Flaming Gorge ice fishing timing?

[catchinon]

Someone told me that the laker fishing at Flaming Gorge is best in January. Is that true? We can't go until mid-February. Will the fishing still be good then or should we forget about it? We intend to try for burbot, too.
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[muirco]

Do you have a machine? Gorge is a big place. I stick to when boats can go on it, so I am not much help. Sorry
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[catchinon]

No machine. We were thinking of going to Buckboard and fishing within sled-dragging distance.
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[muirco]

Good luck! I tried dragging sleds one year up there. Never again. Everyone I know where to go, it is a hike and a half. I hope you do well!
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[hookngrinin]

I hear it is best at first ice but I've had many good trips to the Gorge in February. Because of the travel distance, I spend at least two nights and fish for lake trout and burbot.
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[BrigfishJR]

There are lots of good places within walking distance if the road conditions are good. If the snowfall is light there are dirt roads that crisscross all around the lake. If snowfall is heavy or it melts off quickly the roads get snowed in or muddy/rutty and getting around is much harder. Try using Google Earth to look around at the Firehole (Roads 33, 106, 117), Confluence (Rds 11 & 12) and Buckboard (Rds 008 & 009) areas and you should be able to see where to access good fishing from.

In my experience the fishing for laker pups is best from the Confluence south. Haven't had much luck up around firehole for them. I've heard Burbot are best around firehole, never targeted them there, but they are all over the lake if you look for them.

Rd 009 is paved and goes to the Buckboard Marina. It is the easiest way to get to the ice when the other roads are crappy, but I believe your drag might be a bit farther from there to good fishing. It's the safest bet not to get stuck in the snow away from civilization. We often ride wheelers out of there to other fishing holes.
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