Cisco Run now On!

Photo Courtesy Guy Perkins

There is no longer any ice on Bear Lake. The Utah State Park Marina has frozen over and you cannot launch boats at the marina. Boat launching is possible at the First Point ramp and Cisco Beach ramps. The courtesy docks have been removed at First Point and Cisco Beach due to icing problems. There are a few inches of snow along the east side at this time.

The cisco have finally showed up along the shoreline at Cisco Beach. Today was the first day we have sighted any cisco, so the run should begin to improve over the next few days. The cisco fishermen who were at the beach at first light did not dip net any fish since the cisco came in along the shore around 8:30am. We did not see any cisco off the Utah State Park marina as of today. Anglers fishing from boats have been able to snag limits of cisco off the “rockpile” area in just over an hour. They are also catching some nice sized cutthroat and whitefish while fishing for cisco. Other anglers boat anglers will catch a limit of cisco over the rockpile and then move farther off shore into water that is 60-80 feet deep and use tube jigs tipped with cisco to target lake trout and cutthroat trout. Remember, the limit on cisco is 30 fish (daily and possession) so count your fish carefully. Also, remember that a person may not possess a multipoint hook with a weight permanently or rigidly attached directly to the shank (commonly called a snag hook) or a weight suspended below a multipoint hook unless the hook is on an unweighted dropper line that is at least three inches long.

Anglers (both boat and shore) have been doing excellent for cutthroat trout and a few lake trout off the east side near 2nd Point jigging and South Eden jigging and trolling. Try depths of 40-70 feet. Use 3/4 -1 ounce jigs tipped with cisco, sucker or carp meat when jigging. The trollers are using downriggers with small flatfish and rapala-style lures with rattles in them. You can fish from shore at the Utah State Park marina and anglers are picking up a few rainbow and cutthroat trout. Try powerbait or mealworms under a bobber or spoons and spinners casted from shore. There is currently about 8” of snow along the west side of the lake.

Three Easy Fried Cisco Recipes

Cisco are a popular Utah fish, caught only at Bear Lake for a short period of time. Although these fish are not known for having a lot of meat, they are fun to cook and easy to eat. The meat is typically very high in fat content -- to the point that you can almost squeeze the oil out. Cisco is a soft-boned fish and when you deep fry them, the meat is easily removed from the bone.

Although some people will drop the fish straight into the fry oil right after catching hem, provided is a recipe for an easy batter mix.

Clean & Skin the fish as you typically would any other fish

Cut off head and tail

Prepare the Batter mix with the following ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup flour
A shot of Tabasco sauce, chili powder, or black pepper

Combine amounts until you reach consistency of pancake batter. Place fish in batter mix and flip it to cover both sides well.

With oil at 375 F, lay fish in deep skillet or shallow fry pot and cook until crust is golden brown.

Serve warm with lemon or lime juice.

Tip: If you want to store skinned Cisco for later, toss about a dozen in a milk jug.

Fill with water and freeze. Keep in mind that these can spoil quickly due to the high oil content.

Perkins Recipe

You cut behind the gills and over the back to the other gill. Imagine the cut to look like putting a horse shoe behind the gill to resemble the cut. With a pair of plyers pull the dorsal fin off and then grab where you made the cut while holding the head on the cutting board and peal the skin off toward the tail. The motion resembles taking off your socks. Then cut off the tail and head. Insert the knife tip where the head was with the blade toward the belly and cut it open. You can use your thumb to remove the entrails. Rinse in cold water and lay aside.

Son Chef soaked the thirty little fishes in a can of condensed milk and two cups regular cow. Using my wife’s new “Bullet Grinder” (warning: ask permission before turning the smoothie machine into a cracker grinder) He ground up a tube of Ritz Cracker and a cup of garlic croutons. A skillet he filled with enough oil that the fish could float and heated the oil to 375 degrees. Cook them until brown and then flip them.

Using a tablespoon of lemon juice, a couple gobs of mayo, use your color skills from the first grade and mix enough mustard and ketchup together until it is a light orange color. You now have Artic Circle’s secrete fry sauce.


Since it was Son Chef’s prepping and cooking choice he also prepared his favorite homemade Mac and Cheese.

Eating Cisco is a lot like fondue.  For smoking I use a lemon, brown sugar, garlic powder, and Kosher salt brine. I soak them for 8 hours and then give them a quick rinse. I load the smoker and leave it at 150 for 30 minutes. I then add a cup of dry Alder chips and run the heat up to 225 for thirty minutes.

Cisco Recipe #3
INGREDIENTS:
Approximately 1 Cup cornmeal
Approximatley 1 Cup flour
2 Tbp salt
Black Pepper to Taste (1/4- 1/2 tsp)
1 Cube butter
30 cisco fish

Directions:
Scale and gut your fish. Cisco are best when prepared fresh.

In a bowl mix all dry ingredients
Melt 1/4 of the butter in a large frying pan. Dip wet fish in flour mixture and put in hot butter. Add more butter as needed.

Cook on low heat until brown on outside and cooked through. You can eat bones, fins, and all, as they are small and tender from cooking.

Bear Lake Cisco Update January 18, 2011

After a very warm weekend with high winds the last two days, there is no longer any ice on Bear Lake. In fact the Utah State Park Marina has thawed and boats can now be launched at the marina, First Point ramp and Cisco Beach ramp. There is no snow along the east side at this time. The courtesy docks have been removed at First Point and Cisco Beach due to icing problems on the docks.

