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I am interested in Ling Cod fishing the Gorge this winter,
Yet unsure if it would be possible for an older guy alone to pull it off.
I have an ice tent, lanterns, cold weather clothing and bags.
lacking a heater and alternative lighting, ( not dumb enough to use lanterns for heat in a tent).
Do I need some type of cot to get up off the ice?
I would think heck yes, And what do I need for lighting?
Glow sticks too wimpy?
Is it even possible for one old guy to drag all that stuff out there by himself with no wheeler or snowmobile.
Or am I just dreaming?
1sthound
Any ideas very welcome
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I guess it would depend on the night! I know when the skies are clear it gets fairly cold out there after the sun goes down. I have always used a "Little Buddy" heater, when I have fished there after dark - however, I may be a pansy! I would use a cot if I were planning to spend the night on the ice.
You can get to some good fishing areas fairly easy if the reservoir is iced up as far south as Buckboard Marina.
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OCF,
Include me in the pansy camp! Never been to the gorge other than a drive by, Does a guy need to go a long way to hit water deep enough to catch Burbot?
A quick and simple evening trip is a no go for me. I live in Price and its just a shade too far for day trip style adventure.
Well at least for me.
Thanks for your thoughts
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If you hit the early ice at Firehole you can do well and not have to walk far, from the end of the boat ramp to a place you can fish is 100 yds or so. Less than that if you fish off the boat docks. As the ice gets thicker, you might have to walk 1/4 mile to get to a good spot. I have yet to spend the night on the ice there but we have fished from right before sunset till 1am and it wasn't too bad. If you plan to stay the night and don't have an ATV or snowmobile, you will be in for a work out hauling the gear needed to get more than 100 yds from the ramp but again it is possible.
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Wait for the main lake to freeze and then go out. There is hardly ever any snow on the ice due to the wind and it don't snow in that part of Wy..No snow on ice means no problem dragging stuff once you get on the ice. As for a light I use a" Four Head, LED Under-Cabinet Light " from harbour freight for about $10.
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Camped on the ice multiple times, take the cot. I also take a down blanket in addition to my sleeping bag.
As far as lighting, i use a standard headlamp for most needs. If I am running six rods, i put reflective tape near the rod tip, and use a hand spot light to check on them
It's very fun and worth the trip if you are prepared.
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Kind of a no-brainer, but don't go alone and be careful about carbon monoxide inside a shelter with those little heaters. Seems like we hear a  story about people out on the ice AT LEAST once a year.
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Don't go alone. We have spent the night and ice fished for burbot several times. But I recommend camping/sleeping on shore. Much less gear to pack and depending on the night and temperatures, the lake could be popping and talking to you all night making for a long night with no sleep. We usually fish until midnight or so depending on the action and then head for our tent on shore to get some sleep. Then get up at sunrise and get back after it.
We use Thermarest sleeping pads under us and two sleeping bags (one inside the other) and only use the heater to take the chill off when getting up and getting warm clothes on. A cot would allow the cold air to circulate under you. So if you use a cot, use a good pad for insulation under you too.
I recommend using LED head lamps and LED tent lights for lighting. A head lamp is a must when icefishing at night outside of the shelter. It is also very useful in travelling back to shore from your fishing spot.
There are many areas where you wouldn't have to pull your fishing gear very far. Burbot are caught in relatively shallow water (10 - 30 feet) during winter night fishing. Early in the ice season, most rocky shorelines are going to produce burbot.
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Wow!
Shore sleeping never even crossed my mind, That would solve a shipload of problems, Sometimes the blinders block my thinking.
I was regretting even asking the question today while at work, But now with all these answers I sure am glad I asked after all, Thanks to everyone who threw in a thought.
I was thinking at work that it was a dumb idea, But now the way to do it is right in front of my face.
I shall heed the repeated advice of not going alone But it will be a tough one to accomplish, as most guys wimp out on summer fishing let alone ice fishing.
I really like this site a lot, You guys are a helpful bunch
Thanks again Ken
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I camp in the cab of my truck after the bite....never needed to head way out on the ice for burbot where I go but then again the last few year's have not netted a good amount of snowfall to keep me away from the shore.
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Agree with all the replies.
Headlamps are very handy. You'll be busy catching fish so don't plan on sleeping until about midnight, then up just before sunrise. Sleeping off the ice will be way more peaceful with no sounds of 'cannons' all night.
One more thing we found very nice to have is ice cleats to strap onto your boots. The ice at the Gorge is very clear and slick but the cleats will keep you sure footed.
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We camped once overnight at the gorge, 10F was the minimum, and it was stinking cold and we didn't get a lot of sleep. Won't do that again, but we hit the gorge every year and head home after the bite drops off a few hours after dark.
Tent, chairs, catalytic heater with tent cracked open for oxygen, hot hands pouches to keep feet and hands warm, LED lighting plus headlamps, hot soup in a thermos. Dress warm in layers. Make sure you got enough ice under you to stay safe. Ice cleats are a must, seen 1 head concussion from falling on the ice - not pretty.
Just so you know, burbot from the gorge now have a mercury warning, but seems to apply mostly to the bigger fish:
[url "http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/Departments/Fishing/pdfs/CONSUMPTION_FLAMINGGORGE0003675.pdf"]http://wgfd.wyo.gov/...MINGGORGE0003675.pdf[/url]
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One of the best ways to keep warm is utilizing the six rod rule over a large area. Running hole to hole just to keep the ice off and hitting the fish can give you quite a work out. Last year one night, it took me 2 hours to eat a darn apple. Once, I had a quadruple hookup with jaw jackers and i didnt know which way to turn. Never even set my shelter up that night. Just bring two ladles, as they can freeze pretty quick.
Bring the heater though, your hands will thank you.
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