to hit somewhere and someone to go with. I was thinking maybe Willard, but would really like to find somewhere to ice fish. Just afraid that it won't be thick enough to try anywhere close. Really would like to get on Echo but I think it needs a week or 2 of some cold temps.

[obifishkenobi]

Hey Curt, Obi was there and I think it was slow for him as well.  At least early in the day they were doing similar to us, he headed to the south marina and I didn't talk to him after he ran over there, even though he was back to the north marina area when we were quitting for the day... I thought they were going to pull the plug as well, but they must have found something to stay for cuzz they didn't hit the ramp like I thought they were going to do...  Don't know if you seen it in my posts, but there were a lot of boats there Friday and for the most part we only seen a couple fish caught, but my eyes are not the best and I'm not the most observant but I don't think it was a hot bite by any means... What does your crystal ball say for Thursday this week?  I'm thinking about trying again... hoping one of these trips will result in a fish to break my drought... Later Jeff

It was really tough last Friday I caught 1 perch off the south marina. My weather app PredictWind.com was accurate but the fish didn’t cooperate I’m thinking about what to do this Friday, I would prefer to Ice Fish but have not ruled out Jordanelle or Deer Creek trolling in the boat. Where would the group like me to give a go.

[wiperhunter2]

What does your crystal ball say for Thursday this week?  I'm thinking about trying again... hoping one of these trips will result in a fish to break my drought... Later Jeff

Thursday and Friday look like the best days this week, we are planning on getting out on Thursday

[SkunkedAgain]

Paul, depending on what happens ice wise, (I'm a little afraid Willard might cap by Thursday and be too thick for a boat, but too thin to ice fish) but I think I'd have room for one more in the boat. I have a couple planning on joining me, but I think we could fish four from my boat... Might have to only fish one rod each... But you're welcome to join us...

Shawn, I'm thinking Friday may be the first ice day for part two of this ice season... I'm thinking Mantua, Newton or maybe Cutler for me on Friday... Have to wait and see as it get's closer, but we had 20 degrees last night and I know that will make some ice and it's verily going to get above freezing today, so I think it will be building all week... If we get the usual 3/4" per night, Friday should hit 3".... I never did talk to anyone that fished Newton on the last ice, but I'm hoping newton will rebound a little this year and be fun to fish... Mantua will probably draw a crowd, it's always one of the more popular ice destinations, but might not be too bad this weekend due to barely safe ice... May even see Hyrum start to cap... Lot's of options and I think Scott was saying Bear Lake is fishing really well lately, so might be a good boat destination...

Curt, you're the Willard Guru and if you think Thursday will be good, I'm going to try it baring the ice issue.. Am I going to the wrong end of the lake? I hear you're fishing the other end? Hopefully we'll see you there... Later Jeff

[Jig-fisher]

Jeff, I am planning on taking my boat and would welcome someone else to fish with me.

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I am also contemplating Jordanelle. I am a bit worried about launching at Willard. The ice might be too thick.

[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Paul, I'm worried about the same thing... Be nice to get some feedback on ice today if anyone is out there... I did hear the high winds forecast for later today might clear any ice that forms today... I'll be going to work on base tomorrow, so I'll drop by after work tomorrow and see how much is there then and try to make a plan for Thursday morning from that.... I fished it last year with about 3/4" of ice and it was rough on my boat, but I might try it again up to about that much... The boat itself was okay, but the transducers and such were getting beat up pretty bad... I'm afraid the timing is just wrong and may not be able to get one more trip to Willard in the boat... wouldn't mind ice fishing it, but I don't think it will be ready until next week... I'll keep in touch... later Jeff

[EyLayo]

Willard was wide open in the N marina and the main body on my way through this afternoon. Mantua was approximately 80% open water, with ugly gray ice on the remainder. Only a drive by, didn't stop to spud anything.

[Jig-fisher]

Willard was wide open in the N marina and the main body on my way through this afternoon. Mantua was approximately 80% open water, with ugly gray ice on the remainder. Only a drive by, didn't stop to spud anything.

Thanks Shawn for the update. Should be good to go on Thursday.

[Muskyon46]

Hey Paul, I'm worried about the same thing... Be nice to get some feedback on ice today if anyone is out there... I did hear the high winds forecast for later today might clear any ice that forms today... I'll be going to work on base tomorrow, so I'll drop by after work tomorrow and see how much is there then and try to make a plan for Thursday morning from that.... I fished it last year with about 3/4" of ice and it was rough on my boat, but I might try it again up to about that much... The boat itself was okay, but the transducers and such were getting beat up pretty bad... I'm afraid the timing is just wrong and may not be able to get one more trip to Willard in the boat... wouldn't mind ice fishing it, but I don't think it will be ready until next week... I'll keep in touch... later Jeff

I'll bring the spud bar and open it up from the bow Jeff

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks Shawn, those cold temps didn't really do much yet, I think we'll be good to go, especially with Matt and the spud bar up front... Hope there will be some hungry fish this next trip...

I was really surprised things didn't freeze up better yesterday, don't think we built 1/4" of ice and most of it melted off in the sun. Then this morning wasn't near as cool as they forecast, so I'm starting to worry we may not get good ice this year... Figures I get a new to me snowmobile and we haven't had thick enough ice ever since I got it last year to even use it... Maybe I'll wait to license it this year since I did last year and never got to use it... Maybe that will make it freeze... Anyway still planning on going tomorrow Matt, I'll call later and make plans... Keep the wind down and fish hungry... Later Jeff

[Muskyon46]

Thanks Shawn, those cold temps didn't really do much yet, I think we'll be good to go, especially with Matt and the spud bar up front... Hope there will be some hungry fish this next trip...

I was really surprised things didn't freeze up better yesterday, don't think we built 1/4" of ice and most of it melted off in the sun.  Then this morning wasn't near as cool as they forecast, so I'm starting to worry we may not get good ice this year... Figures I get a new to me snowmobile and we haven't had thick enough ice ever since I got it last year to even use it... Maybe I'll wait to license it this year since I did last year and never got to use it... Maybe that will make it freeze...  Anyway still planning on going tomorrow Matt, I'll call later and make plans...  Keep the wind down and fish hungry... Later Jeff

Sounds good Jeff

[EyLayo]

Tomorrow should be just fine. Birds were still bouncing in the waves inside the marina at 5 tonight. My finely calibrated chevy- ometer said it was still 34 degrees air temp. You might have some thin stuff to break up early, but I can't imagine anything substantial will grow overnight. Mantua still ugly with no notable improvement in ice. Good luck tomorrow, hopefully a few wide for ya.

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks Shawn, I appreciate the update... I did a little looking on the way home and found the same at Willard... When I was there, it looked like someone may have went in the pond today, about 4 emergency rigs there and looked like wet clothes on the ground by a vehicle... Didn't see anyone so maybe they had them in the ambulance getting them warmed up... Then again I'm just speculating and that may not have been what happened... Hope they were okay though... We'll give it a shot in the morning even though it looks sort of windy.... Hope it's better than they are predicting.. Anyway hopefully we'll get on the ice soon, was a little bummed the ice isn't building any faster... My pond has about 3/4" of ice now, but still open water in other areas, so not getting the good ice I've been hoping for... Later Jeff