A buddy and I took a day trip out to Pelican on Saturday. It's always been well worth the drive for us, but not this time.
The weather was perfect the whole time, but the fish weren't acting like the fish in Pelican should be acting at this time of year. The low water doesn't help any.
The only place that we could find consistent bass action was near the reed islands. Problem? We were in a canoe and just about every other boat was also hitting those couple of islands. We fished that area for about and hour and caught about 10 bass, but nothing over 13". By that time we'd fished just about ever spot on the island that we could.
We decided that if we were going to get any action that we would have to concentrate our efforts on the bluegills. But were the bluegills up near the reed lines like they're supposed to be in early June? No!! They were all out in the middle over beds. If the water hadn't been crystal clear, then we never would have found them. They were a lot more picky than the gills should be at this time of year too. We ended up with about 25 of them between the two of us.
Being totally frustrated at the slow action, we decided to leave and got out of there by about 2. I know that a trip in which two people catch around 40 fish that it should be considered a good trip, but we're talking about Pelican Lake here! This is the first time I have not had a 100 fish day for each person.
I think I'll focus my efforts somewhere else for the rest of the season. 6 hours of driving in one day is too much for me without some guaranteed success or big fish.
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Where did you put in at? I thought I saw a canoe on the water. For me getting a few fish is great,But I know alot of the other fisherman were saying how slow the fishing was. There were alot of boats on that lake over the weekend.When I go up there we go for a few days and camp. It gives my kids a chance to get a few more fish and it is my grandson's favorite place to fish, but we only go a couple of times a year, that is about all I can handle with the bugs.
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We put in on the east side off of the highway. I would have liked to spend the night too, but we hd to get back.
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I too have gone to Pelican this year, and I took a friend who has fished the lake several times over the years. We too had moderate success. In fact, my friend, who has had a lot of success in the past at Pelican, said it was the worst day on Pelican he has had. Is it possible that this little lake has been over fished? With all of the buzz this lake's been getting over the past few years, do you think it's seen its best days?
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I think that is a good possibility. I was up there twice last year with only a few boats on the water. This trip there were people everwhere camping and then on saturday they just kept rolling in. I don't have a boat but it looked like it was a nightmare when everyone decided to come off the water at the same time.I also think with the cold weather the weeds in there have not grown alot to provide the cover they need to come in closer.
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[cool][blue][size 1]Hey PrinceFisher, I have fished Pelican going back to the 70's. I have seen "the good, the bad and the ugly" on most of Utah's ponds. Pelican is one of many waters that can be cyclical. When the water is up and the other conditions are right, there is a massive reproduction of both fish and insect life to feed them. When the water is low, and the fishing pressure is up, the numbers decline. [/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]The good news is that even though heavy fishing pressure takes a toll, it is almost impossible for fishing alone to wipe out the prolific biomass of Pelican. It only takes a few remaining healthy brood fish to make a lot of babies for the future. And, with the incredible amount of zooplankton and aquatic insects in that fertile pond, little fish grow fast. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The only problem is that the cycles produce good years and bad years for fishing too. Some years the "year class" of fish will be small and plentiful. In the next few years, they will be fewer, but bigger. Only after several years of good water levels, mild winters and moderate "catch and keep" will the lake return to the glory days some of us remember so fondly.[/size][/#0000ff]
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One thing for sure their are plenty of aquatic bugs or bugs period to keep the fish there fed.
