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Full Version: Can I catch catfish under a bobber?
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Heading to Provo State Park. Thinking of fishing off the dike to the right, on the outside of the marina. If I put some white bass on a hook under a bobber will I catch some catfish? Or do i need to let it sit on the bottom? Taking my dad and son. Trying to figure out how to get them into some fish from the shore. AF boat harbor is closer for me if there are places that are good to fish from shore
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If you can figure out how deep the water is and set the bobber to keep it just off the bottom a little. Growing up in Texas, bobber fishing for catfish was s preferred method.
Gabe
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You sure can. Put a bobber as high on the line as you think the water is deep where you want to fish. Cast out and let the wind and waves move the rig back into shore toward you. When it quits moving you will know that the bait is on the bottom. If you play with your bobber position you can get the bait to move just off the bottom until it settles and stops. You can then reel in and cast back out or just let it sit there for a while. Either position is good. If you use a good big piece of white bass or other bait you won't need any extra weight and you are less likely to get stuck in the rocks.

You can place your bobber for any depth from one-two feet on down if you would rather fish higher in the water column. Experiment around and find out where they are.

You might try the inside of that north dike as well, in the channel. I've even had success fishing around the docks and off the ramps. Have fun, you should do well.
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You bet! For Utah Lake, I would start the bobber at around 3 feet, then start adjusting from there. Utah Lake is pretty shallow, lake wide. I'd suspend a whole shrimp under a bobber, then toss it next to the weeds. Works all the time.
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I wouldn't drive past AF and Lindon harbors to go to Provo. Plenty of cats at either one of those.
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Good point. Can you give some details for those of us who haven't been there?
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I've had good luck fishing the inside of AF and the outside of Lindon. The best producing setup for me is either carp meat or white bass meat 3 feet or so under a bobber. Shrimp, night crawlers or anchovies will work if you don't have any cut bait. I've always done much better with fresh (frozen) bait than anything stinky or rotten. Cast one rod out as far as you can and the other ten feet or less from shore.
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As most people have already said, cats under a bobber are quite common at UL. At Provo, the water gets "deep" quickly along the channel. It can be hard to cast a bobber with 6 or 8 feet of line beneath it. I would try a slip bobber in that area becasue you can adjust the depth easily and cast easily if you want to fish deeper water.

Good luck and I hope to read your report!
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