I made a quick trip down to UL to celebrate new years day. Didnt have a lot of time but drilled a couple holes and started catching whities. There were what appeared to be 3 year classes. some 5-6 inchers, some 9-10 inchers and a few 11 and 12inches. As in the fall the bigger fish were fat and healthy the smaller fish were skinny. The temp was 15 degrees when I got on the ice at 9 am and 16 degrees when I left at noon. The ice was about 5 inches thick. Fishing was fast when I first got there at 9:00 (late start) and slowed around 10:00 o clock. I managed 35 fish in the 3 hours with 15 of them in the first 40 min. Kept 20 of the bigger guys. Will have to get out again a little earlier. I found tipping the jig with a small piece of white bass was the best producer.
Sounds like fun. I would like to go and take my grandson. Could you send me a PM as to the location you where fishing…please.
Glad to hear the bite is on down there I may have to stop by one of these days.
Good job. Sounds like fun down there. I need to get out and for some of those.
yup whities are not big but they are usually aggressive and fun.
BTW sent PM with all the info I could think of. Let me know if you have any other questions
**Nice start for the new year.
What was the ice thickness and how deep was the water under the ice?
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The ice was 5 inches but where I was the water was only 3 feet deep. Was about about two and half feet deeper in the same spot last year. I didnt venture very far since I was limited on time and the fish didnt seem to notice the shallow water. Not sure what the ice is like on the main lake. They were seeing RED…glitter red. There were more than a fair share of dinks but enough bigger ones to keep me entertained. But then I get entertained easily.
**Gee, I’ll have to look for some of those red glitter jigs. I heard tell they sometimes catch a few.
I figured the depth would be about 3’. Seems to be the norm in most of the harbors right now, except for a couple of deeper spots off the docks at AF.
Funny. I have been finishing up my 2012 update for Utah Lake fishing and the lower water level going into the ice fishing season was a question mark. But when I saw the whities still flooding inside the harbors on schedule…just before iceup…it occurred to me that they act more on instinct than on remembery. They got no idea how deep the water is “supposed” to be. They will still come inside where it is more protected and where they can find some leftover groceries in the clearer water under the ice.
You may remember back at the end of the last long drought period…in 2004…there was only about a foot of water in Lindon. But if you walked quietly up to the docks and drilled slowly and quietly…and made finesse presentations…you could still catch a few fish out of that skinny water. It was hard to find any fish in the open areas because there was no overhead cover for their security. And even with 3 feet of water I suspect that the fish will spook quickly when a few folks start hitting any given area.
If the program is typical, we have another week or two of decent ice fishing in the harbors. Then the fish either get hammered too hard or just head back out into the open lake and fishing is tougher.
At least the cold snap lasted long enough this year to make the ice safe sooner. Haven’t heard of nearly as many “polar club” ice swimmers.
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Pretty much over for about a week or so now at the least, as far as I’m concerned. lol The whole lake capped at the same time which always means the end of the white bass winter run. I’m only down for it if it’s every single drop or every single cast lol. Fast action is waaaay fun and addicting If I have to tease them into biting, well that’s gets old pretty quick. On to pineview now. [;)] Then at some point Mantua.
Yea, TD has an in with the dude that makes those glitter red jigs !! Always seems to have a good supply close at hand !!
Yep I bet if you look around you might find some of them jigs[sly]. I think they are moving in and out of the harbors. The whole lake capped about the same time or close to it. I have always found it to be better fishing when the lake was open and the harbors frozen. As I said originally I got a late start and it was hot for the first 40 min to an hour. I talked to one guy that said they have been moving in and fast fishing then they kind of disappear then come back. Yes indeed the skinny water and a crowd dont work. That may also have been why the bite shut down.A few of my best new friends came out about the time fishing slowed with the normal banging, drilling and kids running around. hmmmmm[:/]
Well if TD has an in with the guy I better get on a friendly basis with TD 
. I was going to try that famous pink version but just couldnt make myself switch. I think TD has an in with the guy that makes the pink ones too.
**“That guy” told me that he gots a whole new batch on the paintin’ rack. Makin’ 'em up for the winter edition of the Vicky’s Secret catalog. You should see the early pics of those poor girls out fishing on ice with the scanty outfits they make them wear. Pink stuff next to blue skin just ain’t so purty. Makes ya wanna go wrap 'em in a warm blanket and give ‘em a hug…or somthin’.
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Yup a hug or SUMPIN… Wait this is a family oriented board…Nevermind. I really did intend on giving pink a try. Maybe I shoulda. But everytime I thought about tying on pink I caught a fish. Maybe I really did need to just THINK pink.
**As most of us whitey-whackers come to know, it sometimes just don’t matter nohow what you drop in the hole if those competitive widdle wascals is on the chew. But as we also find…on other occasions…size, color and presentation CAN make a difference.
Always good to have a selection of the “basic food groups” (colors) when you hit the lake…hard water or soft.
It’s good I know a guy who makes all that stuff. But sometimes it can be exhausting tying on new stuff to try to find something that will work on one of the “off” days.
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