Ice season has been a good one, but it is rapidly coming to an early end. Warm weather has taken its toll on the lakes in the area, as shorelines are becoming soft and opening on all the lakes. Conditions are changing daily and from morning to afternoon. Like always use caution if headed out, check the ice as you go and don’t forget your fishing buddy and safety gear.
Grand Lake- The main body of ice is holding up for now but the shorelines are becoming soft and dangerous particularly in the areas around the rocks and boat houses. Fishing has leveled out for the season and the bite remains consistent based on finding the right depth. Currently, the best bite for lake trout has been in the 50-80 foot rang and the most active fish seem to be biting within 3 feet of the bottom. Loading you jig with scent and keeping the bait profile as small as possible will entice more bites from the eater sized fish. Soft plastics are the best presentation you can have and keeping the colors as natural as possible will pay off. Small twisters and grub style jigs are going to be best but don’t be afraid to fish just a jig head with meat and scent right now. Fish as early as possible and make sure your bait is as fresh as can be. Please keep in mind that the limit on lake trout is still at only four fish on Grand Lake. The rainbow and brown trout fishing is still pretty good but right now you must be on the ice very early and stay silent over shallower water. Small spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with a wax worm is producing the best results. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Jake Foos
Williams Fork - Ice 0 to 10 inches. The ice around shore, especially around rocky shore lines has begun opening up. There are several areas around pressure ridges where thinner ice and open water have been seen. Recent snowfall has made these spots difficult or impossible to see from a distance making a spud bar a very important tool for traveling around the lake. Lake trout bite has been up and down the last week, ranging from good to slow depending on the weather. Small plastics tipped with sucker meat such as tube jigs and Ned rigs have been producing fish in 45 to 65 feet of water Fishing with Bernie Guide, Sam Hochevar.
Lake Granby - Shorelines are becoming soft and covered in water causing access issues, areas around pressure ridges are also hazardous with standing water. Main body of ice ranges from 6 inches to 12 inches but be wary, conditions are changing daily and avoid rocky shorelines. There is still a great bite for smaller, “eater” sized lake trout and the big fish seem to be eager to bite a well-presented jig as well. As we get closer to spring, the bite for both classes of fish will gradually move a bit deeper before they suspend right before ice off. Right now, I would focus you efforts in 45-75 feet of water and find the softest, flattest bottom that you can find. Large tube jigs and swimbaits seem to be getting the best action when targeting trophies and small, small grubs seem to be producing the best bite for the numbers. Its really hard to beat a white or crawdad colored jig tipped with a small piece of sucker meat and loaded with scent right now. The rainbows and browns are starting to move towards the inlets as they await the fresh, oxygen filled water that spring will bring to the lake. These fish are eating small spoons and jigs tipped with a wax worm and/or nightcrawler. Similar to the lake trout bite, the most natural color jigs are going to be the top producers in 6-18 feet of water. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Jake Foos.
The Fishing with Bernie team has been guiding in Grand County for over 25 years. For more info please check out www.fishingwithbernie.com, www.facebook.com/FishingWithBernie/ or our Instagram pages https://www.instagram.com/fishing_with_bernie https://www.instagram.com/fishingwithaltitude
