Ice took a while to form this year, but ice fishing is finally here! Here is the first fishing report of the ice season. 

Grand Lake

The ice is 6-plus inches thick with a few inches of snow on top. There is open water in the typical areas out from the channel to Shadow Mountain and in front of the tunnel inlet on the east side. 

Fishing has been good early in the mornings for rainbow trout and brown trout in less than 10 feet of water. Pink tungsten jigs tipped with Niku Flutter Fry or Clam Dropper spoon tipped with a waxie has been working.

The lake trout bite has been fair. Look for them in 25-50 feet of water. A P&D Lures twist tail grub in crawdad or glow color and tipped with sucker jigged close to the bottom has been producing fish. If the lake trout are looking and not biting, try adding scent or a tipping with a salmon egg.

— Fishing with Bernie guide Dan Shannon

Williams Fork Reservoir

The water level is at 76%. Ice is 5-8 inches across the lake. Lake trout fishing has been good in 45-60 feet of water.

Small plastics, such as tube jigs and curly tail grubs in a variety of natural colors (or glow-tipped with sucker meat) have been producing well. When the bite slows down, going to smaller tungsten jigs with a small piece of sucker meat has been the answer.

The rainbow and brown trout bite has been poor.

— Fishing with Bernie guide Sam Hochevar

Lake Granby

The water level is at 75% or about 20 feet low with the ice thickness at 5-8 inches. Additionally, there is a pressure ridge extending from Elephant Island to the south shore of the lake by Sunset Point. Use caution while traveling this area and crossing the pressure ridge.

The rainbow trout bite has been excellent. Target them in less than 10 feet of water along rocky shorelines. White and pink Dynamic twitch tubes or demons have been working well. 

The brown trout bite has been fair, with the best action just after sunrise in 6 or less feet of water with a rocky bottom. Bright orange and gold spoons or 2-inch Gulp minnows have been producing the best action.  

The lake trout bite has been fair to good, fluctuating with our big weather swings. Look for the best lake trout action in 30-65 feet of water. A three-eighths, 8-ounce jig head with a green or glow colored P&D twist tail grub tipped with fresh sucker has been producing well. When the bite slows, it’s time to get out the Clam flutter spoons or blade baits to entice that reaction bite.

— Fishing with Bernie guide Dan Shannon

Staying mobile and moving to find active fish has been the key to success on those tougher days. Good luck to everyone participating in the 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest this weekend!  

The Fishing with Bernie team has been guiding in Grand County for over 25 years. Find more information at FishingWithBernie.com.