What about that weather?

What's all this damn doom and gloom? Come on, lighten up, think positively. There will be open water east of the Cascades come March 1st. There is open water over here (just none of it 'stillwater'.

I'm going to hike into Lenice tomorrow to see what that inlet creek might be doing to the ice, if I can get pictures beyond the phragmites, I will post some.

Two inches of new low moisture content snow in Ephrata, I shoveled the driveway - with bright sunshine, the driveway is now bone dry, snow's melting even though it is only 23F.
 
It was 9F in Ephrata this morning; I decided to wait until mid-morning before heading out to hike into Lenice. As I passed through George (WA), the temperature was a balmy 14F. At the Gorge Amphitheater exit, the Russian Olive trees were coated with hoar frost, beautiful as the sun broke through. Burkett Lake is on the south side of Road 17 SW and is still frozen over except for a little area where the "creek" that runs through the quality lakes enters. Lots of rocks on Burkett Lake ice.

I'd forgotten that there were some homesteaders between Lenice and Nunnally parking lots, so I thought I'd somehow missed @Shawn Seeger's parking lot. But then I saw the vault toilet and recognized where I was. I pulled into the parking lot, one truck and trailer already parked and set up (don't think it was Mr. Seeger). 22F in the parking lot:
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The north side of Saddle Mountain was beautiful.

Not a puff of wind for the hike into the lake.
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Still snow on the ground - no rattlesnakes.
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Ice at the launch...........
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The only ice I could see on Lenice is right at the shoreline, it was thick enough that it didn't break when I stomped on it but I suspect with
a little effort the launch would be wide open, just like the lake.

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Trout eaters............^

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Beautiful day in the Basin. Enjoy your time, fishing reports to follow, please.
 
I've never been to Lenice. Any idea why this would be open when other area lakes are iced? Just curious.
 
I didn't see any insects, not surprising. I did see one fish rise. I couldn't tell how clear the water is, but it appeared to have decent visibility.

The WorleyBugger fly shop released a video yesterday (Yakima River); 32.2F water. I'm sure Lenice is a degree or two warmer.
 
skyriver said:
Well shit, I'm back in. Looks like good weather on Tuesday. Just hope Lenice isn't the only open water.
Click to expand...
I'd bet a cup of coffee Nunnally is open too. I saw two guys at O'Sullivan walking on the ice that I thought was insane since there is a lot of wide-open lake.

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This Basin lake is still locked up in the launch bay. I didn't hike around the north side to see if B---'s wide open.

I drove through the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, some lakes are still 100% ice covered, others only partially. Nex week with rain and 50F temps should open a lot more water.
 
Buzzy said:
It was 9F in Ephrata this morning; I decided to wait until mid-morning before heading out to hike into Lenice. As I passed through George (WA), the temperature was a balmy 14F. At the Gorge Amphitheater exit, the Russian Olive trees were coated with hoar frost, beautiful as the sun broke through. Burkett Lake is on the south side of Road 17 SW and is still frozen over except for a little area where the "creek" that runs through the quality lakes enters. Lots of rocks on Burkett Lake ice.

I'd forgotten that there were some homesteaders between Lenice and Nunnally parking lots, so I thought I'd somehow missed @Shawn Seeger's parking lot. But then I saw the vault toilet and recognized where I was. I pulled into the parking lot, one truck and trailer already parked and set up (don't think it was Mr. Seeger). 22F in the parking lot:
View attachment 6677
The north side of Saddle Mountain was beautiful.

Not a puff of wind for the hike into the lake.
View attachment 6678
Still snow on the ground - no rattlesnakes.
View attachment 6679

Ice at the launch...........
View attachment 6680

The only ice I could see on Lenice is right at the shoreline, it was thick enough that it didn't break when I stomped on it but I suspect with
a little effort the launch would be wide open, just like the lake.

View attachment 6681

Trout eaters............^

View attachment 6682

Beautiful day in the Basin. Enjoy your time, fishing reports to follow, please.
Click to expand...
Thanks @Buzzy I made it over last night, and can tell you it was 13 degrees overnight here in my weather station at the trailer!!!! Brrrr.
 
Try not to get busted while your over there, Shawn! (far right) ...and leave a few fish for me, as I won't be there for a couple weeks.
 

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