Report Date:
http://wildlife.utah.govBear Lake has open water, and there is no ice on the lake. The surface water temperature is about 34??F, and there is no chance of it freezing over for at least another week. There is very little snow on the ground. The east-side boat ramps are clear and open for launching, but no courtesy docks are in the water because of ice formation on the docks. Fishing remains good for cutthroat trout, whitefish and a few lake trout. Anglers who target trout are fishing with tube jigs tipped with cisco or worms right on the bottom in 35 to 70 feet of water. Other anglers are trolling and also catching fish. The best spots have been off the east side in the Cisco Beach/North Eden area, Second Point and the rockpile. Some fish have also come from an area off the rockpile, just north of the Utah state park marina. There's still time to head up for Bear Lake's annual Bonneville cisco run, which began on Jan. 24. The cisco usually spawn for about 7 to 10 days. Anglers are still catching their limits of cisco from boats off the rockpile and off the pump house on the east side of the lake. Try depths of about 20 to 25 feet off the pump house and depths of about 35 to 45 feet off the rockpile. Remember, you must use lures that are legal for fishing for other types of fish while fishing for cisco, but foul-hooked cisco can be kept. Any other foul-hooked species must be returned immediately. Last weekend, an angler caught a 31.5-inch cutthroat. The fish was originally caught and tagged in 2010, and then it wasn't caught again until Jan. 25. Bear Lake is one of Utah's best fisheries for cutthroat trout.