Strawberry, renegade

[Chuuk]

Has anyone fished renegade yet this year? I know people can be tight lipped and I'm just looking for ice conditions and thickness. Taken the rzr with tracks on it over either Friday or Saturday via the road but it takes a while and if the ice is unsafe it would be a waste. After OCF's report of open water at SC marina I wonder if our plans may be foiled by Mother Nature. PM's welcome. Thanks
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[kj]

I have not been there... yet. Probably will head over on Friday. I will take the road with my snowmobile. It is a nice trip by sled, only about 8 miles or so. Much quicker when you can go across the ice (2 to 3 miles), but I won't try that route for a couple of more weeks. Renegade freezes up fairly quickly. If Mudd Creek is iced over, most likely Renegade is also. We, (my wife and I), fish it a lot durning ice on and generally see only a couple of other parties there. Many times we have the bay to ourselves. I don't know if it is any better than other areas at the Berry, we just enjoy the solitude. We always do well from sunup to 11 a.m. After that, things slow down. That seems to be pretty typical of the entire reservoir.
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[Chuuk]

If you head up Friday please PM me and let me know as we are most likely headed there Saturday. I assumed it would be frozen but you know what happens when you assume with Mother Nature. We may head up Friday but it's not likely. I enjoy it over there as well for all the reasons you mentioned. Good luck.
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[kj]

Lets keep in touch. If you decide to go Friday and we keep with our plan, we could link up. I generally park at the junction by the ranger station (Strawberry Bay and Renegade).
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[Dawgden]

Was up there tonight and the strawberry bay marina had 4-5" everywhere we drilled. It was 6° when we left at 10pm and from what we could see when we got there at dusk looked lime it was capped as far as we could see. I know that is a long way from renegade but maybe it will help give you an idea.
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[icefishingman]

How far out did you guys check? We were on 2 and a half to 3 fishing badger the other day
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[kj]

when the temperature drops around zero, I've seen the berry grow 2 inches a night. Once it caps, the ice grows thick quite fast.
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[OCF]

I too would be interested in the ice conditions at Renegade - If you would PM me or describe on this string. Thx
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[Dawgden]

We fished west of the boat ramp. Off the last point where all the sleds cross the bay (I believe badger bay?) We fished in 20' of water and ice was 4-5". It was pretty slushy and freezing making a thin ice crust you would break through which added to my pucker factor. Would have ventured more if it weren't for that and a late start. I know it isn't much help but it's a little maybe.
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[OCF]

Thank You! That is helpful.
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[kj]

Drove the road to Renegade today on the snowmobile. It was -9 when we arrived at our parking area at 7 a.m. Arriving at Renegade, there were snowmobile tracks down the ramp, but none out onto the ice. I parked and walked out with my auger drilling a few holes until I got to my chosen depth (18 ft). The ice was 7 inches thick with no slush. I returned to my sled and drove it out on the lake. It wasn't too long before others who drove up came out to see what the ice conditions were. They too drove out onto the ice after talking with us. One group went about 1/2 mile further to the South and another North. I noticed another group across the bay to the north a mile or so away. They looked to have machines on the ice also. I do not know how they got there other than from Strawberry bay and perhaps followed the shoreline around.

We stayed until 1 p.m. icing about 20, the largest was 23 inches, a slot buster. It was really slow compared to past times, but the action picked up around 11 when it generally shuts down. The fish would come in at 10 - 12 feet. Around noon, we finally started seeing them come in at different depths, but they mostly had the proverbial "lock jaw".

Good times were had by the two of us. When we left to head home, the air temperature was about 33 at the truck, likely 5 degrees or so less out on the ice. I noticed sled tracks across the bay in one area at Jakes.

All fish caught were cuts except 3 bows. Most were 19 to 21 inches and very fat and healthy.
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[smittyts]

Thanks for the detailed report. Sounds like it was a decent day. I was hoping to hit Soldier Creek in teh next 2 weeks.
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[OCF]

Yes, Thanks for the updated report. I will need to get out next week. Thx
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