User:Scotttolentino/sandbox

Bear Lake History and Facts

Bear Lake is a natural lake that is located on theUtah-Idaho border. It is at an elevation of 5,923 above sea level. It was formed at least 28,000 years ago by geologic faulting. The lake is 20 miles long and between 5 to 8 miles wide and it covers approximately 70,000 surface acres or about 112 square miles. Its average depth is over 84 feet. Bear Lake freezes over approximately every 4 out of 5 years and Bear Lake is the second largest natural freshwater lake in Utah. Bear Lake has a unique water chemistry with a high amount of dissolved solids, mainly precipitated carbonates, which reflect blue light and give it a beautiful turquoise color. Access to the lake and camping are available at the Utah and Idaho State Parks and other private businesses. Specific information can be obtained on the world wide web at: http:\\www.nr.state.ut.us/parks/ww1/bear.htm

Bear Lake Cutthroat Trout Bear Lake cutthroat trout evolved in Bear Lake and are well adapted to its environment. The cutthroat trout ascend streams to spawn during May. The streams are closed to fishing at this time to allow the cutthroat to spawn naturally or allow for a fish trap to be operated by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for propagation of the eggs in a fish hatchery. All cutthroat trout eggs taken from fish traps on Bear Lake tributaries are returned to the lake as fingerlings the following spring. Fishing for cutthroat trout is usually best in the early spring just after the ice breaks up on the lake, the late fall when water temperatures cool below 60oF, and during the period when the lake is frozen over. Slowly trolling lures which imitate bait fish (cisco or whitefish) with the aid of downriggers or lead core line works well when the water is cold. This is also a good time to jig with lead head jigs tipped with cisco tails or nightcrawlers. Ice fishing by jigging spoons or jigs near the bottom at First Point, the "rockpile", and along Cisco Beach are places to try. As the water warms in the late spring and summer, trolling at faster speeds near the surface is more productive.

Lake Trout

Lake trout were first stocked in Bear Lake in the 1930's, and because lake trout do not successfully reproduce to sustain a fishery, stocking is necessary to maintain the population. Lake trout rarely reach sizes of over 20 pounds in Bear Lake due to the unproductive ecosystem. Lake trout concentrate on rocky shoreline areas during late September and October to spawn. This is when they are most accessible to fishermen. Casting large spoons from shore and trolling slowly with flatfish parallel to rocky shoreline areas is most productive. At other times of the year lake trout can be caught by using downriggers to get the bait closer to bottom. Some of the best fishing occurs off the Utah State Park Marina, North Beach Jetty, and Cisco Beach.

Endemic fish

endemic species, meaning they are found no where else in the world. Bonneville whitefish are the larger of the two species found in Bear Lake, reaching lengths up to 23 inches and may weigh up to 4 pounds. These fish spawn in the late fall along rocky shoreline areas. They can be caught by casting small (#0 and #1) spinners from shore, still fishing with a small piece of worm on the bottom, or jigging with small spoons and jigs. During January and February, Bonneville whitefish can be caught vertical jigging over weed beds. Best places to try are off Vals' pump, First and Second Points, Cisco Beach, the "rockpile", and any of the weed beds along the shoreline areas. Bonneville whitefish are also one of the best tasting fish in the lake. The Bear Lake whitefish grows to a maximum size of only about 10 inches and weigh less than a pound. They spawn from late January into March and are sometimes caught by jigging with small teardrops (ice flies) through the ice off the "rockpile" or fishing over weed beds around the lake.

Bonneville Cisco

Bonneville cisco are another endemic species found in Bear Lake. They provide a forage base for the larger cutthroat and lake trout. They are a schooling fish and are found spread throughout the lake during much of the year. You will rarely catch one of these fish except during their spawning run. The cisco spawn in mid- to late January usually over rocky areas. During this time they tend concentrate along the shoreline at Cisco Beach, hence its name. Anglers are allowed to dipnet cisco only at this time of year. When the lake is frozen over during mid-January, holes have to be cut through the ice in order to dipnet the fish. In years when there is no ice, anglers use waders to wade out a short distance from shore to dipnet fish. Cisco can also be caught by jigging silver or chrome colored spoons off Val's pump, First Point, Cisco Beach, and the "rockpile". Cisco are excellent table fare when breaded and deep-fried whole. They taste much like a smelt. Many fishermen, however, will dipnet cisco and freeze them and use thenm as bait for cutthroat trout and lake trout during other times of the year.

Other Fish And Fishing Hints Another endemic fish found in Bear Lake but rarely caught by anglers is the Bear Lake sculpin. Sometimes it is refered to as a "bullhead", but that term is technically incorrect. This fish lives near the bottom and rarely grows more than 4 inches in length. Like many of the other smaller fish in Bear Lake, sculpin provide a forage base mainly for the cutthroat and lake trout, although they have been found in whitefish and sucker stomachs.. Yellow perch are found in relatively small numbers in Bear Lake. During high water years perch fishing can be quite productive through the ice and right after the ice breaks up at the Bear River Inlet structure, Lifton pumping station and at the Utah State Park marina. Other fish found in Bear Lake include the green sunfish, redside shiner, speckled dace, and occasionally brook trout that have washed downstream from St. Charles Creek. Many different lures work to catch fish from Bear Lake, however, you should select a lure based on what the fish are feeding on at a particular time. A key point to remember is lure size. Often fish will be feeding on organisms of a particular size and will not accept size substitutions. Bear Lake is a very unique body of water in that it offers anglers opportunities to catch sport fish that are found no where else in the world. We are confident that you will enjoy success when fishing on Bear Lake. Before heading to the lake be sure to check the current fishing proclamation.

For more information on Bear Lake, contact the

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Bear Lake Research Station 1030 N. Bear Lake Blvd. Box 231 Garden City, UT 84028 (435) 946-8501

Utah Division of Parks and Recreation Bear Lake State Park 1030 N. Bear Lake Blvd. Garden City, UT 84028 (435) 946-3343