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[cool][blue][size 1]Hey Icelady, howya doin'?[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]You are right about the bugs. What a lot of folks don't look at is the types of bugs and their complete life cycle. Everybody knows about the skeeters, but most of them are hatched in shallow pockets of water (ditches, etc.) away from the main lake...where small fishies can't eat them. On the other hand, there are midges and mayflies in the lake itself, that provide lots of fodder for the tiny tykes...and even for the big boys when larger fare is not available.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The bigger gills thrive on larger damsel fly and dragonfly larvae, and on leeches and other underwater creepy crawlies. They also slurp their own young, as well as those of the other species in the lake. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]But, it all starts with the small bugs. Without them, the newly hatched bass and bluegills would starve before they reached fingerling size. The mini bugs feed them well until they can graduate to larger aquatic and terrestrial stuff. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]By the way, if anyone wants some fun action on small to medium bass and big bluegills, try tossing a big hopper pattern into the middle of a reed patch once the hoppers reach flying stage. I used to tie a large simple streamer with yellow chenille body and grey squirrel tail wings that vaguely represented a big hopper. I tied them with mono weed guards and laid them right in the middle of stickups. Both bass and bluegill would attack them with gusto. I found that I didn't even have to dress them to get them to float. They worked just as well sinking as floating.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]By the way, I have been known to eat a few bugs while fishing Pelican myself. One sundown excursion found me and my fishing buddy so covered with little white mayflies that we couldn't open our eyes or mouth without doing away with several of the little beasts. Our wives laughed as we emerged from the tubes looking like abominable snow men.[/size][/#0000ff]
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Hey Tube,
I always appreciate your comments here on BFT. It's good to know that a person with your extensive travel and fishing experience is willing to share his insight and perspective.
Thanks,
PF
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[cool][blue][size 1]Thankee fer the kindly comments.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]Fair warning to all. I will be moving back to Utah around the end of July. I hope everybody enjoyed the nice warm weather I brought up with me last weekend from Phoenix. I was finalizing a place to move into and it looks like a done deal.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I am really looking forward to renewing old acquaintences with my favorite honey holes, and being able to put faces to a lot of friends I have never met yet.[/size][/#0000ff]
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HeyTD I am fine how about yourself and TubeBabe? There were more bugs out on the water than were on land during the day and then watch out when that sun wanted to go down. But it still is a great place to fish alot of fish or not.I like the clarity of it. You can see those fish just a swimming around under your raft.
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There goes the neighborhood, again. J/k
Now that your moving back to Utah everybody is going to want to fish with the jigging Yoda. I might even consider the long trip to learn something new.
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[cool][blue][size 1]I'll meetcha half way,,,with my flyrod on my knee. (Oh Susanna) I plan to do some on-the-water research on some of those prime southern fishin' holes too. I'll trade ya some guide service for some of my top secret flies and jiggie creations.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]I am sure I will have a full "dance card", but I am looking forward to some get togethers. Only thing is...TubeBabe has put me on notice that she gets to be a part of the action too. Problem is that she might outfish us guys on occasion. Good thing I ain't the proud type.[/size][/#0000ff]
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Hey TubeDude glad to hear you'll be coming back soon! I'm sure you'll get quite the welcome party for some time! You won't be isolated way down there in AZ any more!
I think I speak for just about everyone here when I say thanks for all the hints, tips, help, info., supplies and friendship that you've freely given to many over the last couple of years here at BFT!
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[cool][blue][size 1]WHAT? You didn't get my invoice either? [/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]Always happy to help where I can. Look forward to lotsa fun times with lotsa new friends.[/size][/#0000ff]
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your moving back eh? looks like i am going to have to redouble my work, and get practicing on my tube, lol. where you moving to tubedude? good to hear your on your way back.
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[cool][blue][size 1]Tubing together? Okay. Just leave the bow in the car. I hate it when I have to patch an arrow hole in my craft when I'm trying to fish.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]Oh, don't worry. We'll stick some carp too, but not while we're tubing. LOVE TO PERFORATE CARPSKIS.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]My temporary home will be in West Jordan. We will be moving into the vacated home of our son's fiancee while we decide where we will plunk down for permanent. Gotta consider where I will be doing the most fishing ya know.[/size][/#0000ff]
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well, i think i can manage too leave my bo win car for a trip or 2. might i suggest the mighty wasatch valley,, lots of house fishing all around for all types, and if you want bigger and better fish, there is always a short drive to the beigger lakes. just some food for thought, yet i always suggest the heber valley to eanybody moving to utah,lol.
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