Fished Fish Lake with a fellow BFTer on Saturday. Parked at Lakeside Boat ramp and walked out on the ice. First stop was for perch (a few for me for bait) and a few for Barry for bait and for a meal later. I don’t think it would be possible for the catching to have been any faster. They would even come up about 10’ from the bottom chasing a jig.
Moved out into deeper water (I was fishing 47 feet and Barry was a little shallower). If I dropped down 15’ it was almost non-stop action for rainbows (a little larger than has been typical at Fish Lake through the ice) and an occasional splake. If I dropped down deeper it was a little slower but consistent action for mostly splake and an occasional rainbow.
Fished the bottom hoping to catch a decent mack. Snapped a knot on a solid hook set [frown] (reminder to self to retie knots that have been tied previously). Landed a pup that was right at 25".
Weather couldn’t have been better (22 degrees when we arrived and only a slight breeze later) and solid ice of about 6 or 7" with just about 1/2 inch of crusty snow on top, which was perfect walking conditions.
What were you using? You tend to be a tube jig fanatic, so that’s what I’m guessing. Tipped with…mmm…sucker meat and meal worms for the non-perch and crawlers for the perch. Was I correct?[:p]
Headed down in 3 weeks. Hope to hit the east side pretty hard this time.
Yes, it was. Not much more to say. I love that place. Couldn’t ask for a better day or better action.
As for what we were using, I doubt the perch are the least bit picky, but I used mealworms on a rat finkie for them. The bows absolutely hammered the same rig as the perch and the splake were partial to a maniac cutter bug with perch meat. I went completely through 2 full perch using small amounts when catching the splake (a few bows too). I’ll let Kent share what he used for the macs if he wishes. The only pup I got yesterday was about 8 inches, and I don’t think that is too interesting to most of you.
What were you using? You tend to be a tube jig fanatic, so that’s what I’m guessing. Tipped with…mmm…sucker meat and meal worms for the non-perch and crawlers for the perch. Was I correct?[:p]
Partially correct. I used a white tube jig for awhile but changed to sort of Marabou jig with a plastic body in green and black. Most of the time, I also had a Kastmaster above my jig. I tipped with red-sided shiner, meal worms, night crawlers and perch meat – in that order. Not sure what I do wrong done there, but I only caught one fish on perch meat. As far as what I used for perch, I believe I used meal worms (but could have sneaked a crawler in there). Anything would have worked for the perch and I only care about catching a couple for bait.
For mack fishing, the break off was on a Radical Glow blue tube jig and I landed the one (and several larger splake) on tube/minnow type jigs in off white and a green/black one. Always tipped these with red sided shiners.
I was south of the lodge and saw two guys on one big wheeler head east across to the opposite side. I assume they made it. I could hear their engine for quite a while.
From reading the posts, I guess I’m the only guy on the lake that got small fish. 40-45’ of water, I metered lots of fish that would not open their mouths. The couple I did get were 12-13" splake. I got a few splake and rainbows from just under the ice down to 20’. Again, no real size to them.
I moved into the weed line before leaving to catch a few perch. If I could get my jig down through the 9-10" splake I found 4 out of 5 perch were 8-9", good enough to keep in my book.
I guess I caught plenty of fish but I was a bit disappointed with the quality. Still beat the heck out of chores or work! Couldn’t have ordered a prettier day either.
Glad the fishing and weather were good. Sounds like a spectacular day all around. Now I really wish I would have gone. Can’t believe it was warmer at Fish Lake than in SLC. Plus little wind, can’t beat that. Too bad on the break off.
How much of the lake is capped? Last year it took a little longer than normal to freeze over, not sure if the lake has had the same temps that we have had here in the Ogden area this last week.
We stayed on the extreme south end and as far as we could see there was ice. Someone who has traveled further down lake needs to provide a definitive answer.
The ice was solid all over. there was a little blue spot on the east side of the lake but i dont think it was open water. saw lots of people and a few tents just outside of widgeon bay. We fished north of Mackinaw road 100 yards off in 40 feet of water and it had 7-8 inches of ice.
I was also out there on Saturday on the very North end and the ice was 7-8 inches. We had a blast with the rainbows and caught some browns as well in the 45-50’ range along with some splake. In the afternoon the pressure ridge (that is what I call it) began to thaw and water was flowing onto the ice but it was completely frozen in the morning. It only meant I had to walk further back to the truck. It was a perfect day for ice fishing.
So I am somewhat new to Fish Lake but would really like to hook into some Lakers. I have done research and had my fun with youtube videos but two things I would like to know is
Jigs or rigs
Jigging method
I understand if you don’t want to share, but a PM or at least a point in the right direction (which I did get somewhat from previous posts, thank you kentofnsl) would be appreciated. I most likely will be heading up this weekend.
I have just enough experience to be dangerous, but I will share what little knowledge I have.
I drop my tube jig to the bottom and then raised it only a couple inches and placed my rod on my Jigging Totter rod holder Link to Jigging Totter website.
I found these rod holders work great, because with the slightest bite from a fish the rod moves, and unless a fish moves it several inches, it likely doesn’t feel any resistance. Every few minutes I will reach over and give the rod a couple jigs (not necessary to remove the rod from the rod holder) and then let it just set for awhile. Almost every fish hit right after I jigged the rod. At that point I grabbed the rod and tried to hook the fish. Often, they will hit multiple times. If you have any further questions please feel free to PM me.
I have fished with others who actively jigged their rods at Fish Lake and did well, so feel free to experiment.