Starvation ice could come back! Yuba history for me.

[TopH2O]

I know it's a long shot but we might see fishable ice conditions again soon at Starvation. I just checked the DOT camera at the US40 bridge. It sure looks like the lake ice has reformed at least in that area. Of course snow can stick on very thin ice. If anyone gets over there in the next few days, let us know if there is any safe ice on the lake.
I think I'm done fishing Yuba and making the two hour plus drive from Price. The trip over there was getting old and pricey.

I'm waiting for my friend to post his Yuba report from yesterday. It was slow fishing but his son did get his first two northerns and I was able to coax a 23" walleye into hitting a perch strip.



It wasn't as cold as my facial expression would indicate. I think I was trying to give Ron some tips on using my camera.

Mike
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[spoofman]

[]Dandy Fish H20
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[fish_or_die]

man that is a healthy walleye!

How deep were the pike?
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[TopH2O]

I was fishing in 15 FOW. The walleye came off the bottom and hit my bait which was about 18" off the bottom. I hooked the fish twice and it got off. I thought it was a small pike trying to eat the 5 inch perch strip. I hooked it again the third time the walleye hit the bait. Now she is dinner tonight.

It was the only fish I caught at Yuba yesterday. Hookngrinin and his son caught three northerns. His report should be on here in a while.


Mike
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[fish_or_die]

Thanks man, I'm hoping to get down there tomorrow!

I bet that big girl is gonna make some awesome fish tacos []
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[wiperhunter2]

Nice fish Mike, thanks for sharing your report and pic. I'm happy to see someone is catching some eyes through the ice at Yuba. I've been hearing stories of fisherman catching limits of them last year, so it sounds like they are finally making a come back. Now if the perch would start showing up in larger numbers[cool]. I agree with you on making that long drive to Yuba, it is 2 1/2 hour for me almost as far as the Gorge[unimpressed]. I'll likely fish it a few more time this year, not sure if it will be during the hard water season. Were you jigging or dead sticking it when the eye hit?
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[richmac1]

Hey Mike, it was good to see you again. Thanks for the invite to stay in Nephi. I would have loved to but had work stuff on Thursday. I'm glad to see it wasn't just me not catchin much on Wed. I got a phone call about work and as i was talking one of my rods went off. I grabbed it and was fumbling with it and the phone, needless to say that one got away. I guess that's what I get for talking on the phone while fishing. OH well, a while later I did have another one come by. That one wasn't so lucky. Finally got my first Pike. I did have alot of fish coming up off the bottom but no nibbles. I tried downsizing to a gizzy bug, rat finkies, etc but nothin. Where did you guys move to on Thursday in relation to wed? Sorry for the goofy pic.
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[wyoguy]

Mike, I hope your right about Starvy, but long odds for sure. Very nice 'eye ya got there!
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[TopH2O]

Hey Curt,
I got the walleye while I was jigging the bait just once in a while to attract some northerns. I had a double hook with a 4-5 inch piece of perch fillet with the tail attached. I also placed a large Colorado spinner blade at the top of the 8" nylon coated leader. I think the spinner blade helps get some attention in the murky water. The water did appear a little clearer on this trip. I'd say visibility is 5 to 6 feet.
The fish came off the bottom and I started twitching the bait. Like I mentioned earlier, the fish hit the bait three times before I was able to set the hook and get the fish to the surface. It's the best walleye I've got out of Yuba for at least 10 years.
I'm looking forward to dinner shortly.

Mike
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[TopH2O]

It was good to see you again. I'm glad to hear you had better success than we did on Wednesday. I have one question about your photo: You're on the left side, right?[]

Mike
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[slimmer]

[:/] i also was there wed. got the big skunko. still looking to hook into one off those toothy critters. we tried all over around painted rock. i did get cold with the wind . you must have been in one of those tents around the island. congrats on the nice walley.
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[TopH2O]

No fish tacos when I have walleye. I like to use perch or crappie for the tacos. Walleye deserves the whole plate experience.

Walleye, the other white meat!

Man I enjoyed the dinner. Now you'll have to excuse me, there's strawberry shortcake waiting.

BTW, the MGD was just off camera behind the Zion Curtain.


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[TopH2O]

Forget what I said about ice reforming at Starvation. I just looked at the UDOT photo and I could drive my boat around under the US40 bridge. The ice this morning must have been pretty thin, because it's gone now.

I removed the photo of the US40 bridge. I didn't know it would automatically update. Now that it's dark, you can't see the open water. The 5:20 p.m. photo I posted earlier showed a whole lot of open water.

Maybe Yuba really isn't that far to drive. []

Mike
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[gofish435]

That dinner looks mighty tasty, Mike. I have only been able to catch them at Starvation but they are real fine table fare. There is no catch and release with them if they are over 17". I'm going to try and hit Starvation again next week in my tube if the weather will cooperate. You know you've got cabin fever when you go tubing in 35 degree water.

Way to go on the Yuba Walleye!!
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for all the detailed info Mike, sounds like I need to change the way I fish there. I'm sure that fish made a nice meal for sure. It won't be long now before we see eyes caught in numbers that will be close to those of the pike or at least I hope so[:/]. If that happens it could really turn that lake into a great fishery once again[].
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[hookngrinin]

Mike I wouldn't count on any more ice on Starvy this season.[] The wind really did a number on it yesterday. Yuba is a long drive but not too long. We'll be back after we hit a few other waters first. I bet it gets good close to ice out.
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[TopH2O]

OK Ron you've convinced me Yuba really isn't too far. Let's go back on Tuesday and get there early to try for the walleye. If we leave tomorrow morning at 0600 we could make it there by daylight on Tuesday. []

Mike
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[TyeDyeTwins]

[quote TopH2O]
BTW, the MGD was just off camera behind the Zion Curtain.
[/quote]

LOL[laugh][laugh][laugh]
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[big_griggs]

I am one of those pesky Cruide oil tanker drivers I drive over the bridge Daily and way to much wind over the last few days to let ice form looks like bridge side is done for season Sorry
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[TopH2O]

I think you're right on the ice not coming back this season. It's too late now for sustained temperatures low enough to refreeze the surface. We'll have to wait for complete ice off to get out there with a boat. I'm looking forward to some soft water time over there this spring.

Thanks for your report. Keep that rig rolling safely.

Mike
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