Moses Lake/Potholes

[mburrows]

Anybody know if these are frozen yet.  I mean the big lakes themselves?  My buddy was over there last week and hunted the big lake, said it was not yet frozen but all the small ponds were.  Given the arctic temps right now I wasn't sure if it was enough to freeze the lakes themselves yet.

[vandeman17]

I can't say for sure but if they aren't now then they probably will be by this weekend. Supposed to be down in the single digits at night and only warm up to low 20's or so.

[Mfowl]

I'll bet Moses is frozen over and the dunes on Potholes are probably locked up pretty good. The main lake on Potholes takes some prolonged cold to ice it over completely, however the shoreline could be iced in and locking up the launches. You could always call Mardon for a report.

[LndShrk]

The backwater in the Dunes had 3" of ice a couple weeks ago.

I am guessing it is locking up very quickly with the current temps. The high during the day is in the 20's..

Sounds like good Yote weather. 

[Brad Harshman]

Moses is starting to freeze over but not locked up yet. Think we've had enough winds to keep the main bodies open.  Much of the back waters are froze up good now.  I'll keep you posted.  I live in Moses Lake.

[mburrows]

Thanks Brad I'd appreciate the updates. I'll be over there this weekend but I think well end up in the fields. I plan on trying to get out on potholes holes the following weekend if it's at all possible.

[Brad Harshman]

Just talked to my buddy who lives on Moses Lake, cascade valley/big water area, and the lake froze over last night.

Good luck this weekend guys, be safe!

[rasbo]

I was in the area today 2 degrees,I seen very little open water,,,next two days even colder

[mburrows]

Holy cold! We ended up sitting in fields and hammered some honkers.  That wind on Saturday over there had it feeling like -5. Sunday not as bad but still frigid.  My buddy has an electric coat that runs of a Milwaukee drill battery, may have to invest in one of those things.

And yes I can confirm everything that was running water was frozen, very very frozen.

[dc1608]

I was planning on heading over to the north end of potholes, but it sounds like it might not be worth it.  Thanks for the info guys.

[eastsidemallard74]

I was planning on heading over to the north end of potholes, but it sounds like it might not be worth it.  Thanks for the info guys.

I was at a boat launch on the North End, there was at least 8" of ice. THICK.......
Drove over to the West end of lake, same thing,thick, thick, thick

[dc1608]

Thanks Eastside, any ideas on some open water spots.  I will be hunting from shore with a blind and dog.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Potholes/Moses lake is a glacier.  I was over this weekend and the only open water I could find was on
Frenchmans slew.  I ended up getting 5 ducks but if it wasn't for the other hunters pushing the birds It would have been really slow.  All of the ponds were about froze to the bottom and Moses lake had a big crew on it ice fishing.  Does anyone know if everything is froze up around Yakima or the Tri cities?  I'm starting to think I'm going to either have to hunt Skagit or the Columbia the rest of the year unless I find some open water somewhere south central.

[eastsidemallard74]

You can try the Northend of Winchester, that was open still. Other than that the Columbia. It got REAL cold over here the last week. And everything has iced up

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'm suprised Winchester is still open since everything else looked rock solid.  All the ponds I looked at were about froze to the bottom.  It must have good water flow into the lake.  Thanks for the option. 

[dc1608]

thanks guys for the updates.

[C-Money]

I too saw the ice fishermen, wonder how thick the ice is? It was smooth as glass, bet it was a difficult walk out there without ice cleats.

[Bill W]

I too saw the ice fishermen, wonder how thick the ice is? It was smooth as glass, bet it was a difficult walk out there without ice cleats.

I've been watching the yahoos since Saturday.  There was some open spots on the Blue Heron side.  My guess is they walk out from the city side.

[eastsidemallard74]

I wouldn't go out on Moses for another month, those guys are nuts, even the game warden we B.S.'d with Saturday said those guys are DUMMIES...... Way too early for ice fishing

[EWUEAGLESHUNTER]

You just have to find open water that you have been seeing the ducks hit already. Hunted the potholes Saturday and Sunday and went home with 38 ducks between all of us.

[eastsidemallard74]

You just have to find open water that you have been seeing the ducks hit already. Hunted the potholes Saturday and Sunday and went home with 38 ducks between all of us.

Did you go out off the main launch? I haven't been over there yet

[EWUEAGLESHUNTER]

No, in fact Duck Taxi aka Mardons canceled all their hunts this last Saturday on the big water because of temps and lack of birds. Because of the winds and such a lot of the birds are settling in on the wastways and small ponds that break off of them like the Frenchman and Winchester. I wouldn't recommend people try hunting these waterways in these temps who haven't done it before, its super easy to get lost especially if you like to hunt right up tell dark. I had a couple family members learn this the hard way, they ended up having to spend the night out there, they burnt down a whole tree just trying to stay warm.

[Brad Harshman]

Should be tons of brave souls ice fishing this weekend on moses.   Saw a couple last saturday.  Pretty high risk activity for a few dinky perch.  Don't count on finding open water over here unless its got a good flow.