I recently came across your report online and thought I’d share an update. I’ve been ice fishing the three Highway 88 lakes for over 50 years.

I went out ice fishing on Saturday, January 17. The weather was bright, sunny, and warm, with dozens of other anglers and families out enjoying the frozen lakes.

I stopped briefly at Red Lake around 9:00 a.m., where about six anglers were set up. I didn’t see any activity. The ice looked solid, with no snow cover.

Caples Lake also had solid ice and no snow, but it was crowded, with at least 20 people fishing near the dam and spillway. I didn’t observe any fish being caught there either.

Silver Lake had around 20 people sledding, snowshoeing, and picnicking in lawn chairs in the bright sun around the Kit Carson area, likely because of the good off-highway parking. There was open water at the spillway shallows and also in the middle of the lake.

We hiked out past the old Kay’s Resort parking lot and drilled test holes near shore for safety. There was about 8 inches of good ice just past the melted shoreline edges, but open water about 100 yards out. We drilled our fishing holes in an area where I’ve had success before, in 10–15 feet of water. I fished with my usual garden worms, both suspended two feet off the bottom and slow-jigged. No bites.

Six other anglers hiked around the open water all the way across the lake to the waterfall inlet. We spoke with them when they returned. They were a Russian group who appeared very experienced on the ice. They spread out in a long line while walking, with the lead person testing the ice using a pointed steel rod. They reported not getting a single bite. They even ventured onto ice near the dam—too thin for my taste—and still had no action.

It was a beautiful, sunny day, but I think it was simply too bright for the fish to be biting. Ice conditions on Silver Lake are very spotty right now and not suitable for everyone.

Shared by Rick and Brandee Garcia