01-12-2016, 12:06 AM
Monday, January 11, 2016
Bear Lake Fishing Report (with UPDATED ICE CONDITIONS):
Bear Lake has been trying to freeze over, but fluctuating temperatures still has the lake with about 50% open water with a LOT of ice now floating around on the lake. Last week a few hearty anglers chopped holes in the marina and launched a boat on Thursday, but as of 1/11 (Monday) there is so much ice in front of the marina that if you could launch a boat you couldn’t go anywhere. The ramps at Cisco Beach and Rainbow Cove were checked this morning and you can still launch boats at those locations (no courtesy docks are available). The ramp at First Point is totally frozen. The sheets of ice out on the lake are moving around and depending on the direction the wind is blowing, it may make fishing and retrieving your boat difficult or impossible. The ramps are being plowed after snow events, but can be slippery so bring a pail of salt or sand just in case. If you do launch on the east side, the end of the concrete ramps in both locations have a lip on them, so don't back your trailer tires over that lip when launching your boat or you could damage your trailer.
The few anglers who have launched their boats are reporting really good catching for mainly Cutthroat Trout, but a few Lake Trout are also being caught. The best success for Cutthroat Trout is coming from anglers jigging with ¾ to 1 ounce tube jigs tipped with Cisco, Sucker meat, or even worms right on the bottom off Cisco Beach in about 25-50’ of water. Anglers are catching some fish trolling but those who are jigging are doing much better. Pay attention to your sonar so you can find the fish. If you are trolling, try small rapalas or spoons for the best success. About January 20th (give or take about 5 days) the Bonneville Cisco should begin their spawning run along the shoreline at Cisco Beach and possibly off the Utah State Park marina. It is still anyone’s guess if the lake will freeze over for the Cisco run, but do not fret the Cisco will run regardless if the lake is frozen or has open water! The annual Cisco Disco is scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd and there will also be a Polar Plunge at the Utah State Park marina later in the morning. Also, there will be a “largest Cisco” contest that day and a chili cook-off so bring the kids up for some wintertime fun. Finally, please remember, all Cutthroat Trout that are caught and don’t have a healed fin clip must be released.
Garden City Community Fishery Pond
The pond is frozen at this time, however there are aerators in the pond, so the ice can be variable so be extremely careful if you do decide to ice fish this water. Fishing has been excellent for Rainbow Trout using a ice flys and small jigs tipped with worms or meal worms. The parking lot has been plowed.
Laketown Reservoir
Laketown Reservoir is also frozen at this time and the ice is about 8” thick. Ice fishing has been good for Rainbow Trout and a few Cutthroat Trout using small jigs or ice flies tipped with a worm or meal worm. Access to this reservoir is only by 4 wheel drive vehicles due to snow and if there is another large snowfall, so you may need a snowmobile or snowshoes to hike in to this water.
[signature]
Bear Lake Fishing Report (with UPDATED ICE CONDITIONS):
Bear Lake has been trying to freeze over, but fluctuating temperatures still has the lake with about 50% open water with a LOT of ice now floating around on the lake. Last week a few hearty anglers chopped holes in the marina and launched a boat on Thursday, but as of 1/11 (Monday) there is so much ice in front of the marina that if you could launch a boat you couldn’t go anywhere. The ramps at Cisco Beach and Rainbow Cove were checked this morning and you can still launch boats at those locations (no courtesy docks are available). The ramp at First Point is totally frozen. The sheets of ice out on the lake are moving around and depending on the direction the wind is blowing, it may make fishing and retrieving your boat difficult or impossible. The ramps are being plowed after snow events, but can be slippery so bring a pail of salt or sand just in case. If you do launch on the east side, the end of the concrete ramps in both locations have a lip on them, so don't back your trailer tires over that lip when launching your boat or you could damage your trailer.
The few anglers who have launched their boats are reporting really good catching for mainly Cutthroat Trout, but a few Lake Trout are also being caught. The best success for Cutthroat Trout is coming from anglers jigging with ¾ to 1 ounce tube jigs tipped with Cisco, Sucker meat, or even worms right on the bottom off Cisco Beach in about 25-50’ of water. Anglers are catching some fish trolling but those who are jigging are doing much better. Pay attention to your sonar so you can find the fish. If you are trolling, try small rapalas or spoons for the best success. About January 20th (give or take about 5 days) the Bonneville Cisco should begin their spawning run along the shoreline at Cisco Beach and possibly off the Utah State Park marina. It is still anyone’s guess if the lake will freeze over for the Cisco run, but do not fret the Cisco will run regardless if the lake is frozen or has open water! The annual Cisco Disco is scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd and there will also be a Polar Plunge at the Utah State Park marina later in the morning. Also, there will be a “largest Cisco” contest that day and a chili cook-off so bring the kids up for some wintertime fun. Finally, please remember, all Cutthroat Trout that are caught and don’t have a healed fin clip must be released.
Garden City Community Fishery Pond
The pond is frozen at this time, however there are aerators in the pond, so the ice can be variable so be extremely careful if you do decide to ice fish this water. Fishing has been excellent for Rainbow Trout using a ice flys and small jigs tipped with worms or meal worms. The parking lot has been plowed.
Laketown Reservoir
Laketown Reservoir is also frozen at this time and the ice is about 8” thick. Ice fishing has been good for Rainbow Trout and a few Cutthroat Trout using small jigs or ice flies tipped with a worm or meal worm. Access to this reservoir is only by 4 wheel drive vehicles due to snow and if there is another large snowfall, so you may need a snowmobile or snowshoes to hike in to this water.
[signature]
