Kentofnsl, OldCoot, and myself had originally planned to go to the Burbot Bash on Saturday. Due to the the reports of poor ice conditions at Lost dog, we decided against going. So Kent and myself ended up at Strawberry on Saturday. We headed out of the Marina and hiked about a mile to a spot Kent had marked from a previous trip. Unfortunately, that spot only yielded a few fish. We then headed for deeper water. We found the fish in 25-40 ft. of water. Most fish were taken near the bottom, but many were also taken suspended fifteen feet below the ice. Kent had the hot sticks early on, but I had a fast and furious period near the end, getting me closer to Kent’s fish count, but Kent ended up edging me out. We ended our day with 42 trout between us. We landed no rainbows nor any over-slot cutts. The weather was beautiful! Reports from the marina were pretty slow. It sure looked like a city over there! The hot baits were glow white or natural green glow Radical Glow tube jigs tipped with meal worms or carp minnows. Just a little slush in some areas, but overall, good walking conditions.
The ice was solid everywhere and 9" to 13" at LD.[;)]
Sounds like you had a good time anyway.
How’d I know you were gonna say that, Brody? [crazy] LOL Ralph and Kent heard the report of some guy falling through up there. So I can understand why they called it off for us. All I can say is that we’ve got all winter to slay those 'bots when there isn’t so many people. Although it does look like we might have missed THE social event of the year! [frown] At least I don’t have to clean all those nasty looking beasts! (I just say this to make myself feel better!)
Too bad we missed you guys when you walked past us earlier in the day.
We should of moved out to the area you fished. We only iced a dozen fish.
What time did you start the walk back to the marina?
I’d imagine we left our spot sometime after 3-4pm. Honestly, I don’t really know what time it was. But you guys had already left. Maybe Kent remembers the actual time. He was pretty surprised/amazed that he outfished you for once! 
Too bad you guys didn’t trek over our way. It would’ve been nice to meet you.
Kent was going to call us if the bite was good over there but he never called. The bite stoped at 11:00am for us we moved once into deeper water but the fish would not hit our jigs.
Kent was going to call us if the bite was good over there but he never called. The bite stoped at 11:00am for us we moved once into deeper water but the fish would not hit our jigs.
We left around 3:40 PM. Sorry Mike, I never called because I never felt the bite got good (at least for Strawberry). The last trip up there we caught over double the numbers of this trip and that I consider to be a good bite. I erroneously figured that you guys were probably doing as well as we were.
Kevin, it was a pleasure meeting and fishing with you. It was embarrassing to me for only landing two more fish than you did, considering you were fishing blind and I was using a fish finder.
I was also up there on Saturday, just around Haws Point. Between 4 of us we landed 48 Cutthroat all in the slot. It was steady fishing from about 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 and then got spotty for 2 more hours until completely dying at 2:00. All fish were caught using white tube jigs tipped with carp minnows or mealworms in 22 to 33 feet of water. Reports from the marina were poor, sounds like you gotta get away from the masses to be successful!
My buddy finally got a fish finder and was amazed at how it changed his success rate. He ended up catching more than everybody with 18. I told him he has to get rid of it so that I can continue to catch more fish than him. He told me NO! lol!
I was out there Saturday too, we were one of the many in tent city! My plans were to hike as far away as possible from the crowd, the other two people with me wouldn’t have it.
I caught three with two being right at 23". I used glow tubes with waxies in 25 ft of water…*Man I wish I could go with someone who likes to get out away from the people… *
Where have you guys found the Carp minnows that you are talking about?
I also went up Saturday, but south of the overlook parking lot on the east side of berry. We caught one fish between the three of us and we even walked a half-mile away from the crowds. I have been up twice this year and have not caught one fish, the other time was at CCE. I do not know where to go next but if anybody has any suggestions please let me know.
I caught mine from Grantsville Reservoir a few months ago when they were all swimming around in the shallows. I caught enough to hopefully last me through the winter! You can buy them at Sportsmans or if they don’t have carp minnows they usually have red sided shiner minnows which work well also. Or they have chunks of carp meat that you can cut yourself and tip your jig with. If Sportsmans doesn’t have any in stock you could also try Fish Tech or Cabelas [;)]
A lot of BFT members went to Grantsville and caught a ton of carp minnows, after Ratstar posted a report. I personally caught enough to last 2 or 3 years, probably double that if I keep getting skunked[:/]
Where have you guys found the Carp minnows that you are talking about?
A fellow BFT member kindly shared some with me that he got from Grantsville Reservoir.
*Man I wish I could go with someone who likes to get out away from the people… *
I try to remember to warn anglers that go ice fishing with me to be prepared to walk at least 1/2 mile one way. I have had a few who were struggling after hiking that far on the ice. Not always, but it usually pays off to get away from the crowds.
Kent,
**sounds like a good time. What is the condition up there now? Is it just ice or is there snow on top. Just checking to see if I can haul the ATV up there. **
We walked that far just to get into the crowd at FG
There were snowmobiles and four wheelers driving all over Saturday. There was maybe six inches of snow on top of the ice. There were a few places that there was a little slush, but not bad at all.
I try to do the same, but once we get there they start whinning…I like the excersise and the conditions were the best I have seen at the berry for walking…I dream of the day I have a snow mobile to get to renegede and soilder creek! [;)]