(2/15) Bear Lake has open water, but some sheets of ice are still present on the lake. Launching access is available at the Utah State Park marina where the ramp is plowed and docks are in the water. You can also launch boats at the First Point, Cisco Beach and Rainbow Cove boat ramps, but the courtesy docks have been pulled from these locations. There's about six inches of snow on the ground. With cold, calm conditions, ice can form overnight and may prevent launching on some days. The Bonneville cisco run is over. You might still be able to catch some cisco from boats by jigging off the rockpile area using jigging spoons such as Kastmasters and Swedish pimples. Remember, weighted shank treble hooks are illegal to use! Fishing for cutthroat trout and whitefish is good. Anglers have been catching a few lake trout too. Anglers who are jigging are doing the best. Try targeting depths of 20 to 70 feet, depending on location. The best spots for jigging have been off the rockpile, pumphouse, state park marina, and Second Point. When jigging for trout, use tube jigs or swim baits in 1/2- to one-ounce sizes and three to six inches long tipped with cisco, sucker meat or Gulp minnows. Reliable colors are white, green and chartreuse. When jigging for whitefish use smaller 1/4-ounce jigging spoons such as Swedish Pimples or Kastmasters tipped with mealworms, crawlers or salmon eggs. Anglers who have been trolling are also catching some fish, but not nearly as many as those who are jigging. When trolling, use downriggers with minnow type lures and flatfish lures. The best spots for trolling have been off the rockpile, state park marina, Cisco Beach and Second Point. Shore fishing can also be a good method for cutthroat trout. Anglers casting large spinners and spoons off the Utah State Park marina and off the Cisco Beach will do the best. Remember that the trout limit is two fish. Cutthroat trout with a healed fin clip may be kept, but cutthroat trout with all fins intact must be immediately released. If you snag (foul hook) any fish other than cisco, they need to be released immediately. This is strictly enforced.

Reported by: Pugstones