12-09-2020, 03:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-09-2020, 03:15 PM by killerhook.)
(12-01-2020, 03:20 PM)catchinon Wrote: Here we go again. I'm going to try to keep a journal of waters that are safe to ice fish. I intend to go to each lake each week to ascertain its fishableness--just kidding. I will be out and about and will report what I know directly but this list depends mostly on good accurate reports from everyone. I have done this for a couple of years now and my overriding concern has always been to ensure the safety of all out on the ice. I will usually not include a water that doesn't have 4" of ice. This is widely accepted as the safe minimum. Let's not have a big argument about this--drowning can really put a damper on a fishing outing. What I'm trying to say is that I, personally, won't give a GO to a place that doesn't measure up. I try very hard to be objective and try not to make recommendations but instead simply report what I read or hear. It's hard not to want to include notes on the quality of the fishing or methods used, etc. but that's not the purpose of the list. I strongly encourage everyone to make regular fishing reports on this board.
Note: PLEASE alert me if anything I have reported is inaccurate or wrong. I love to be corrected (gently) because I like to be right. And in this case it could be very serious. Further, no one should trust anyone else's report of safe ice. It is your respnsibility to check as you go. A spud bar is a great investment for doing this.
December 1
+ People are fishing on Scofield, Huntington (Mammoth), and Cleveland. Some of these lakes aren't all capped over nor do I have a verified report on ice thickness. These lakes should be considered marginal at this time. Exercise extreme caution when appoaching these spots. I do know that on November 28 there was a lot of open water at Scofield and only about 2 scant inches at the docks at Madsen Bay. People were fishing off the docks and on the dam arm. People were still shore fishing the open water on the east side of Madsen.
+ I suspect that many of the lakes in the High Uintas are fishable but have heard nothing specific. Nor do I know what access is like. Please report in if you know.
December 4
+ 8" at Huntington (Mammoth).
+ More people are fishing the dam arm at Scofield. This is the only area there that is known to have enough (you check) ice to fish on until further reports come in.
+ Mantua is a no-go with barely 2" of ice. Maybe next weekend.
December 5
+ 6-7" at Madsen Bay and the dam arm at Scofield. You still need to exercise caution as the ice is probably thinner farther out. Check as you go: you know the drill (pun intended).
+ 6-7" at Mill Hollow.
December 7
+ "Drove up to Mantua around noon today (Sunday) to see just what the pond looked like. It is mostly iced over. Maybe 20 people still fishing, some as far out as most go during mid winter. Talked to a few guys that said the ice was about 5 inches deep out a hundred yards: but the hand he held up only looked like a thin 4 inches of ice. Anyway not too bad, but they said getting on and off is scary because the ice is all broke up and shattered."
December 8
+ "Just checked Mantua, Ice is fractured near shore and still thin. Went out 100 feet to drill hole and got a measurement of 3 1/4 inches." I'd give it a few more days to be safe.
checked Newton yesterday, some large open water spots . ice at the dam was 3 inches thick. I fished there a little but needs to go awhile at Newton.