Bear River?

[zburninator]

Just curious but has anyone fished the Bear River lately. With these warmer temps and raid id like to stay off the ice. I was thinkin about hittin the bear but have no idea if the trip is even worth it. If anyone has any info it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
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[gstott]

There's still a lot of ice on it in Cache. It's beginning to open up, but still not fishable. I haven't seen it down in Box Elder though.
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[zman2]

was up in cache yesterday iced up went by the 4 corners still got ice did not go to Corrine,, lower bear at the refuge is ice but its going fast cats will be on soon
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[SkunkedAgain]

Greg has given you some great advice. I'd just add on the Cache Valley Benson area that the refill of the dam is around 65% refilled and that has made the ice scary on top of temperature affect scary. The fish die off has been fairly significant from the reports of floating dead fish that I have been hearing. So if you decide to try it be very careful and if the ice clears as fast as usual be prepared for either ice or open water fishing because it clears fast once it decides to go. I still would like to try it more through the ice, but I'm real scared of it now. I haven't been on the ice since they started to refill the reservoir, but at that point there was 18" of ice on the river channel. That was two weeks ago. Later J
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[zburninator]

hey I really appreciate all the advice. Maybe I'll have to wait just a little bit longer to hit the bear. I just can't wait to get after those big cats
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[SkunkedAgain]

I'm a sucker for not keeping secrets so once it opens I'll post that news. Or ask and I'll check. I live by it so its easy for me to report conditions like ice. Keep the anticipation alive. Later J
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[cuthroat_guy]

You seen some floaters did ya ?
I got to go for a drive and check it out,
We're they good fish that were dead?
I hope all is not lost
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[CoyoteSpinner]

As far as the fish die off, I vote for CARP! Bama and I had a pretty fun time last early spring - below the dam, messing in one of the side canals. Snagging and shooting carp (bows). It was quite a riot - 6lb test and a 20lb carp.

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I didn't swing past the river so much, but if you want some wet water - you might try the bridges. From the Valley View launch area, or the Benson Bridge, or off to the Trestle bridge. I've heard tails about early ice off being hot for Crappie - white marabou jigs... maybe some Crappie nibbles...
I didn't make it up to CJ, but I'd suspect it's flowing there too. Funnel action.

This is my kitchen pass weekend, so I think I'll do some recon adventuring...

[SkunkedAgain]

Must clarify my story, I talked to a guy that seen the floaters at the dam. Said he couldn't tell what kind of fish they were. He's not a fisherman but said there were sure a lot of dead fish floating there. I know its not verifiable data, but it sounds like some fish didn't make it. River looked really scary tonight, I don't think it will be ice fishable anymore this year. Later J
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[cuthroat_guy]

I was wondering if they had got the dam complete yet, with all this rain, cutler should fill up soon.
And with warmer temps the bear will open soon too, I guess we will not know how the fishing is till future endeavors
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[SkunkedAgain]

I can't tell for sure but a lot of sloughs have water back in them now. Probably not many fish yet, but maybe warmer temps in the sloughs will draw the fish back out of the river. I think the usual patterns will be all messed up this spring. Will be interesting, sure hope it will be good enough to be worth fishing. I kind of liked not having to drive very far last summer/fall. Later J
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[BRL1]

Drove out to the refuge to try for cats and carp. Should have taken the ice auger, pretty much no open water. With temps we have now still guessing a couple weeks before it might be fishable.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Bear River started to open today by the Benson church. Won't be long now. Later J
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[gstott]

The river looked pretty much open when I drove over it yesterday. I took a swing around past the marina and CJ and saw quite a bit of open water, though the launch at Benson is still iced in. It's supposed to cool down again this week, but it's supposed to warm back up next week. I don't think it will be too long before it's totally open.

On a side note, I've seen 3 bald eagles in the area this past week. I wonder if they're there eating some of the winter killed fish? The Canada geese and red wing blackbirds are also showing up, so I'm hoping that's a good sign of an early spring.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Hope they like carp. Saw a few bloated fatties up by Sam Fellow - seems as the ice lets up, they get let out.

Sat afternoon- you could launch by the Church - but you wouldn't have anywhere to go - just a body's length along each shore. But once the middle starts to break - it's all downstream after that!

Though - I know buddies that plopped boats in below the dam, and one got stuck up in an ice jamb. I could do without that. Maybe time for a hike to the Trestle.

I have plunked a jig out onto the ice next to open water, and let it drop in. Some spots held up crappie and bass, and they were pretty frisky. But that was last year - didn't work for me Sat.

Might just have to try the Logan or Blacksmith.

[gstott]

The river was completely open yesterday when I crossed it in Benson. Today I crossed it between Trenton and Richmond, and as far as I could see, the river was open in that area too.

I hope most of the dead fish are carp, but seeing as they're super tough, I fear the desirable species likely took it worse. I guess only time will tell.
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[SkunkedAgain]

You guys are correct it is opening up a lot. By today the lower river closer to the reservoir is open and a lot of the reservoir is even open. Won't be long and everything will open. Ran up to the pig this afternoon and the ice 25' out from the edge is really getting rotten I don't think it will hold another week unless it really gets cold again. Anyway get ready for soft water. Later J
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