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My brother and I may head up to mammoth tomorrow. Does anyone know how much snow is on the ground up there? Is the road plowed to the lake? Never been there before... any tips on the best areas to try? I guess the ice is pretty safe everywhere on the lake?
Thanks for any tips and conditions reports! I'll post a fishing report when we get back tomorrow evening. We haven't been fishing for a long time... too much hunting. It should be good to get out and do some fishing.
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Can't help on how much snow, but if you have snow shoes you might want to bring them along. The road is a nice paved road that is kept plowed to provide access back and forth to the miners. With the amount of snow that is likely up there, I would recommend that you park in the parking lot by the dam (provides the easiest access when there is snow) and walk down the new boat ramp in front of the dam (may be impossible to see, but head down wherever it appears the easiest and you will likely be on the new boat ramp). Be aware that the boat ramp ends at least 75 feet from the ice, but that shouldn't be a problem. Try fishing in front of the dam. Try depths from about 10 feet to about 15 feet or deeper (if you can find any water that deep). The entire lake was not frozen before this latest storm, and the area that freezes last is right in the center of the reservoir. Unless the snow has caused a slush problem you should be fine, as long as you don't head out to the middle of the reservoir and stay within about 100 - 150' of the dam. If you decide to head out very far I would check the ice often. Don't hesitate to try just under the ice. Especially early in the day, I have caught them 6 inches under the ice. Be prepared with cut bait, crawlers and meal worms. They could be hitting any of the three. If you see a party of 4 or more it may be our group.
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That's the problem with Huntington. It freezes way early about 3 or 4 inches thick to provide some early ice action, but then a big storm comes through and dumps 2 feet of snow on that thin ice. Then the weight of the snow pushes down on the ice and water comes up under the sow creating a slush layer. The snow also insulates the ice layer, preventing further freezing. The mess can last the rest of the season. You can still fish it, but you about need waders to stay dry!
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Hey, thanks a lot for the tips. We'll report when we return tomorrow. We've got an ice tent all loaded and we'll be leaving around 4am.
Thanks, bkidder
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I am quite new to ice fishing and I would like to head to Huntington on Friday, but I would like to know about what everyody thinks about the safety of the ice. With snow on it and maybe slush how safe is it? Would you expect the safety of it to increase of decrease by frinday?
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I was up to hungtington on saturday during the huge storm. we fished the middle of the lake in about 22' of water. i wish we'd have moved to about 12 - 17' of water as most of the fish we caught were at a depth of about 15'. we had steady action all morning, but we had to leave by 1:30. pleanty of fish around, but real light bites. you really had to watch the tip.
it was a real blizzard all the way to the lake, while we were there, and on the way out. the snow was just under 2' deep on the ice and it had already started to push the ice down. about 2" of water would pool around your hole and your feet. i'd wear something water proof or you'll get wet. the ice is pretty safe though. 4-6" thick and I would have no worries going back. take normal winter fishing precautions and you'll do great.
we caught most everything on white tube jigs, with a wax worm. good luck, but be safe
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