Got a chance to hook up with TubeDude today for the first time out on Utah Lake this year. Beautiful day after the sun came up and the ice melted out of the channel. I launched my tin tub while TD pushed his tube off the rocks at the first spring. Fishing was great... catching, not so much.
One important note: I caught more fish that TD did! A first. I caught three channel cats all about 2 footers and TD only managed a cat and a wb. In all fairness, I was targeting cats and TD was seeking the mythical walleye. We both had a few pop-and-drops but it was mostly slow fishing. No matter.
I had no trouble launching my tin tub. No fish finder to check the water depth but I did a touchy-feely thing with the handle of my net. Depth was consistently about 2 and a half feet all the way out. My next launch will be with my big boat.
Good weather is not too far away now. Need to put a bee on Jeff to get the cat contest fired up. Fun to get back on the water again... even better to have water.
Let it begin.
BLK
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Good on ya, for getting out, its looking like Monday for me, I hope,
did you notice if they had cleaned out the end of the ramp to run my big motor to make sure it will run ok, I can run the bow to get out of the harbor, taking measurements on my way out.
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Hey BLK are you really ready to start that silly contest again??? Yup me too, been getting some other requests to get things going... We initially had targeted March 15th as a start date, but if you guys are catching fish already I may have to get busy and see how soon I can get ready... I was asked to try and not get two contests on top of each other as far as prizes go and such... So if we start we will likely not have any drawings and such until after the Ice Challenge is over... I didn't think that should be an issue since we typically do this contest more for ribbing rights than anything... I think I'll put the rules on line and see if anyone has suggestions of things they may want to see changed... We may not change anything, but if we see some good ideas we will try and incorporate if we can.. Thanks for the bee... Later J
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Thanks for the information I'm going to watch the lake level for a while, last time on UL it cost me $80 for new prop and I never got out of the harbor. Boat at your own risk didn't help much.
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[#0000FF]Man, you didn't waste any time getting on the board and crowing about "beating me". What you didn't realize is that I did not begin using bait until after you had already caught two. That's what I have to do when I let TubeBabe beat me.
Hey, It's all good. I was kinda mean to you a couple of times last year so I owe ya a couple.
We couldn't have picked a purtier day. If only the "Utah haze" was a bit clearer...for better pics.
For the benefit of folks who like details, water temp at launch was 38.2. Stayed about the same until right about noon. Then it bumped up to almost 40. A couple more degrees and the wallies will start to get prespawn nervous. If you hit it right you can catch even some big females just before they get serious about spawning.
Water was a greenish color, but still kinda cloudy from the past two days of north winds. Tomorrow should be warmer and clearer. Then we get some more storms. Wacky winter.
I really did sling a lot of plastics and some marabous in search of "non-cat" species. Had several inquiries but only brought one white bass to the tube. The one cat came on a left-handed blue-eyed chub minnow. Had a few other pop and drops. The cats were tentative, but the one I brought in fought pretty hard for a "cool cat".
There was a procession of bank tanglers and rock hoppers hitting the area inside first spring. But I did not see them catch anything today. Might be a bite later in the day...after the water warms a bit. One of them did say there was a walleye caught there yesterday.
It was good to be out in the red ride again. And it is always good times to share the water with ya.
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I keep seeing that same left hand with the same dirty gray glove over the silver watch band holding the same size catfish. Are you sure that's a new photo? Not the one I see every year?
Richard J
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[#0000FF]Oops! Busted!
I did wash it once...a few years ago. But it just kept getting dirty again so why bother?
Same fish? Some from earlier pics are bigger. Do you suppose they shrink with age?
In the days when we had to pay for prints it made sense to take fewer pics. No excuses with digital. Sorry.
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It was a nice day today and when nice days come in February ya gotta jump on 'em. Looks like cold weather is coming back this wkend and then off and on next week. We could easily slip back into a winter cycle this month. March should have more fishable days so I'm ready to get serious about the cats anytime.
I launched on the south side of the launch and I never even stirred up any mud. I have never hit a rock in the channel but I usually use the electric if it is shallow. I have "autographed" my share of rocks around Bird Island but I know where most of the big ones hide now.
I did not have any boots with me to probe the end of the launch for rocks. I know they dumped a load of heavy gravel off the end of the launch to ease the big drop off that was capturing trailers last year. No indication of any backhoe work to clear away big rocks.
