Cottonwood/Steverson

[PhishOn]

I heard a lot of good things about this lake last year. Any of you guys up North ever fish it?

[Sandbilly]

I've ice fished it every year since the G&P renovated it and the only "good thing" I've received was exercise. Some quality eyes come out of there in the spring and fall so they have to be there in the winter but I haven't found em. Those lakes have my number and they are only 21 miles away.

They didn't get a good carp kill when it was renovated so the water clarity is less than a foot. I've watched burns on the vex come in but nothing ever happened. If someone figured out the secret to unlock walleye over ice in Cottonwood/Steverson, I would love to know.

dc   

[PhishOn]

Sandbilly. A friend of mine works with a guy here in N.P. and he says it's the only place he even goes icefishing anymore. Supposedly they just smash the walleyes up there. He said they told him you have to have a atv because they travel an awful long ways to get to where they fish... I'm gonna try hard to get some info on this before the season is over. Bring on the ICE!!!!!

[Sandbilly]

I'll provide on ice transportation, just show me the way.

dc

[PhishOn]

Well that sounds like a winner!! Just got off work and all the little ditches at the Railroad were iced up!! This weekend is supposed to get cold, cold, cold!! Heading to the garage to restring all my rigs and do a little ice dancing!!!!

[ryno]

hello all...i'm new this season to IceShanty.  Along the questions about cottonwood/steverson has anybody fished homevalley?  I ice fished it at ice off in febuary of 98' then the G&P refurbished it that fall. I even went down and checked it out when they killed it off and to my surprise no big perch like we had caught at ice off. Of course the G&P said we fished it out but low and behold that winter fry lake had more master angler perch caught than any other lake in nebraska. think somebody wasnt telln me the truth that they were relocated!  at any rate homevalley should be getting to be a good fishery and it is a deep lake that should produce.

[PhishOn]

I have fished frye and it was good! So you say there was Jumbos caught after they renovated it?? Hmmm..... Never have fished homevalley. I take it it is close to frye??  We better get us a wagontrain of us guys and go findem this winter!! Phish

[Sandbilly]

homevalley should be getting to be a good fishery

It should. Problem is it's a walk-in only lake with the public access coming off the North East end of Cottonwood. That is a long hike. Unfortunately the carp came back in there also.   

think somebody wasn't telln me the truth that they were relocated!

I highly doubt it. Home Valley is remote, the chemical cost for renovation on all three lakes had to be atrocious. Don't think the G&P would have wanted to invest more $$ relocating fish.

dc

[PhishOn]

Sandbilly. So you have to take an atv across Cottonwood and then walk into homevalley? How far of a jaunt is it!

[Sandbilly]

Little over a mile but there is a good sized hill in between.

dc

[PhishOn]

Oh man!! With all the fish I catch i wouldn't be able to haul all of them out with my gear!!

[Sandbilly]

  I like your attitude.

dc

[PhishOn]

Yea i figure if i'm gonna dream. I just as well dream BIG!!!! Got all my rigs ready and just bought me a new sled from Menards that I think is gonna be pretty handy.. Now just waiting for this cold snap so I can head North! Phish!

[ryno]

all i know is when i walked off homevalley that sunday in febuary we were still catching pound to pound and halfers and the ice was terrible(prolly the worst i ever been on with any depth of water) so couldnt of been any more ice fishing done.  not to mention i seen thousands of 10'' and smaller perch along with countless rough fish up to 10lbs when they killed it off in the fall. these jumbos were bare hook and minnow only eaters and that next winter that was the exact same story for frye lake and its jumbos that appeared out of no where.  anyways i have contacts that know the family that owns land on the north east end of the lake and the guy on the north west end is super nice guy that might allow to get in on his property.  still atv's would be very helpful at the least to get around the lake.  I would like to get a recent report on numbers and size before driving that far.  guess could always resort to hit cottonwood or steverson.

[PhishOn]

Ryno. How many years ago was this? We fished frye i think two years ago and it was slowwww.. I would think it would be gettin good again? I agree with the gettin a report before driving up, these gas prices are killin me!! Well if ya ever need someone to go with and split the costs I am an ice fishing fanatic!! Phish!

[ryno]

It was winter of 98/99 that the jumbos were caught out of frye.  these jumbos were exactly like the ones in homevalley...plain minnow on bare hook.  like i stated above that out the blue frye had more master angler perch caught that winter of 98/99 than any other lake in nebraska. I caught these jumbos febuary of 98 on homevalley.  anyways....yea we will have to hook up and do some fishin and split some of this ridiculous gas costs one occurs in search of jumbos and bulls.  I too work at the R.R. as a conductor...until i move to minnesota