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ATTENTION: With the variable weather we are having it is very helpful for us to get regular updates. Ice conditions can literally change overnight. Please post a report whenever/wherever you go.
With the colder weather many of us look forward to when lakes that are not ready to fish through the ice finally freeze up. As they do so I'll try to keep up and add them to my NEWEST Fishable Ice thread. I need good solid (get the pun?) reports on what is happening. Please post that info in a standard post, on the Newest Fishable ice thread or here. 'Preciate all your help.
The following lakes are deemed NOT ready to get out on at this time, but many people are waiting with baited[  ] breath for when they will be. Remember these are lakes that are NOT SAFE on January 30, 2019 as far as I know.
Bear Lake
Willard Bay 5-6" in North Marina Has deteriorated recently. Areas of open water at both marinas.
Deer Creek Much capped but still open water in several areas. Island and Rainbow Bay area being fished now. Charleston unsafe with several people having fallen through.
Pali  e Mostly open water
Yuba ~3"
Grantsville 1-4" depending on area
Huntington North 3-4"
Utah Lake No truly safe ice anywhere I know of.
Bear River at Benson is now open water. Be extremely cautious on any ice over flowing water.
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Newton will probably be good to go by this Saturday if it gets as cold as it's supposed to, especially since I fished it two weeks ago, so I'm pretty sure it should be good after this next few cold mornings... but still be careful, it was variable ice thickness before so what's off the ramp, isn't what's found by the dam... not sure why, but there was an inch difference in thickness on last visit... Sorry I haven't been back over to check it again, but the fishing wasn't that good, so haven't been in a hurry to go back...
Hyrum could possibly go this weekend too, in areas that currently have ice, there will be large areas with thin ice that will be a no go yet, so check for sure on there as well...
Bear lake will be a while if ever this year... Typically on a good year it will be around the third week in January, but it's a lot warmer this year, so I don't know if it will happen, it takes a lot of cold to stick that pond... Later J
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Holmes Creek usually freezes a while before anyone reports it, it doesn't get almost any sun or wind so just a couple weeks of freezing temps are usually required. Fish Lake is going to be experiencing very cold temperatures as far as the forecast goes into the future so that should be capping soon also.
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You can add The Great Salt Lake to your not-frozen-yet list? Those brine shrimp put up a good fight on super light tackle.[  ]
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Sounds like from another post that there was 4-5" of ice on the west end of Hyrum today and it was being fished... That probably means Newton will be safe to go now as well, but that's just using the associative property and not an actual eyes and bodies on site report... Supposed to get pretty cold here over night, like single digits, so things should be even better in the morning.. I think it will be good a lot of places by new years day... Later J
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Rockport was entirely capped 4 or 5 days ago, and I saw one group - 2 guys- ice fishing near the damn, closest corner....I haven't yet tried it myself, but will be soon. Guluk...
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I understand that SL is the last to freeze, when it does. Around the time Hades does. Gonna have to get some of those #30 hooks and study up on techniques for shrimp.
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Recent reports:
Some fishermen went out on one inch of ice on East Canyon and one fell through. Yup, on my naughty list. Too bad they didn't check before they went.
Some people are fishing Hyrum on 3.5"-4.5" of ice, but there are still open areas that are not frozen. Gonna keep it on my naughty list until it's more solid.
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There were 3-4 groups on Porcupine this morning. Ice is not ieal with 2.5-3”, but inconsistent. Probably come New Years Day, it’ll be good to go.
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I was on rockport yesterday and it had 4 inches of clear ice!
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Thanks for the report. Do you know how widespread that 4" thickness is? Were people fishing it? If it were your call, would you say it's ready for everyone to fish on it now?
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Utah Lake is developing a skim of ice now, but it's a loooooooong way from being thick enough to walk on. 12/30/18
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With the turn in the weather, I'll be shocked if almost all these areas aren't ready to go by Thursday/Friday. It''s been pretty much bitter cold up at Pineview, for instance the last two nights.
My old Geography textbook says that air temp is critical to "capping" a lake, but the angle of the sun, the daylight/darkness ratio, and mountain shade are just as important to building and maintaining ice thickness. We just passed the winter solstice, and the nights are cold and long now.
Regardless, ALWAYS be careful, and be even more careful if you are the first one out on new ice. Very careful.
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Well Pineview is nearly there, but please stay off until the ice is 4" thick. It shouldn't be long and there are plenty of good places around it that you can access safely.
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i have been ice fishing for over 50 years,never have went thru.I fished the narrows yesterday 2 inch of clear ice is plenty for me,with the cold east wind today i am saying pineview is safe to fish tommorow.
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How was catching?
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real small fish,but a blast using my new panoptix.LOL
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Tibble Fork has a foot of ice and Newton has 4"-5" so they have been moved to the Fishable Ice list.
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People are starting to fish the edges in some spots at Fish Lake according to one post, on 4"-5" of ice. It is by no means ready for general fishing by the masses as there is still a lot of open water in many places around the lake. In the words of the poster, "I am certain most of the lake does not have safe ice."
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Deer Creek has ice that is a few hundred yards from reaching the highway on the North end. I didn't check the ice and there wasn't anyone out on it. But at least it is starting to cap.
On my way to work I noticed that the Hailstone arm of Jordanelle has ice on it too. It was open water a couple of days ago so I don't imagine that it is very thick yet.
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