Jeff-- Any time in March is okay with me. You do a good job with the contest and it is always fun... even for us losers.[
] As you say, the fun is in the back and forth banter and getting to know some of the diehard catters.
TD-- Let's do it again. I'll let you catch the most fish next time.[
] And, thanks for the left handed, blue eyed,... whatevers you gave me. I'll put them to good use.
Let it begin.
BLK
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So, you early birds got out and were home before the action started !! I was able to sneak out of the house this afternoon about 3:30, got down to Lincoln about 4 and was fishing by 4:15. There was one boat, a new Crestliner, and a "bass hunter" style rig on the water, with about a half dzn bank tanglers. There was a father and son team wading just off the first spring and they seemed to be the only ones catching anything. They were throwing a 1/4 oz, red hd w/a 3" Kalin chartruse over shad grub. The catching was not fast and furious, but they were pretty steady with the white bass. I was not having any luck, so I floated my basket out to them and they obliged by putting a half dzn. whites in it for me. ( First fish dinner in a long time. Steamed fish, steamed rice, salad. Boss was very grateful !!). The duo seemed to have the channel, because folks fishing either side of them were skunked. So, I got skunked, but due to the kindness of a father/son team, I was able to bring home a fish dinner !!
PS: The early bird does not always catch the worm(fish) !! May have to try it again tomorrow ! Afternoon !
[#0000FF]When waters are colder...early and late in the year...it is common for fish to bite better later in the day after the daytime temps have warmed the water a bit. But most of the year the morning bite is often better, especially for some species.
Also, we of the float tube persuasion are not fond of wind...and on Utah Lake it is always calmer in the morning than later in the day.
Glad you were able to score a meal of white bass. But not sure I would have admitted to a violation of regulations on a public forum. From the 2017 DWR Fishing Guide:
[#FF0000]Donating Utah Code § 23-20-9
The following are the only places where you may donate or give protected aquatic wildlife or its parts to another person: • The permanent residence of the donor • The permanent residence of the recipient • A meat locker • A storage plant • A meat-processing facility You may not donate fish in the field.[/#FF0000]
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Hey Lynn we'll try and get things started as soon as we can in case you find that 36"er early this season... We may be able to get ready for a March 1st start... I know team north is still hibernating so we'll have to wake them up so they know it's time, but we need to give you guys a little edge to make up for the short water last fall... Our crazy river is running so high and blown out this year we may not be able to find fish until July at the current rate... Will be an interesting year and new learning curve for me... Anyway sure glad you guys are still into this contest it really makes it a lot of fun... Thanks J
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Good news on the water depth. Time to pull the toon out and get t ready to go.[
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With your water issues up there we could lease out our waters for half what what we get now. We would only charge a 2" duty per fish.
I did not reread old rules but what if all waters in Utah were available for both teams to score? It would create an opportunity for some social moonlight fishing trips. Maybe even break down walls on our "geographical" prejudices. [
] Imagine a water where the North and the South could fish side by side. Ribbing and trash talk could take place face to face and not on the interweb.
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You don't hava to get so technical, anyway, my basket was floating next to them and they just put some fish in while I was not looking !! Think that will pass the test ?? I was surprised that there was no wind, especially with storms predicted to be coming in a couple of days. It was good to get out for a change !!! Been working on the toon so I can get it on the water, get away from the maddening crowd !! Don't do standing on the shore very well any more . That trying to avoid the wind bit is pretty good, even though we all know you are just trying to avoid Tube Babe's Honey do list !!
[#0000FF]Not tryin' to bust yer chops. And I don't give a rat's patootie about anybody keeping white bass. [/#0000FF][#0000FF][#0000FF][b]After all, there is no limit on them...but they still fall under the "protected" species status. [/#0000FF] However, they are in a population decline after several years of poor spawning during low water conditions...and a severe dieoff of new hatchlings during the toxic algae bloom last year.
I know whatcha mean about not doing bank tanglin' well anymore. Used to do it and love it. But with the issues of advancing age I don't handle long trudges and rock hoppin' too well.
Still going strong in the tube though. I'd be glad to join you when you get your inflatable ride ready for action. Misery loves company.
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We'll take that under consideration. Might be a good idea, but we may limit it to one of your 3 fish. Thanks for the idea. J
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