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Just a quick few pics of the ice at Bear lake today this evening. Frozen along the entire east side from the south end all the way up to and beyond rainbow cove. If the weather doesn't screw things for us, we will be scooping Cisco's through the ice this next weekend.
First pic is from the guard station at Cisco beach looking south, next pic is looking straight out from the guard station, and last pic is a quick hole chopped in the ice to check the thickness and look for fishies. Ice was 3" where I chopped the hole.
Hope for no wind or warm weather!
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Thanks Mike. J
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Ice was 3-4" thick off he pumphouse this morning. My son and I caught our limits of Cisco's and I caught one whitefish. The wind is blowing a little and it is above freezing. Most of the lake except the south end blew off last night and there is a lot of open water now[mad].
Be careful if you try it, my guess is that we will be wading to dip Cisco's if the breeze sticks around for another day.
Mike
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Thanks Mike, not the news I was hoping for but what I expected. We had a strong breeze last night so I feared what would happen. Are the Cisco hard to find off the pump house? I'd love to snag a few this year it's more fun than dipping them to me, but I don't get a chance to do it very often. Thanks for keeping us updated. J
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Very easy to find. 20-25' of water straight out. 3/4-1 ounce kastmaster right on the bottom. Fish it with about a three second cadence, popping it like a small hook set every time.
Mike
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Thanks Mike that sounds like lots of fun. Hope the technique is easier to learn than the white fish one was. I never did get back to try that one so next year I'll probably ask again. But the Cisco jig wasn't too bad if I remember right it's just getting over where the fish want to be that is sort of tough. Thank you for the info. J
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Fish it like you're mooching for salmon. 😄
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I'm headed up tomorrow, haven't fished Big Blue since I got out of the military and moved back to Utah. Any advise would be super appreciated! Mainly looking to get the kids on some some fish of any sort, but I wouldn't mind pulling up some of them Lakers or cutts!
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Thanks not sure what it is but I think I can do it. J
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Let it hit bottom and give it a sharp yank up, 20-25' FOW. You'll do fine.
Mike
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Mike do you use a long pole or ice pole? I know Dad used to have an in between size for ice fishing BL I think it was around 4' and stiff with a line counter reel. I don't really remember seeing anything like it around in the stores I think he custom built it. Guess I ought to learn how to do that. Thanks again. J
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I use a lot ng pole.
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Thanks for the help with that. I guess I'm sort of weird but I prefer a stiffer rod for setting the hooks. I have a really soft ice rod and I have a terrible time setting hooks with that pole and if I'm down very deep the extra line stretch makes it that much harder to get a good hook set. I'll have to check the videos so I understand. Thanks for the explanation. Later J
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That will work, I'll grab my summer poles. Thanks J
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