Mantua Ice Report?

[TubeDude]

I hope I am wrong, but the UL marinas might not be very fun this year.
At least for me.
The Saratoga Springs Marina Park harbor only has 2’ of water in it.
When it freezes to 6” now you have 18” of water.
Even if fish are there, it will be lame that when you set the hook a flying fish comes sailing out of the hole.
No reeling, no fun.
Like I said, I hope I am wrong.

There was a line in the movie Jurassic Park..."Nature will find a way".  I have seen quite a few winters on Utah Lake and some have been in very low water conditions.  I remember thinking that with only skinny water that there would be no fish under the ice.  But on a whim I drove down to see what was going on at Lindon Harbor.  I was amazed to see several drillers and dunkers working along the outside edge of one of the docks...and catching both white bass and a few crappies...in less than 2 feet of water. 

The fish gotta go somewhere to feed and find structure/cover.  And if they can't find better habitat then they have to make do with what is available.  But ice fishing in thin water requires the utmost in stealth and patience.  You can't just go tromping all over the ice and expect to find fish everywhere.  And it's better if there is a good snow cover to help reduce your visibility to the fish below.  Even better if they are hiding under a dock.  But you still have to quietly drill a hole (hand auger or electric) set up and wait quietly...without moving around a lot or banging things on the ice.  It may take a while for the fish to move back in to the area you assaulted with noise but once they do you can at least yank a few.

Also fished right in the first spring at Lincoln Beach one year when there was very little water.  Same situation.  Had to drill holes and sit in a chair quietly for a while before the fish started biting.  But we caught a bunch of nice bluegills, a few whities, a crappie and even a small June sucker.