HEY ALL, I HAVE NEVER CAUGHT A LMB ON PURPOSE, I HAVE FLIPPED A LURE OR TWO AT SOME UNKNOWINGLY ON A POND JUST OFF I80 RIGHT BEFORE THE TOOELE EXIT. I WAS JUST FISHIN CAUSE I HEARD THERE WERE FISH, MY QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.......
1. WHAT AND WHERE DO I NEED TO TARGET THEN AT FLAMING GORGE?
2. ARE THERE ANY LAKES/PONDS NEAR TO SLC THAT ONE COULD MAKE A DAY TRIP TO FOR SOME GOOD LMB ACTION? I HAVE SOME SPINNER, BUZZ BAITS, AND OF COURSE THE ASSORTMENT OF RAPALAS, POPPERS, AND SKITTER PROPS. SOFT PLASTICS TOO...I HAVE GATHERED HERE AND THERE BUYING KITS AND SUCH, I JUST HAVE NEVER TARGETED LMB BEFORE AND I FIGURE I HAVE COLLECTED ALL THIS STUFF......I MAY AS WELL USE IT.
THANKS AND LATERS,
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I don't know if there are many or any largemouth in Flaming Gorge. If so they are in the upper end in Wyoming. But there are tons of smallmouth bass all over the lake. just use brown, green, chartruese, black jigs or spinners, or Rapala's along the shore in 2-10 ft this spring then drop deeper to about 20 as it gets hotter.
As for SLC LM bass, I'd go to either Utah lake or Deer Creek at the Provo River inlet. Some of the community ponds have LM bass too. For SM bass try Deer Creek or Jordanelle.
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I have caught largemouth in both Jordanelle and Deer Creek..... I would fish around Lindon Boat harbor and the Jordan river outlet on Utah lake for the largemouth. I guess if you have a boat, then around Bird Island might be tolerable too... there are a couple of the community ponds that have them and some other little "areas" around but those you have to find for yourself. Sounds like you found one by Tooele but beware, the weeds go nuts later in the summer and it makes it hard to even move on that bit of water. Better then to go to a lake somewhere. Jigs and soft plastics are probably your best bet around here anyway... you might try plastics at Utah lake... you might get a walleye or two by accident. You might oughtta make a trip to Sportsmans.... I don't know, the guys at the Provo store seemed to be much more helpful than the guys here in SLC.... Holding their cards close to the vest maybe?? I don't know. Good luck though.
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i caught several LM at lindon and AFBH last year plastic worms and spinner baits worked best cast parallel and tight to the bank i would give it a another week of weather like this and they should be in shallow soaking up the warming water
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Do a search in the float-tube forum, or this forum for posts by SturgeonKid. He and TubeDude taught me via email and this board about catching LMB at Utah Lake. Here is what they told me in summary (as best as I can remember it).
1) If you fishing more than a rod length away from structure, e.g., dike or docks, you won't catch much. Fish parallel to the structure as bass in murky water will tend to be more in the shallow area.
2)Black & Blue Jig n pig (weedless jig with a plastic trailer that resemble crawdad claws. Fish slow.
3) Lipless crankbaits in various colors that match available forage. Available forage in Utah lake are baby carp (golden/yellow), baby white bass, small perch (e.g., firetiger), bluegill etc.
4) dark colors (black/blue/brown/olive) or chartruese tend to work best
5) Use gold/copper spinners. That color shows up better than silver in murky water.
6) If using a spinnerbait, make sure you have colorado blades (gold/copper) as they give off the most vibration rather than willow-leaf blades.
7) wacky rigged senkos fished very slow can also do well.
8) Fish topwater baits in early morning/late evening parallel to shore.
Remember, all this is from me asking questions and is academic knowledge, although I did catch a few Largemouths last year at Lindon on black/blue Jig n Pigs and watermellon Senkos. Good luck!!!! Maybe I'll see you on the water!
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Instead of going to the Gorge go to Pelican Lake in May. It's probably the best spot in the state for someone just learning to catch largemouth. Lots of 11 to 14 inch bass. They are very willing to play. Try spinner baits, jigs or topwater. It's about the closest you can get to guaranteed action in the spring. There are a few toads also.
Good Fishing, Kayote
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Myself and a couple of friends are heading out there this may again. That place is a riot on a lightweight flyrod and poppers!
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There are some lmb in Bountiful Pond that are in the 4-6 lb range. I know the DWR took out a whole bunch 2 years ago to plant in Sand Hollow. It's just finding them.....
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