Bear Lake info from F&G

[BrianID]

Bear Lake Fishing Report Updated Tuesday, January 11, 2005
During the last three days the Bear Lake valley has received well over three feet of new snow. The lake is totally open water, however, there are some areas where ice is beginning to randomly form along the shorelines. Currently there are no accessible places where a boat can be launched since there is just so much snow on the ground. The ramp at the marina is not plowed at this time. The concrete boat ramp at Cisco Beach was repaired and will be useable for smaller boats once the area is plowed if the lake has not froze. The entire Cisco Beach area has not been plowed and there are large berms of plowed snow along the roadside which prevents vehicles from being driven into this area at this time.
We expect the Bonneville cisco to begin their spawning run within the next week or so, however, we have been unable to monitor the Cisco Beach area due to the large amount of snow along that area. When we are able to access Cisco Beach we will begin making daily morning observations along the shoreline for cisco. We will update our telephone answering machine on a daily basis with the latest status on the run information. We ask that you please call AFTER 4:00pm since biologists need to complete their work during the day and it is impossible to speak to everyone who calls. The Bear Lake office number is: (435) 946-8501.
The most current fishing report we have is from late last week. The anglers fishing the rockpile area and along the pump house and 2nd Point areas were doing very well for cutthroat trout and the occasional lake trout. Anglers were fishing in 30-70 feet of water right on the bottom using tube jigs tipped with cisco.
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[BrianID]

Here's an update from the F&G website that I thought some of you might find interesting.

Bear Lake Fishing Report Updated Tuesday, January 21, 2005
The cisco are running at Bear Lake. This morning the cisco were running in fairly thick schools along Cisco Beach and most anglers were able to easily dip their limits of fish in about a ½ hour or less. The run started on Tuesday and will only get better during the next week. This coming weekend should be excellent for dipping fish, providing the weather cooperates and the wind does not blow. If the wind blows, the fish will move off shore and cannot be dipped. If you want to try to dip cisco you should come prepared: wear chest waders or hip boots at a minimum. The fish are very spooky during years with open water and it is important to remain very still or the fish will simply swim out and around you. The best bet is to keep a low profile by kneeling down along the edge of the shore and wait for the fish to come to you. You can either keep your net in the water or you can try to "swat" the net down on top of the fish in the water that is really shallow (less than a foot or so deep). If you prefer to catch cisco with a hook and line, you should also be able to easily snag a limit of cisco in 1-2 hours of time off the rockpile area or off the pump house area on the east side of the lake. Use a spoon or other jigging lure jigged right off the bottom. Don't be surprised if a cutthroat or lake trout hits your offering while jigging for cisco. The valley has been fogged in with thick fog for the last week. If you venture out in a boat, be sure you have a GPS unit or at minimum a compass so you can find your way back to shore. Visiblity is about 50 yards out on the lake! Remember you can keep foul hooked cisco, BUT ALL OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE FOUL HOOKED MUST BE IMMEDIATELY RELEASED. Remember the DAILY AND POSSESSION limit for cisco is 30 total fish. You cannot catch 30 one day and return again to catch 30 again the next day unless the fish from the first day were consumed or no longer in your possession. If you freezing the cisco for bait you are only allowed to possess 30 fish. This regulation will be strictly enforced.
The lake is completely open water and there is approximately 2-3 feet of snow on the ground. The Utah State Park marina is frozen and no boats can be launched from that ramp at this time. The only ramp where a boat can be launched at this time is the Cisco Beach boat ramp. Only smaller boats should be launched here and we urge you to use caution and use this boat ramp at your own risk. The ramp is very icy and there are several large rocks in the water at the base of the ramp.
Fishing on the rockpile has been very good for cutthroat trout and whitefish. Cutthroat and whitefish are usually right on the rockpile in about 35 feet of water. They are feeding on cisco and their eggs so the fishing for those species will taper off as the cisco run progresses but should pick up again a few weeks after the cisco run is over.
The UDWR will update the telephone answering machine on a daily basis with the latest status on the run information and access conditions. We ask that you please call AFTER 4:00pm since biologists need to complete their work during the day and it is impossible to speak to everyone who calls. The UDWR Bear Lake office number is (435) 946-8501.
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