This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
UDWR Bear Lake Project Leader Scott Tolentino sent in this report for Bear Lake area waters on January 2, 2013 Bear Lake Fishing Report: Surface water temp is 33 degrees. There is ice beginning to form along the shores of the lake at this time and there is a fair amount of floating ice on the lake. Launching is only possible at the Utah State Park marina at this time and there is even ice forming inside the marina with all deicers running. Although the ramp has been plowed you will need at least a 4x4 or perhaps chains to launch. Cutthroat trout fishing has been excellent! Trolling has become difficult due to all the floating ice on the lake, but anglers who are jigging are doing very well. If you can troll, use flatfish or rattling minnow lures trolled off downriggers near the Gus Rich Point/Rockpile area in about 40-60 feet of water. Also off the 2nd Point area has been good. If you are jigging use 3-5 inch tube or twister tailed jigs tipped with cisco or sucker meat. Also, jigging spoons such as buckshots and castmasters are also working well. Cutthroat are eating schooling cisco at this time, but the cisco run will not take place until about January 20th +/- 5 days. We will begin daily updates on the answering machine on January 14th. If you call, PLEASE CALL AFTER 5pm FOR THE UPDATES. For more information about the "Cisco Disco" on January 26th, please see this link: http://www.bearlake.org/docs/CiscoDisco2011.pdf Garden City Community Fishery PondFrozen and ice thickness can vary due to aerators in the pond. Be extremely careful. Water levels are low, but fish can be caught using small ice jigs tipped with worm or wax worms. Laketown ReservoirFrozen and about 6" thick. Be careful around the inlet, but the rest of the pond should be fairly solid. Jigging with typical ice lures and bait have been working well.