UDWR Bear Lake Report and Conditions 2/21/07

[BearLakeFishGuy]

[/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]As of Wednesday, February 21, 2007 the ice thickness on Bear Lake is 10-14” thick. There is about 2” of snow on top of the ice at this time. Access to the lake is excellent for ATV’s and snowmobiles. Along the east side shoreline there are several pressure ridges close to shore that keep bulging due to continuing thickening of the ice so you may want to be careful around these areas. Fishing for cutthroat trout and lake trout remains fair but the fishing has been consistent, in that the fish seem to bite at anytime of the day. Lake trout are being taken in depths of 60-110’ off Gus Rich Point area. Cutthroat are being taken in depths from 20-90’ and the best spots for cutthroat have been off Second Point, the weedbeds south of Gus Rich Point, and off the Idaho State Park on the east side of the lake. Use tube jigs or larger Swedish Pimples and Castmaster-type lures tipped with cisco for the cutthroat trout and lake trout. Bear Lake whitefish are just beginning to spawn and the larger Bonneville whitefish should be concentrating to feed on their eggs. Try fishing off the new rockpiles north of the marina, the Rockpile off Ideal Beach, and the weedbeds south of Gus Rich Point. The weedbeds are in depths of 15-30’ and run parallel to shore. Use small lures such as Swedish Pimples, 1/8oz. jigs, and/or ice flys tipped with a waxworm or salmon egg fished close to bottom. 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. Remember a Utah license is valid on the Idaho side of Bear Lake, but you may NOT use a second pole when fishing on the Idaho side of the lake. Temperatures at night continue to remain below freezing so the ice is continuing to get thicker. [/black][/size][/font][/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]We have received several inquires to the GPS coordinates to the new rockpiles. The GPS coordinates for the new rockpiles using WGS84 datum going south to north are:[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]41 degrees 58.097’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]111 degrees 23.682’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black][/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]41 degrees 58.187’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]111 degrees 23.728’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black][/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]41 degrees 58.292’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]111 degrees 23.765’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black][/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]41 degrees 58.418’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black]111 degrees 23.798’[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][black][/black][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]The latest fishing report is also available on line at: [/size][/black][/font][url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/detailed.php?id=1"][font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/detailed.php?id=1[/size][/black][/font][/url]
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