Pineview work too. its not far. heck I’m easy, just lazy dont want to drive. And agree with Troll perch are easier for the little one.
I’m a winter perch junkie and have not fished any of the lakes you have listed. If the event gets north of SLC, distance becomes a factor for me. I’d lean toward the perch/crappie options.
Jim
WH2
I personally never had an interest in the burbie ordeal, I have to much mackie vision during the day light hours at FG, and a need to rest the brain once the sun set. But an event closer to home without a Mack drain during ice season I would welcome so either or both of your spots work for me.
[sly]The only thing I can add is,
You and I chatted about this briefly the other day. Here are some of my thoughts:
1. Willard Bay is a “summer” water. Tough in the winter except for a very few specialists. And even those guys often get blanked or near misses. Not a reliable venue to keep kids happy and busy.
2. Mantua CAN be good…early in the season. Gets tougher as the ice and snow thickens and water chemistry changes.
3. Pineview is an excellent possibility. Almost always freezes well and always has LOTS of fish, even if the larger ones are sometimes tough to find and catch. Kids don’t care about size but quantity is a biggie.
4. Rockport has had better days. Has not put out decent numbers for about 3 years. Better for trout than perch…but iffy even for trout at times.
5. Ditto for Echo. Great perchin’ two years ago but a big bust last year. In a down cycle.
6. Jordanelle has not had good ice fishing for about 3 years either. Many fishless days. Very few good days on either trout or perch. But, the perch are coming back. Maybe another year or two.
7. Deer Creek. Has not been good for perch through the ice for many years. Some isolated good reports last year but very few anglers got more than a few and most fish were small. Better for rainbows but with low water this year who knows?
8. Utah Lake. Always iffy with the ice. If it freezes in the harbors early the white bass action can be fantastic. But once the whole lake caps and the harbors get too much pressure the fish move out into the open lake and are tough to find. Usually some crappies and bluegills inside the harbors and around the pumphouse for those in the know. The big problem with UL is that most of the hot spots are so crowded on weekends it would be tough to have a “sociable” group thing without conflicts.
My suggestion is to get an agreement in principle on the top two or three potentials. Then we have to wait for Mama Nature to decide what she is gonna do with the weather and the ice…and the fishing. As soon as there is good ice and some decent reports be ready to slam a party together on short notice. That will require getting commitments in advance and then being ready to rumble when everything lines up right.
**It is virtually impossible to come up with both a venue and a time schedule that is going to work for everybody. Best you can do is get a majority opinion and go with it. There will always be some who can’t make it. Unfortunate but true. **
Pineview Perch/Crappie ice event/party was my vote.
Not sure Willard ice would be safe…most folks will only venture and fish in the marina because of the iffy Willard ice away from the Marina. Plus unless folks didn’t really post info on Willard ice wipers the only fish I recall hearing/readomg about was Crappie.
For us ice fish’n for Perch/Crappie is the way-to-go.
Perch party sounds good to me. They always get lots of participation.
3. Pineview is an excellent possibility. Almost always freezes well and always has LOTS of fish, even if the larger ones are sometimes tough to find and catch. Kids don’t care about size but quantity is a biggie. ** **
Based on what TD said, I’d vote for PV. It’d be a long haul, but I’d make the effort to attend. If it was late enough in the year that the ice was thick enough for a wheeler, that would be a plus as the wife could come with as well.
Jim
I know it’s a drive, but what about Fish Lake?
Curt, one more for PineView, I used up my 1 vote on Willard as it was the best choice at the time and I can’t vote again on the new poll.
Shawn M
Why no love for the slimers? If you go to a place with trout like jordanelle, Fish Lake, Mill meadow I will be there. I just can’t see myself driving somewhere to fish for perch but that is just my .02 cents…
Pineview and I’m there!
We would be open to any of your suggestions. The lakes are all closer for us and don’t require an overnight.
Yuba has trout.Plus perch, walleye and big pike.
It is also closer to the middle than most places.
I would also like to change my vote to pineview seems to be best overall choice based on action. Although I would love to catch a ice wiper [sly] dosent sound very likely.
Yuba is a bust for all species except pike and carp. Very few perch and fewer walleyes…but the last trout taken about 2 years ago had big slash marks in its skinny sides.
None, I like soft, safe water, thanks any way.
Is that so?
At 19% of water level the concentration could be just what is needed to fish the rest of it out.