Island Park Res.

[Groundtrac]

Fished at the dam from 10 to 2 today. Marked lots of fish on the flasher, but very few takers. Most fish were between 15 and 25 fow for the most part, was hoping to find some kokes, but no such luck today, brought home 3 smallish rainbows, largest was 16 inches. The baby planters would strip my lure clean they were so thick at times. There is slush on the ice to contend with, if you can find a hard crusted over spot, then stay there.
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[curt69]

Thanks for the report .
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[Phission]

Sounds like exactly the same conditions with the same results I had there on Dec. 30th. Sure wish it would freeze back to solid. I am really wanting to get back out, but man I hate fishing in that slushy, soggy mess.
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[Groundtrac]

I am going to fish at Lakeside tomorrow (saturday), hopefully the slush is frozen up and nonexistant.
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[ironrod]

+1 with results at the dam yesterday except we did manage 1 fifteen inch koke.
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[curt69]

How much water is on the ice. ? The lake is coming up fast . 61 percent today .
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[Groundtrac]

We fished in zero slush today at Lakeside. You can see the places where there is slush, but it was 3 below zero still at 9 this morning, so that is helping. We fished on the far shore from the lodge, it was slow, brought home five 14 inchers, but the real kicker was gettin into all the pot-lickin suckers! I have never seen them so thick, and it seems once they got attracted, they just wanted to hang around. This picture is the biggest one, at 4 pounds.
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[curt69]

Thanks for the report . Was the lodge open?
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[Groundtrac]

Yeah, its open. There were at least 200 snomobilers going in and out while we were there, must be a popular watering hole for people cruising around!
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[Phission]

Thanks for the update. Good to hear that it's getting a little more solid with the cold temps. Catching suckers I assume you were using bait on the bottom? Did you try any jigs?
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[Groundtrac]

Yes, most of the suckers came right off the bottom. I did mark them coming up into the lure, though, on poles I didn't have on the bottom, they were just thick, I have never personally seen suckers schooling that thick. I had the popup set up and the water was clear enough to see down to the bottom on an 8 foot hole, there would be big schools come through. I caught the little trout on some of the same poles I caught suckers. I was fishing with a variety of lures, just trying to figure out what they were biting on. I was fishing against the far bank from the lodge. Last year in that area I did extremely well, in fact my personal best rainbow came from against that bank last year. I was fishing from the bank out, shallowest hole at 4 feet, deepest at about 25 feet.
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[Phission]

Thanks for the info Gt. Think if I get back up there I'll stay by the dam. Seems to be either hot or cold. 8 fish per hour on the first trip, and all day to ice 5 the second, and two of those were smolts. Maybe the third time will be back in the honey hole.
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[photobill]

I fished at Lakeside yesterday(Monday) from noon until 3 and caught 5 rainbows and 2 brookies in about 25 feet of water. All seven fish were caught in about 30 minutes which made the bulk of the time fairly slow. Beautiful day to be out. Slush was not too bad but the ice/snow is getting thick enough that I'll need to put the extension on my auger for the next trip.

The Lodge is open.

Bill
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[curt69]

Thanks for the report .
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[Phission]

photobill, your report just confirms my belief that once the short term feeding frenzy is over, pack-up! Unless, of course, you're just out to get an early suntan. [cool]
To all viewers, please report if extensions become necessary. I doubt I am the only person that doesn't have one. It would really be a bad day to drive all that way and then not be able to reach the water!!!
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[curt69]

In all the years I have been ice fished , I have never needed an extension . Sounds like island park and Mackay will need one this year . I ordered one on ebay , I don't know how long it will take to get here . I only ordered an 8 " . My auger is already 38 " from the factory . What is different about this year ?
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[photobill]

Curt,
I don't think anything is different this year I just think I have a shorter auger. I have an old Jiffy that is a least 35 years old that will only drill through about 30 inches. I don't think we have 30 inches yet but I plan on fishing Friday and I'll try and get a measurement for you guys.

Bill
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[curt69]

If I wasn't already going to Palades with my brother Friday . I would drive up and fish with you .
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[photobill]

I fished off Lakeside today with a friend for a couple of hours and only landed one fish. The good news is that there was no slush and the snow pack was hard enough to walk on. I measured the ice and it is 22 inches thick. I fished twice earlier this week in the same spot and caught 7 one day and 14 the other using the same lures and bait. Go figure.

Bill
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[Groundtrac]

Thanks for the report. Some days we are fishin' and some days we are catchin'. Lakeside has been kind of hit and miss for me this year as well, trying decide where to go tomorrow...
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