Strawberry Report & Conditions

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
1

I was joined last Wednesday (March 19) by 3 other like minded souls for another grand adventure to Strawberry Reservoir. We rendezvoused at the Hub in Heber at around 6 AM for some much needed sustenance before venturing out onto the hard deck. We got to the Strawberry Bay Marina parking lot a little after 7:30 AM to a very brisk -6 degrees. Brrrrrrrrrrr!

There is not even a little hint that Strawberry is ready to give up its ice cap. The edges are good and solid, the ice is thick, and there is NO slush anywhere.

The run across the ice to the catching grounds was anything but brisk. The ice hadn’t thinned since our last trip 5 days prior and was still well over 2 feet thick. The power auger was worth its weight in silver this morning.

The sky on this glorious day was a very severe clear and it wasn’t long before we could feel the sun’s warmth. But the shelters with heaters going were a real blessing while we waited for that to happen.

We were once again parked over 30 to 35 FOW and the fish were in almost constant view on everybody’s sonar. They were hitting a variety of lures tipped with a variety of baits. My two best were the 1.5/2.5 J. B. Special tube jigs tipped with a meal worm and a small green gitzit on a yellow jig head tipped with a meal worm.

Mike is the only one to catch rainbows, kokanee, and cutthroats.

Joe caught a couple of rainbows along with his cutthroats as well.

Big Earl and I only caught cutthroats.

I ended the day with 28 hook-ups on fish and putting 24 of them on the deck. I lost a couple in the hole and a couple just below the hole after watching them circle a couple of times. I had one break-off in the hole but I was fast enough to scoop it out and get my gitzit back before it could escape.

The other 3 didn’t keep an accurate count but all of them iced over a dozen fish, so the total for the day was north of 50.

Big Earl has decided he’s had enough for this season, but Joe, Mike, and yours truly are good for at least one more trip up this coming week. In fact, I think Joe and Mike are up there today as well.

2

I want to be you when I grow up.

3

Very nice Bob, good on you all

4

**Great report and pics…as usual.

Is there a difference between being a die-hard and being immortal?
**

5

I want to be you when I grow up.Here’s a little secret for you; don’t grow up. I may be getting older, but I REFUSE to grow up. [;)]

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**Is there a difference between being a die-hard and being immortal?**I’ll be damned if I know Pat!

7

what area of the bay were you fishing???

8

Nice going Bob, sounds like a fun trip but -6*… are you crazy? I’ll stick to fishing in the boat, even if the catching is a little slow[;)]. Thanks for the report and pics, way to hang in there. From the report that Bassrods made on Powell, it sounds like your trip South this week, might be a good one.

9

My wife and I was there Saturday morning. We rode the snowmobile across the lake to our favorite spot. We were the only people in that bay. Fishing was very good. We drilled two holes, setup the tent an never moved again until we decided to leave 4 hrs later. We also stopped counting after 10, but figure we iced at least 30, maybe 40, between the 2 of us. The ice measured 26 inches thick and no slush. The bite was very light. If it had not been for the Vex’s to tell us there were fish around and a tip sensor to let us know we were getting a bite, I think we would have been skunked. The pole only moved when we hooked up. We brought home 5 nice fat bows that measured 18 inches + or -, and 2 cutts under the slot (14 inches). It was 22 degrees when we arrived and 32 when we left. We had a slight breeze and snow until about 10:30 am.

I too am not finished and will be back in two (2) weeks with my son to continue the saga.

10

Thanks for the report Kj, sounds like a good trip. Strawberry is always one of the last to thaw, so I’m sure you have a few more weeks to go before that starts. Good luck on your next trip.