Bear Lake Report for Monday 1/29/07

[BearLakeFishGuy]

[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]The cisco spawning run is over. As of Monday, January 29, 2007 only a few cisco were sighted off Cisco Beach and the anglers attempting to dip net fish were having very little success. From here on this winter the UDWR will only update the fishing report once per week. The ice thickness on Bear Lake 5-8” thick. Fishing for cutthroat trout and lake trout has slowed down the past few days and is rated as fair. Most of the trout have been feeding on cisco and are very full. Fishing for whitefish has also been slow since whitefish are literally stuffed with cisco eggs. The fishing should improve in about a week or so for both the trout and whitefish. The best luck right now for trout is coming off the west side of the lake from Gus Rich Point north to the Utah-Idaho line in depths of 60-85 feet. Anglers are just beginning to catch a few whitefish off the weed beds south of Gus Rich Point ont the west side of the lake and in the weedbeds off the pump house and between First and Second Points on the east side of the lake. Use small lures such as Swedish Pimples, jigs, and ice flys tipped with a waxworm or salmon egg for the whitefish. Use tube jigs or largers Swedish Pimples and Castmaster-type lures tipped with cisco for the cutthroat trout and lake trout. Remember to watch out for springs, methane vents, and pressure cracks in the ice. Also stay away from the shelved-up ice which is not safe. As an added safety measure, wear a set of ice picks around your neck on the outside of your clothing. The picks will help you to pull yourself out of the water if you should fall through. It is also a good idea to keep a length of rope with your ice fishing equipment as an additional safety measure. There is approximately 4” of snow on the ground at this time and night time temperatures continue to be well below zero but daytime temperatures have been in the 20’s.[/size][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] Get out of the inversion in the valleys and come up to Bear Lake and enjoy some sunshine! The latest fishing report is also available on line at: [/font][/size][url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/detailed.php?id=1"][font "Times New Roman"][size 3]http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/detailed.php?id=1[/size][/font][/url]
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[HighUintas]

For whitefish, does salmon egg color matter? I have red Pautskes.

Also, are you baiting the hook on the lure, or trailing a hook on a leader?

Do you fish on the bottom?

I plan to fish Gus Point in a couple of weeks. We have a vacation home near there, so it's very convenient.

Thanks!
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks Scott for continuing to post updated reports, it helps a lot. I'd also like to thank you and Jim and anyone else involved that put on the cisco disco. It was my first time going to it and I thought you guys did a great job.
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[kicknbass]

On Saturday I was fishing for Macs in about 70' of water and there were about 6 schools that went through and most of them were between 40' to 55'. I tried the bottom so I could reel up to them if I needed to and still have a chance at a stragler on the bottom. I had one half way out of the hole and he broke off.
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[JoyRide]

In the three times I've fished the Bear this winter I've not been able to get any of the suspended fish to bite. They will follow the lure and check it out but never give it a tug.

The last time was Sunday and caught only cuts that day. On the bottom.
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

Color really doesn't seem to matter, but it doesn't hurt to try different ones if you have them to see if one works better.

As far as tipping the lure, I tip both my jigging spoon and ice fly. I trail the ice fly about 6-8" below. About 80% of the action comes on my jigging spoon though.
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[jazz]

BearLakeFishGuy,
I am a little about the regulation regaurding having a weight below a hook. I can see that this definatly means no drop shotting in the traditional form. Does this also include having a weighted jig with a single hook above it on the line without the 3 inch dropper. I called the DWR office and they were not sure. They transfered me to Roger Wilson, but all I got was his voice mail. Your clarification would be appreciated. Thankyou, Jazz.
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