Anglers (both boat and shore) have been doing excellent for cutthroat trout and a few lake trout. Best luck has been off 2nd Point jigging and off South Eden jigging and trolling. Try depths of 40-70 feet. Use 3/4 -1 ounce jigs tipped with cisco, sucker or carp meat when jigging. The trollers are using downriggers and doing well using small flatfish and rapala-style lures with rattles in them. You can fish from shore at the Utah State Park marina and anglers are picking up a few rainbow and cutthroat trout. Try powerbait or mealworms under a bobber or spoons and spinners casted from shore. There is currently about 6”” of snow along the west side of the lake.

No cisco have showed up along the shorelines at Cisco Beach or the marina as of today, but anglers fishing from boats have been able to snag limits of cisco off the “rockpile” area the last two days. They are also catching some nice sized cutthroat, some over 6lbs, off the rockpile area using tube jigs tipped with cisco and vertical jigging spoons such as castmasters. Anglers also reported catching some Bonneville whitefish using small vertical jigging spoons and ¼ ounce jig tipped with salmon eggs. Remember, the limit on cisco is 30 fish (daily and possession) so count your fish carefully. Also, remember that a person may not possess a multipoint hook with a weight permanently or rigidly attached directly to the shank (commonly called a snag hook) or a weight suspended below a multipoint hook unless the hook is on an unweighted dropper line that is at least three inches long.

Cisco Disco and Monster Plunge at Bear Lake State Park scheduled

Garden City – Do the Cisco Disco at Cisco Beach on the east side of Bear Lake Saturday, January 22 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Dip a net into the water and catch your share of these small whitefish that make their annual run through Bear Lake.

After the Cisco Disco, drive to Garden City on the west side of Bear Lake for a variety of events. At 10 a.m., register to take an icy swim during the Bear Lake Monster Plunge at Bear Lake State Park Marina. Plunging begins at noon and benefits Primary Children’s Medical Center. Enjoy all day ice skating at the city office building (bring your own skates). Warm cocoa and snacks will be served. For additional information, visit http://www.bearlakechamber.com/ , http://www.bearlake.org/  or call 800-448-BEAR (2327).

Bear Lake Cisco Run-- Update on Ice Conditions

-- Report and Photos from Scott Tolentino

I went to Bear Lake today with my girls to dip some cisco. We got a late start and didn't get there until about 10:00 AM, but we did manage to get about 20. We didn't see any fish after noon, and left at about 12:30.

There was ice at Cisco Beach, but it wasn't great. It was anywhere from 2 - 4 inches depending on where you were standing. I personally would not have gone out on it any further than the hole that I cut because it wasn't good ice, it was just pieces that had frozen together.

By the time we left, there was water on top of most of the ice, it was warm, and the wind was blowing. Those aren't great conditions for ice, so I hope it lasts for those of you who want to get over there. A good chunk of the lake was frozen, but there is a good amount of open water too. It will be interesting to see what this storm does.

Cisco Run is ON!

Photo Courtesy Phil Douglass

The cisco run is officially "ON" at Bear Lake. Some anglers were standing on the ice, others were chopping big holes and were standing in the water in their waders. The run is just beginning and the schools of fish have been small (2-5 fish or so), but I talked to several anglers this morning who dipped their limits.

Those anglers working in tandem were doing better. On person was "jigging" a lure in the hole to attract the cisco and other other person dipnetted the fish. There is still a lot of open water on Bear Lake and therefore, no one is ice fishing since the ice is very "iffy". Several boats were still being launched this morning just south of Gus Rich Point. They were attempting to fish over the rockpile. Not sure if anyone made it over there or not due to sheets of ice floating around.

Fishing has been good off the weed beds south of Gus Rich Point in water about 25-35' deep from a boat. Best luck is for cutthroat, whitefish, and the occasional lake trout. Tubes and castmasters tipped with cisco have worked for the trout and small lures tipped with meal worms or salmon eggs are working for whitefish. We estimate the cisco run will peak next weekend.

The Cisco Disco is on Saturday, January 23rd. The Garden City Chamber of Commerce and the BL State Park are sponsoring some events including a "Bear Lake Monster Plunge", snow sculpture building, a 5K "fun ski" and an actual 5K race for those who are competitive. So if you come up to dip cisco in the morning, don't forget to pack a swim suit so you can jump into the water at the State Park Marina at noon. Donations are going to Primary Children's Hospital. The Bear Lake Chamber has all the details. http://www.bearlake.org/

Remember the cisco daily and possession limit is 30 fish. Please be careful and count your fish carefully or you risk being ticketed for over limit. Also, it is only legal to dip net your own limit of cisco. It is NOT legal to dip net fish for another person.

Cisco Disco planned at Bear Lake State Park

Photo Courtesy Phil Douglass

Garden City – Do the Cisco Disco at Cisco Beach on the east side of Bear Lake Saturday, January 23 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cisco are small whitefish that make their annual run through Bear Lake. Dip a net into the water and catch your share.

After the Cisco Disco, drive to Garden City on the west side of Bear Lake for a variety of events. At noon, take an icy swim during the Bear Lake Monster Plunge at Bear Lake State Park Marina; from 2 to 4 p.m. visit Garden City Park and participate or cheer athletes in the cross country ski and snowshoe 5K races; or build or view designs at the snow sculpting contest. Enjoy all day ice skating (bring your own skates). Cocoa and snacks will be served.

For additional information, visit http://www.bearlakechamber.com/ , http://www.bearlake.org/  or call 800-448-BEAR (2327).