Author Topic: East Bay, Flathead Lake (Read 8901 times)

streamside · « **on:** Nov 29, 2013, 09:14 PM »

Went to my Dad's place for thanksgiving, northeast corner of east bay, three inches of clear hard ice, with the cold forecast for this week, it should be good to go by next weekend for most of the bay! That being said, our corner always freezes first, your results may vary!

missoulafish · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 29, 2013, 10:00 PM »

Sweet!!!!

tscott1632 · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 30, 2013, 10:17 AM »

Never ice fished for macks. any advise on depth.

missoulafish · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 30, 2013, 12:25 PM »

The whole bay is only about 5' at most so you don't have a lot of options there. Drill holes till you find them.

tscott1632 · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 30, 2013, 12:35 PM »

I guess I will try around 5 feet then.
Thanks

missoulafish · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 30, 2013, 07:24 PM »

The macs push the young of the year perch right up as shallow as they can go. I've caught big perch, macs and whitefish in as little as 12" of water

streamside · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 30, 2013, 08:27 PM »

In front of Dad's place, I've seen the macs with their belly's in the mud and their backs on the bottom of the ice. We always try to fish in about 18 inches of water or more. To me, it seems like they roam around in packs, if one person gets a hit, everyone else should be ready. Once they scatter the baby perch, there will be a lull in the action, until the next wave.

Tacojuan · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 01, 2013, 11:27 AM »

Just curious what's a mac

TooLucky406 · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 01, 2013, 11:42 AM »

Quote from: Tacojuan on Dec 01, 2013, 11:27 AM

Just curious what's a mac

Mac is short for Mackinaw or Lake Trout.

tscott1632 · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 01, 2013, 11:56 AM »

you guys are getting me pumped. That's on the reservation to isn't it and if im not mistaking you can use a whole dead perch for bait on the res. Do you guys ever use the jigging rap out there or just bait.

TooLucky406 · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 01, 2013, 12:16 PM »

Yes it's in the Res and Can't use whole perch! Lots of info on how to target the Mac on East Bay in the MT Fishing Report and Conditions page under Flathead/Lake, Flathead County. Haven't use the jigging rap, but used a swim bait perch type, although the standard Lake Trout glow squid work better for me, tip with cut bait or scented.

A1 · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 01, 2013, 07:43 PM »

Macks thru the ice! Gonna head out this weekend hopefully gonna nail em!

streamside · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 02, 2013, 03:25 PM »

With the rain last night and the strong southwest winds today, looks like it's back to square one on the ice front. Hopefully the winds will die out when the cold moves in, and it was such nice hard ice

wingnutty · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 02, 2013, 07:30 PM »

I think with the forecasted temps ice shouldn't be a problem.

streamside · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 02, 2013, 09:27 PM »

I'm with ya Wing, was so disappointed to see all the ice gone today, but the bay is more than ready to freeze, and it goes hard fast. I will keep an eye on it with this weather, and let everyone know.

tscott1632 · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 02, 2013, 09:35 PM »

Thanks for all the updates streamside. Nice to get a report from someone who has a cabin on the bay. Check out your messages i had some questions about your drill auger that i read in a previous post.

TooLucky406 · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 10:20 AM »

Anyone in the area or drive by East Bay lately? How's the ice coming along? Appreciated!

missoulafish · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 10:49 AM »

Can't tell from the web cam but the whole bay looks frozen....maybe not?
http://www.ktvq.com/pages/cameras-polson-eyecam/

streamside · « **Reply #18 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 10:58 AM »

Hey Hippie, that's Polson bay, I'll pop over to Dad's and check the ice this afternoon and post my findings, I'm sure the post will be positive

TooLucky406 · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 11:07 AM »

Awesome!.... Thanks guys!

missoulafish · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 11:08 AM »

Lol, it was as good as I could find;)

The Rezerend · « **Reply #21 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 01:44 PM »

http://webcam2.flbs.umt.edu/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=4657

Yellow Bay is getting some weather

Hydro · « **Reply #22 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 01:58 PM »

Quote from: streamside on Dec 05, 2013, 10:58 AM

Hey Hippie, that's Polson bay, I'll pop over to Dad's and check the ice this afternoon and post my findings, I'm sure the post will be positive

Thanks Streamside!

streamside · « **Reply #23 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 06:40 PM »

So East Bay is good to go with over 4 inches of clear hard ice, looks like it is frozen as far out as you can see. There were guys out fishing off the Ducharme access.

missoulafish · « **Reply #24 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 06:53 PM »

Groovy!

Hydro · « **Reply #25 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 07:48 PM »

Is there anywhere else to access East Bay besides Ducharme? Anybody accessing via the Finley Point side?

Hey Streamside - Did you see any ice on Skidoo Bay?

coldcreekchris · « **Reply #26 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 07:55 PM »

even tho I was a downer Debbie about flathead freezing over...I am looking forward to skiing from the put in at east bay...and skiing all the way to the campground in finley point....with my hand held strikemaster on my back,.hopefully skiing back with some 11 inch perch. if not....skiing across east bay will be a good day.....

streamside · « **Reply #27 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 08:34 PM »

Ducharme is the only public access on East Bay, unless you know someone

, haven't checked Skidoo bay, but several of the places I take care of are on that bay, I've never seen it freeze over, but I'll check on it, there is a good public access over there, somewhat unknown, but I can point you to it should the bay ice up.

coldcreekchris · « **Reply #28 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 08:49 PM »

in the mid 90's...maybe 95 or 96.. I put on my hockey skates and skated from ducharme to skidoo..once I hit the campground in finley point...things changed ...maybe the wind..depth or lake currents....I did however stay within 100 yds of shore.....I would imagine its freezing up good....but look for birds in open water.. east bay will be fine..but when you round the corner.... its crazy when it freezes....it can go from 8 inches of solid to open water in just a matter of a hundred yards...be safe......

coldcreekchris · « **Reply #29 on:** Dec 05, 2013, 09:38 PM »

Quote from: streamside on Dec 05, 2013, 08:34 PM

Ducharme is the only public access on East Bay, unless you know someone , haven't checked Skidoo bay, but several of the places I take care of are on that bay, I've never seen it freeze over, but I'll check on it, there is a good public access over there, somewhat unknown, but I can point you to it should the bay ice up.

not to be a downer..my head is on straight tonite.....but the access to skidoo bay is a one lane road thru million dollar homes....if you know someone who would let you park in their drive.....you'd be psyched......yes..this is probably the easiest access to one of/if not the deepest parts of the lake......but that access in skidoo has no parking lot.....if you drive thru the gate there is plenty of room but sometimes the gate is locked....and like I said it is on a one lane road in a community setting.....if you got an in..... great......if not.. there is an option from walking down from the smokehouse...still need to trespass.....or hoofing it from finley point....or skate or ski it.....regardless if skidoo freezes over....the only holes you will see will be most likely yourown.....could be worth the effort...good luck.....

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Author Topic: East Bay, Flathead Lake (Read 8901 times)