02-05-2016, 02:31 AM
Thursday, February 04, 2016
UDWR Bear Lake Fishing Report (with UPDATED ICE CONDITIONS):
The entire lake is frozen at this time and the fishing has been very good. The thickest ice (8-10”) is in the southern part of the lake south of Gus Rich Point, but the “rockpile” area is now accessible and the ice is about 4-6” where the anglers have been fishing in this area. People are also riding 4 wheelers and snowmobiles all over the lake at this time. However, use extreme caution since Bear Lake has many areas where there are springs and/or methane gas vents and there may be no ice or thin ice in these areas. Ice thickness of the east side varies from about 5-8” in most places. Finally, since this question gets asked this question a LOT during this time of year: Ideal Beach resort will allow anglers to drive in through their property and park on the beach in the plowed out area. The cost will be $3 per person per day. This is the closest access to the Rockpile. The town of Garden City does plow out several areas too. One of them is about ¼ mile north of Ideal Beach on 250 East Loop Street and the access to park here is free. Another popular ice fishing access point is on 150 South Street in Garden City.
The ice anglers are doing very well for Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout and Whitefish. The best spots for trout have been on the southwest side of the lake east of the highway pull-offs in water from about 50-70 feet deep. Also the rockpile is fishing really well at this time. Good lures to use for jigging at this time include vertical jigging spoons such as castmasters and Buck Shots, but tube jigs tipped with cisco are the hottest lures at this time. Also, jigging rapalas are working for trout. For whitefish the best spots have been off the weedbeds in 17-30 feet of water south of Gus Rich Point, along the east side at the pump house and between First Point and Second Point, and right on top of the rockpile. The rockpiles just north of the Utah State Park marina haven’t had a lot of pressure yet, but the fishing on those should also be very good for both trout and whitefish. For whitefish use smaller jigs (1/8 ounce) jigging spoons and ice flys and tip your lure with a small piece of worm, wax worm or salmon egg.
Please remember, all Cutthroat Trout that are caught and don’t have a healed fin clip must be released. Large Lake Trout are not very good eating and take a long time to reach large sizes, and while they are legal to keep, many anglers are encouraging other anglers to release them.
Garden City Community Fishery Pond
The pond is frozen at this time and the ice is up to 10” thick. Fishing has been good for Rainbow Trout using ice flys and small jigs tipped with worms or meal worms. The parking lot has been plowed. It is a great place to take kids and beginners to learn how to ice fish!
Laketown Reservoir
Laketown Reservoir is also frozen at this time and the ice is about 10” 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.
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UDWR Bear Lake Fishing Report (with UPDATED ICE CONDITIONS):
The entire lake is frozen at this time and the fishing has been very good. The thickest ice (8-10”) is in the southern part of the lake south of Gus Rich Point, but the “rockpile” area is now accessible and the ice is about 4-6” where the anglers have been fishing in this area. People are also riding 4 wheelers and snowmobiles all over the lake at this time. However, use extreme caution since Bear Lake has many areas where there are springs and/or methane gas vents and there may be no ice or thin ice in these areas. Ice thickness of the east side varies from about 5-8” in most places. Finally, since this question gets asked this question a LOT during this time of year: Ideal Beach resort will allow anglers to drive in through their property and park on the beach in the plowed out area. The cost will be $3 per person per day. This is the closest access to the Rockpile. The town of Garden City does plow out several areas too. One of them is about ¼ mile north of Ideal Beach on 250 East Loop Street and the access to park here is free. Another popular ice fishing access point is on 150 South Street in Garden City.
The ice anglers are doing very well for Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout and Whitefish. The best spots for trout have been on the southwest side of the lake east of the highway pull-offs in water from about 50-70 feet deep. Also the rockpile is fishing really well at this time. Good lures to use for jigging at this time include vertical jigging spoons such as castmasters and Buck Shots, but tube jigs tipped with cisco are the hottest lures at this time. Also, jigging rapalas are working for trout. For whitefish the best spots have been off the weedbeds in 17-30 feet of water south of Gus Rich Point, along the east side at the pump house and between First Point and Second Point, and right on top of the rockpile. The rockpiles just north of the Utah State Park marina haven’t had a lot of pressure yet, but the fishing on those should also be very good for both trout and whitefish. For whitefish use smaller jigs (1/8 ounce) jigging spoons and ice flys and tip your lure with a small piece of worm, wax worm or salmon egg.
Please remember, all Cutthroat Trout that are caught and don’t have a healed fin clip must be released. Large Lake Trout are not very good eating and take a long time to reach large sizes, and while they are legal to keep, many anglers are encouraging other anglers to release them.
Garden City Community Fishery Pond
The pond is frozen at this time and the ice is up to 10” thick. Fishing has been good for Rainbow Trout using ice flys and small jigs tipped with worms or meal worms. The parking lot has been plowed. It is a great place to take kids and beginners to learn how to ice fish!
Laketown Reservoir
Laketown Reservoir is also frozen at this time and the ice is about 10” 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.
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