taking scouts to strawberry, suggestions?

[addicted2fishin]

I've been volunteered to take our local scouts to strawberry on January 18. I have most of the gear, but haven't been out in about 5 years. Any suggestions on where to go, what to use, etc? I have a small shack, auger, and a few poles, but no snowmobile to get out very far.
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[bowhunter0054]

I would stay away from soldier creek. Most of the reports have stated slow fishing through out most of the lake and the few times I have gone so far the report has beena accurate. I would suggest chicken creek if you are going to stick with strawberry. It is still slow there but that's where we have caught the most fish. Other than that I don't know what else I can give ya. Wish I had something better to report. Good luck and happy fishing!
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[jmetalone66]

There are many reports of people traveling all over Strawberry in search of the fish but to tell you the truth, the fish are everywhere. I fished about a 100 yard right off the boat ramp at Strawberry bay and landed two nice cutts in about a half an hour.

It is pretty crazy around the boat ramp, lots of snow machine and 4 wheller traffic but if you can keep the boys wrangled you shouldnt have any problem right there by the marina.

I was in 50' feet of water but the two i landed were crusing at 15-20' under the ice. I used a white curly tail jig with a meal worm and that seemed to do the trick but bring as many colors and types to be safe.

Good luck at the berry, you can pull some great hogs out of that lake and it should be fun whether you slamming 'em or not.

Looking forward to the update post.
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[whipper-snapper]

You're always safe when you use white tube jigs at Strawberry. Tip them with a chunk of worm (all of the worm varieties will produce a bite) and find the 15-20' depth range.

Location doesn't have to be a specific area. My advice is to get away from the heavily-fished areas--mostly Soldier Creek, The Marina, and The Ladders. I think Chicken Creek would be an easy and productive area.

Be sure those scouts dress for the occasion, the mornings are really cold up there.

Luckily for you, you have some time left until the big fishing trip. Keep your ear to the ground for the next couple of weeks and you will treat those boys to a fun day!
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[GEEZER]

This might not go over too well but -- PLEASE DON'T UNLESS YOU WILL CLOSELY SUPERVISE THEM. A couple years ago a poorly supervised troop absolutely trashed the restrooms at the Strawberry marina. The scoutmasters should have been made to clean them up.
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[utahgolf]

rat finkees or paddle bugs in green, 18 inches below a spoon or swedish pimple. tip with shrimp or meal worm... It'll be slow but go to chicken creek or the marina, fish in 25-30 feet of water. jig the bottom for cutts or suspended in the 12-15 foot range for bows.
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[bigbucksmj]

Strawberry was really slow on 1/1/14. We landed 5 all day, got there about 7 and left at 330. caught them on a Pink Ratfinkie and Green paddle bug. tipped w/Mealworm.

I'd recmd taking scouts to Scofield. Fishing was alot faster action.
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[smittyts]

If your scouts are closer to 12 than 18 I would bring some extra sleds and choose a location close to a slope or hill on the lake. The key with kids is to keep them warm, dry, fed and occupied. With the fishing being as slow as it has been, you'll want a plan B, C D and E. Best of luck to you.
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[icefishingman]

fish the bay, walk out a little further than the majority of the people, shrimp tipped with 1 meal worm, just part of the shrimp, use a big lead jig, with a green curly tail skirt, caught 35 fish in 4 hours doing that
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[icefishingman]

whatever you do, don't use white, they are not working good, either use glow or green, the whites just aren't working
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[addicted2fishin]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. It's the older scout group, and not many of them. I just wish I still had a couple of snowmobiles to drag them away from the crowds. Please keep us updated on how things are going. In meeting with them this week to review safety, what clothing to take, etc. That's the easy part. Finding the fish is where I'm worried.
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[addicted2fishin]

So it looks like the plan has changed. The date has changed to the 25th and we will probably be going to pineview for perch as they want to make sure the kids don't get skunked.
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[albinotrout]

Well I hope everything goes as planned for you. Let us know how it goes!
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[jmetalone66]

If you want to make sure the boys dont get skunked, take them to Tibble Fork in American Fork Canyon. My brother and I were there on Saturday and caught 40+ fish. Nothing too big, mostly in the 10-15" range but the fishing is hot and entertaining.
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[Gooseberry]

Don't even think about taking scouts to Tibble Fork. There is one small chunk of ice on the south side of the lake in the shade. The rest of the lake is open water. The ice there is sketchy around the edges and not big enough for more than a small group. With the warmer temps this week we won't see it grow at all, in fact it will most likely shrink.
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[ScottyS]

I will also be taking a group of scouts out on the 25th. We actually camp in between Starvation and Strawberry, so I'm not entirely sure which reservoir we'lll hit. If you decide not to go to Pineview, I'd be more than happy to meet up at one of those lakes and help you out. I've got the finder, have fished both lakes in the last two weeks, and between 2 of us have caught more than 18 fish at each reservoir. We usually do one ice fishing scout trip a year, so let me know if you need any help/suggestions.
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[addicted2fishin]

I would be open to any tips or suggestions you have. Now I'm seeing reports of slow fishing at pineview and I'm getting really nervous. Especially since I haven't been ice fishing for a few years. One of the boys had said he hates fishing because he's been 3 - 4 times in his life and says he's never caught a fish. I would hate to put the nail in that coffin. In just not sure where to go now, and less than a week away.
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[talonfisher]

If you are mobile enough to get away from the crowds at Strawberry then you should do well. I have hit the berry 4 times this year and never been skunked. Yesterday three of us caught 60-70 fish in the Renegade area. With scouts it may be hard to get very far in though.
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[addicted2fishin]

It's all on foot, so that's what I'm afraid of. Last time I went ice fishing there on foot this late in the year it was dead slow. I think we will still end up at pineview. You can usually count on catching at least a few perch per person.
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