Lincoln Beach Question ...

[UTBASS]

I know that there are some hot springs out there ... Has anyone seen steam rising? I can usually head out there all winter and catch whites, largemouth & bluegill. What's the latest folks?
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[utwalleye]

most of all the springs are under water this year. not sure if it's froze around there yet. later chuck
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I have not been down since the last cold snap, but I would bet the springs are frozen over. They were last year. Solid ice from the shore out to a hundred yards or so. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have tubed the area a couple of times in the last month. I have checked out the springs area and have found that there is not enough flow or higher temperatures to affect the water temp in the spring basins. My thermometer showed no difference at all between the temps in the spring areas and the open lake. They will freeze.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There is a bit of steam rising near the first spring to the north, from the boat launch area. But, that is from a very small trickle coming in right about at the waterline. Again, it does not warm the water out from shore even a few feet.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I could see no other steam rising from any of the other springs. They are all covered and pretty much negated by the cold lake water. Most importantly, I could find no schools of white bass or any walleye that should normally be congregating in warmer water. I did not specifically fish for largemouth, but I know in years past that there have been some nice ones taken from those springs too. I suspect that if the whites are not gathering, there is not much chance of active largies either.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My personal theory is that several years of drought greatly depleted the underground reservoirs that feed the springs at Lincoln Beach. We had a lot of water last year, but it takes a long time for surface water to filter down into those pockets. Another couple of years of good water and the springs will probably flow more heavily again. I can remember years in the past when there was almost a geyser of hot water coming out of some of those springs. During the winter months, in those years, you could catch a fish every drop with a small jig in some of the holes. But, the water was too warm for them right at the outflow. That is what created the old heated swimming pools in that area many years ago. It ain't the same no more. But then, what is?[/#0000ff]
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[fishindaddy]

My brother and I were the first ones out there yesterday morning. The entire lake looks frozen from the shore out. We fished out from the first spring and the ice was about 5 inches, some steam was coming up from the shore where the trickle of water came in, but no open water on the lake. We didn't catch anything there so we went over inbetween the dikes for a while and nothing there either.
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