Does anyone know what travel conditions are like at the berry? I am looking to fish some favorite spots back by Renegade and want to know if I can take my sleds across from the marina. How thick is the ice? How much snow? Any slush?
Any help I can get will help me make a decision on this weekends adventure.
I strongly recommend that if you decided to drive your sled out to Renegade, you steer way clear of those springs located on the west bank of the Big Hole area. Stay way east up by Rainbow Point when traveling between the main marina and the Renegade area. The ice around those springs can be thin or non-existent. Me and Bait_Caster learned the hard way! “We’re smarter now!”
See the attached map.
There is always an open spot right at the end of Haws Point. I have recovered lots of fishing gear for people too scared to retrieve it themselves at that spot. Be cautious.
I second the springs! I also had to find out the hard way.
Oh, and by the way, I am definately not trying to discourage you from going out to Renegade via snowmobile. Heck, if I had a sled, I’d go myself. Just go wide around those springs and keep the pedal to the metal!
For sure on the springs. I have seen open water there before. We try to stay clear of them and turn to hit the point out from horse creek. How thick is the ice back in renegade? Any idea? I cant imagine that if we clear the springs the rest of the bays in Renegade would be good for a snow machine. I know I am way anxious to hit the berry because I only made one trip last winter and the slush monster kicked my butt. Should not be too bad this year with the lack of snow.
I fished by the old dam site on Saturday. There was 10 - 12 inches of snow with 3 - 4 inches of slush. I would not take an ATV out on the lake, until the sleds pack down the snow and the slush freezes.
How thick was the ice if you dont mind me asking?
I’ve only been out in the Renegade area a couple of times this year. The first time it was about 9 inches and the second time about 12. Ice thickness is definately not an issue. The slush monster is your biggest enemy.
I drove my four wheeler pulling a loaded sled out to Renagade on Sunday. A snowmobile will have no problem.
I Fished out of the marina on sunday. I took my 4 wheeler out on the ice. Ice was 17" thick where we fished, with 10" of snow on the ice. There were slush pockets 2-4" deep. Many sleds went accross to the narrows and around haws point. No problem for a sled. Once the slush was exposed it froze fairly quick. It is tough going on an atv if you are trying to break a new trail. If you get on a sled track no problem with wheelers. I saw a few wheelers go around haws point, they were using the snow machine tracks and moving pretty quick. I fished renegade nearly a month ago and the ice was 10-12" the first week of january. Stay clear of the areas already mentioned.
Thanks for the info. Looks like renegade is the place for Saturday. the weather looks great so lets hope the fishing is good too.
How’s the slush at Mud Creek? Looking to take the sled out the bay and around the corner to a few spots.
The slush is not deep enough to effect a sled yet, only 2-4" in spots.