01-13-2004, 11:13 PM
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]BEAR LAKE FISHING REPORT 1/13/2004[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]As of Tuesday 1/13/04 the State Park marina is frozen. The lake is approximately 1/4 open water, however, there are large sheets of ice floating around. Approximately 3/4 of the lake is frozen with thin, unsafe ice. Access to the lake by boat is very limited, however, you can access the shoreline at 150 S. Street in Garden City. A four wheel drive is recommended and even with that it is still a very rough ride down to the water’s edge. Fishing has been good for cutthroat trout by jigging off the rockpile, however, the ice conditions are making this a day-to-day prospect. If cold, calm temperatures keep up the lake could be frozen solid on any given day. One boat reported they snagged one cisco off the rockpile last week Saturday, but the run is still not on. [/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]In other parts of the lake there is anywhere from 12” to 18” of snow around the lake which has made beach-launching boats almost impossible at this time, including the area along Cisco Beach. Some fishermen along Cisco Beach have been dragging their boats down the snowy shoreline to the water’s edge. Again, this area could be frozen any day and if you come up with your boat, don’t be disappointed if you find frozen water. [/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The cisco could begin to run as early as this weekend (Jan 17-18), however they could begin a little before or after that time. Weather conditions will determine if people can dip through the ice or from shore with waders. Two popular methods can be used if there are open water conditions. One method is squatting down or kneeling on shore right at the water's edge, the cisco will not see your profile and typically come right in next to shore where they can be easily netted by "swatting" the net down on top of them. Another productive way is to wear waders and stand very still in water with your net submerged and wait for a school of fish to swim by. The only drawback with open water is that the weather has to be calm so you can see the fish. If you do not own a cisco net then it might be wise to buy one soon. Some of the bigger sporting goods stores and local tackle shops around the lake stock "cisco/smelt nets", but once they sell out, then they rarely get in more nets before the run is over. Once the fish start running they will only be in for about 10-14 days and then be gone for another year. The Bear Lake office of Wildlife Resources began monitoring the Cisco Beach and State Park marina area on a daily basis last weekend. You can listen to daily reports by calling the office after 4:00pm. The number is 435-946-8501. PLEASE ONLY CALL AFTER 4:00PM.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]**New as of 4:00pm on Tues:***[/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I spoke with the state park this afternoon and they are getting a plow before the weekend and plan to have Cisco Beach area plowed out for dipping (if the fish are there) this weekend. Right now there is a lot of snow and driving along the state park property along Cisco Beach is impossible. If anyone is interested in trying to catch or eat cisco you are welcome to come up on Monday (Martin Luther King Day) and join our local "Cisco Disco" crowd. We'll be at Cisco Beach at first light and hopefully we'll be able to catch some fresh cisco to cook up to go along with homemade scones and fries. Doug Miller won't be up this year, but he will run a clip of us from past Cisco Disco's on Saturday night.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"] [/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]As of Tuesday 1/13/04 the State Park marina is frozen. The lake is approximately 1/4 open water, however, there are large sheets of ice floating around. Approximately 3/4 of the lake is frozen with thin, unsafe ice. Access to the lake by boat is very limited, however, you can access the shoreline at 150 S. Street in Garden City. A four wheel drive is recommended and even with that it is still a very rough ride down to the water’s edge. Fishing has been good for cutthroat trout by jigging off the rockpile, however, the ice conditions are making this a day-to-day prospect. If cold, calm temperatures keep up the lake could be frozen solid on any given day. One boat reported they snagged one cisco off the rockpile last week Saturday, but the run is still not on. [/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]In other parts of the lake there is anywhere from 12” to 18” of snow around the lake which has made beach-launching boats almost impossible at this time, including the area along Cisco Beach. Some fishermen along Cisco Beach have been dragging their boats down the snowy shoreline to the water’s edge. Again, this area could be frozen any day and if you come up with your boat, don’t be disappointed if you find frozen water. [/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The cisco could begin to run as early as this weekend (Jan 17-18), however they could begin a little before or after that time. Weather conditions will determine if people can dip through the ice or from shore with waders. Two popular methods can be used if there are open water conditions. One method is squatting down or kneeling on shore right at the water's edge, the cisco will not see your profile and typically come right in next to shore where they can be easily netted by "swatting" the net down on top of them. Another productive way is to wear waders and stand very still in water with your net submerged and wait for a school of fish to swim by. The only drawback with open water is that the weather has to be calm so you can see the fish. If you do not own a cisco net then it might be wise to buy one soon. Some of the bigger sporting goods stores and local tackle shops around the lake stock "cisco/smelt nets", but once they sell out, then they rarely get in more nets before the run is over. Once the fish start running they will only be in for about 10-14 days and then be gone for another year. The Bear Lake office of Wildlife Resources began monitoring the Cisco Beach and State Park marina area on a daily basis last weekend. You can listen to daily reports by calling the office after 4:00pm. The number is 435-946-8501. PLEASE ONLY CALL AFTER 4:00PM.[/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"][/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]**New as of 4:00pm on Tues:***[/font][/size]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I spoke with the state park this afternoon and they are getting a plow before the weekend and plan to have Cisco Beach area plowed out for dipping (if the fish are there) this weekend. Right now there is a lot of snow and driving along the state park property along Cisco Beach is impossible. If anyone is interested in trying to catch or eat cisco you are welcome to come up on Monday (Martin Luther King Day) and join our local "Cisco Disco" crowd. We'll be at Cisco Beach at first light and hopefully we'll be able to catch some fresh cisco to cook up to go along with homemade scones and fries. Doug Miller won't be up this year, but he will run a clip of us from past Cisco Disco's on Saturday night.[/font][/size]
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