Winter power plant cooling lake fishing

[reg santos]

I am thinking of taking my boat out this winter and fish at a couple of nuclear power plant cooling lakes. Water never goes below 50 Degrees and is always free of ice but I am worried of freezing when I trailering the boat back home. Has anyone had any issues with their boats/motors? I have a 2 stroke Evinrude 115 HP motor on a Lund 1750 Tyee.

[fxnrxn]

I usually keep my lower unit vertical in the warm water while fishing to avoid any ice-ups. I guess I would just make sure that after fishing, I got my motor lowered (vertical) as quickly as possible to drain everything out, and leave it like that for a few minutes for insurance. It gets cold in North Dakota, and I have had to use a bottom bouncer wire to open up the 'pisser'. Hope that helps.

[Gilligan]

I am thinking of taking my boat out this winter and fish at a couple of nuclear power plant cooling lakes. Water never goes below 50 Degrees and is always free of ice but I am worried of freezing when I trailering the boat back home. Has anyone had any issues with their boats/motors? I have a 2 stroke Evinrude 115 HP motor on a Lund 1750 Tyee.

Are those still available to fish? Ones around here are off limits since 9-11.

[Reg_santos]

Are those still available to fish? Ones around here are off limits since 9-11.

There are a few in Central and Southern Illinois that I know still allow you to fish on. Clieck on the link.

http://www.illinoisgameandfish.com/fishing/IL_0106_02/index3.html#cont

[TomP.]

I have my boat out all year here in Wisconsin. We are lucky pool 4 stays open all year and Dean keeps his ramps open at Evert`s.

In winter time I run RV anitfreeze through all my pumps and live wells and let it drain out. I then plug all my inlets and outlets. My outlets on my Crestliner a wine cork fits perfect tap them in lightly they are done. My inlet for my livewell pump I picked up another screw on screen and then used 3M boat silicone to seal it up. Unscrew my summer one, a dab of silicone and screw on my plugged screen. For keeper fish I use a cooler I take along it is usually cold enough I don`t need water in it.

The motors trim all the way down let drain, tilt all the way up and back down. Do this at least twice some water gets trapped if not trimmed all the way up, and down again. For my kicker I will start it before I pull the boat out and let it warm up. That way the engine will drain any water.

If done properly winter fishing can be some of the best.

Good Luck

[Phil T]

Post your question at FishingBuddy.com. Many fishermen fish a power plant lake called Nelson Lake NW of Bismarck. They should be able to offer a lot of advice.

[oldblue2008]

At what tempurature do you quit the boat fishing? Would you be out there in 10-15 degrees F?
We have open water year round, because of a power plant, and the dock is there to launch. But, we almost always have a breeze(wind) so that makes it not so nice. If temp is in the mid 20's, I don't mind fishing from shore at the hot water return, and can catch walleye, pike and largemouth. I am just not sure if I am up to mucking about with the boat in and out etc when it is below freezing. Am I just getting soft in my old age?
thanks.
Barry

[TomP.]

I have been out there some mornings in the boat -5 but calm wind. The landing can be the biggest problem expecially if others are out and they don`t let there trailer drain as they pull out. Carry sand or kitty liiter just in case.