first ice reports are like playing poker no one wants to show their hand. due diligence is key this time of year . i would not trust this site either unless they post pics or video . lots of people post false reports for points . nothing like driving several hrs and learning the report was a pack of lies .
Reply by: Hawaiian Punch Posted: 12/26/2020 9:21:33 AM Points: 8963
drooir . . . .As a skipper for Aurora Res,I go out of my way to verify a conditions report to avoid just that. May be you don't understand how posting a conditions report works? Condition reports go to the lakes skippers for approval before they get posted.Its the skippers job to approve or not approve a conditions report.Points are only given out by the skippers for condition reports if the skipper says to give out point . . . . .this is to keep folks on the up and up . . . .If you send me false reports/info . . . .it will not get posted.Simple as that! Captan Hook . . .stop in Grandby and visit the local tackle shops . .do some "meet&greet" get some phone numbers and names so you can call ahead for some local info.
I'm with HP. I have never read anything but good info on conditions reports... especially in hard water season. I joined Fish Explorer especially for information on ice safety and it has proven invaluable. Thank you to all the Skippers who volunteer to diligently scan and post this info.
Went to there yesterday, the whole surface was capped, ice was about 1 foot where I drilled. a few fishmen scattered on the lake. I went to there pretty late (11:30am ) because I forgot to charge battery the previous night, fishing was slow. no fish was landed.
i know that my last ice report on gross could not be validated by a lake skipper . because no one else has been drilling holes where i was or has been on that ice . it was years ago and a report on stagecoach it said 12in of ice and it was closer to 36in and they said 12f of water and that area was 5ft . maybe moderation is better on fishexplorer now .
Reply by: Tbubb Posted: Jan. 5, 3:37:12 AM Points: 15479
Captain Hook said: "40 Feet. Probably too shallow for laker. I only stayed there for couple hours, then everyone left :-("
Uhhh... my favorite spot at WF is in shallower water this time of year. I routinely have 20+ fish days there, and have had 50+ fish days by noon twice.
Don't eschew "shallow" waters for the lakers. Keep exploring and keep an open mind!
Me and you have totally difference experiences on Williams Fork. I ONLY fish 70 to 75 feet of water, don't even bother with the shallow. I tend to catch the big 24 to 34's in that depth. I've landed my own 34 and 32 and a couple of mid 20's help FishingJunkie land a 36 incher and at the end of last ice season a 32incher for a budd. I sometimes give the 55 to 60 foot range a try too.
As far as open water I've caught mostly the big ones in 7 to 10 feet of water, my favorite way to catch lakers.
Thanks Tbubb and FishHuntNow for the advice! I went to there twice did not get anything. This lake is brand new to me. I got couple very good bites but did not get them through the hole. This winter I’ll stick with this place, hope can catch pike also :-)
C Hook... You'll have to ask someone else about the Pike. I have hit them OK in water, but never go for them on Ice. I go for the lakers and bows/browns when it is ice season & rarely fish at all on water.
Your conversations are interesting. I fish them in both shallow and deep and am fairly successful in both. They do tend to be small in shallow from my experience but not always. It depends on the ice on and off times for me.
Good luck Lash i was just there on Saturday and it seems as if you can get to most places on the lake and come across 8 inches of ice. As always be careful!
Tbubb, I have been trying to setup tip ups for Pike in shallow area and fish for laker in the deep area. Good thing about this reservoir is that it has a lot steep shore lines, so these 2 places are not too far.
