Tarryall Res

[lschrag13]

Went up to Tarryall Reservoir on Monday (1/7).  Great weather - right about freezing, light wispy clouds but enough sun to be warm and get a sun burn.  Ice is getting thick.  I've got a hand auger and getting enough holes for me and the kids in 20-24" of ice was a workout.  Got a late start to the day - on the ice about 11am.  First hole drilled I got a bite in 2 minutes and snapped the line - best guess is a good size pike.  A couple minutes later my son pulled in a little 12" rainbow while I was drilling the next hole.  Waited until about 3pm for the next bite - a 10" rainbow.  A couple guys fishing said there were fish all over (aquaview and sidescan sonar) but they weren't biting anything they had.  We caught the stockers on worms.

Good luck - anyone have any hints on how to hit Tarryall let me know.  This was my first hard water trip to the lake since moving to Bailey.

[coboy]

Thanks for the report. I haven't tried Tarryall because I fish Eleven Mile most of the time so I've got no hints. I try to be on the ice by 6:30 AM. The early morning bite and late afternoon bite
seem to be the best times. By 11 AM it's usually slowed down. I realize with kids it might be impossible to get there real early. If you don't have a shelter and sight fish or a flasher, it's hard
to tell how they react to your presentation,size or color of lure, or type of lure. I'm not saying you have to have these things to be successful, it helps though. If you can find some structure or
where there may be a creek running into it including the main one you may find some more fish. I stay away from heavy weed coverage because once you catch a fish it stirs up too much
debris and cuts down on the visibility. Good luck and tight lines.

[lschrag13]

Thanks coboy.  I prefer to get out early but the wife was working the midnight shift so I was late getting out with the kids.  I may try to get them up early this weekend and hit it again.  For what its worth to those who haven't fished it I was on the western part of the lake and even though I was quite a ways from shore the deepest water I found was 10 feet and most holes were only 4 feet.  I'm sure for those that know the lake that's no surprise but I'm still getting to know the area after moving here from Montana.  I'm sure the other end of the lake has quite a bit deeper water so next time I go out I'll post a report.  I'm surprised there are fewer people posting reports here than on the MT section of iceshanty so I thought I'd join the fray and start putting up something when i go out.

You're certainly right, not having a flasher or shelter hurts your ability to adjust to the conditions.  Still, out of three groups we were the only ones catching anything so we must have done something right 

[milehighfishing]

I haven't fished Tarryall in a couple of years but have also had luck out from the point that is north of the north west boat ramp.