Mantua Ice

[SkunkedAgain]

Not for sure, but I just drove by and the lights reflecting off the surface had a different sheen to them this morning. I think we may have a little ice. Someone check that after daylight and let me know if I'm wrong. Hoping for good news. Later J
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[cbassonafly]

I was thinking the same thing Jeff. I'll be over the canyon again around 1:00 and will report if no one else has.
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[DjHill16]

Drove by around 745 and sure looked like it had ice to me.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Oh boy start the clock and keep that warm streak away. I'm afraid Friday will clear it again, but let's hope it holds. Later J
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[SkunkedAgain]

That's great news, if you can let us know what you see at 1:00. Would be really cool if we can get a couple inches before it warms so it stays and the cold after the warm could get us safe ice by the next weekend. I don't think we have enough time to get to fishing ice before the warm up, but maybe. Could make two inches by tomorrow night.

Guess it's time for someone to put up our annual be safe and careful post so we don't lose anyone to the ice hazard. Not sure if all Utah board members follow Idaho and Henry's lake much but there were at least two and maybe three people that went through the ice up there last weekend. (They were in shallow water so they got out okay.) So remember fish aren't worth losing your life over. Get your life vests, picks, and brain all tuned up and be careful. Have a rope with you and practice throwing it in case you have to rescue someone or they have to rescue you. Don't drown yourself trying to go out and help someone, have gear that lets you stay safe as you help them out. Anyway thanks for the news. J
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[fishing4thehog]

My buddy was there this morning. He was able to walk about 15 ' out from the ramp. Clear ice but looked thined out farther. Said ice looked to be 2-2 1/2 ". 4 deg expected tonight. Soon !
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[SkunkedAgain]

That's crazy, it was open water last night, well I didn't see the edges, so there must have been edge ice to make that much ice already.. Thanks so much for the report... Dang this may make the decision of ice fish or white fish more difficult this weekend... Thanks J
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[cbassonafly]

I stopped by on my way back through the canyon to check the ice. The lake is covered but there looks to be open pockets of water mostly toward the east side. I forgot my spud bar but I didn't need it. I stopped by the ramp and checked the ice there, the ice wouldn't even support one foot with pressure, I'm 190lbs. Very thin right now but growing, I could hear the ice popping and what not. Use extreme caution, the lows tonight will surely help but that snow storm could be a recipe for disaster along with the forcasted warmer temps for the weekend. It may be a little thicker out beyond the reach of my foot but I wasn't going to test it in gym shoes [:/] just hope that the snow doesn't amount to much and that the cold air stays but I'm not giving it to much hope for the weekend. It was 25 degrees when I was there at 12 and a light snow had just started in the canyon.

One more caution, while I was there someone was on the dam throwing rocks all over the ice... thats always good for an auger blade

Heres a few pics
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[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks Courtney
Appreciate you checking that out... pictures were great too... It will be interesting to see what happens... I'm with you though, I don't think this cap will stick yet... It would be nice, but I think it will blow off one more time before we get good fishing ice... Here's to hoping I'm wrong... Later J
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[Troll]

Yes, life vest, you must be wearing it for it to work...Picks, to self rescue, but you shouldn't have to do that because...

You never ice fish early ice alone!
Have the rescue squad already there...

For the guy going first...the smaller lighter guy, he should have the rope around him, dragging 40' or so, not just with him. Matter of fact it is better to be dragging your rope around than to rely on someone to throw you one.

Me...my early ice days are over, I ustacould, now I wait for 4", 5" is better. So for those that will be out there well before me, be ready, it's not if you will go in, it's when...
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[RockyRaab]

I'm with you, troll. I have no intention of winning the Golden Plunger for being the first to take an ice bath. At my age, the shock would probably kill me.
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[Ahi1953]

just got back from mantua. its not ready yet I walked out just a few feet at the ramp and it cracked and I'm only a 160 lb. looks like its going to warm up a little this week. So it may open up again. getting the ice itch bad
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[cbassonafly]

Ahi1953, sounds like it grew a little over night. The forecast will help tonight too and now I'm seeing cold air staying for Thursday, but that darn snow storm and warmer air needs to stay away! Thanks for the update.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Did you happen to measure the ice thickness? It would be interesting to see how fast it's growing. I got 1/2" of ice on my pond last night so I'm curious to see how thick it is tonight. Didn't get as cold last night as I expected. I think 17 was the lowest and most of the time 21 was the number.

Hey thanks so much for checking and posting up your findings. Sure helps the curiosity of those of us that are still at work. Thanks J
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[Ahi1953]

I would guess less than an inch. once I seen it make that long fracture I jumped off. so I didn't get a chance to poke a hole in it, to see just how much was there. I'm a little scared when it comes to first ice
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[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks that sounds pretty reasonable. Rumor was some kids were out on Cutler today but it's got to be pretty risky now. I'll wait a while yet. Later J
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