Fishing Forum

Last night I arrived home from work and assessed the number of commitments for which I needed to make myself available. Surprisingly, my sons were either at scouts or playing with friends, their homework was done (which meant I didn't have to help them), football practice wasn't until the following night, and my wife was painting my sons' room and didn't want my help. Wo-hoo! I was free for once.

I waited for awhile until around 7 p.m., when the sun was starting to go down, loaded the truck with rods and the tackle box, and made the 15 min. drive to Provo Boat Harbor. I drove out onto the long south dike and parked at the point.

The wind was howling like mad, and the waves were crashing violently against the rocks, so I sat in the cab of my truck and watched both rods. One I casted out into the mouth of the harbor, in the middle of the narrow inlet between both dikes, and the other I casted out into open water off the point of the dike.

It was so dark that every few seconds I had to flip on my headlights to see if the suspending bobbers in between guides on both rods (serving as strike indicators) were making any movements. For two straight hours, until about 9:15 p.m., nothing exciting happened.

There were, however, several small flocks of ducks that would buzz me (well within shooting range) as I would occasionally leave the cab of the truck and walk around a little to survey my fishing gear. (It made me wish I'd brought my shotgun, although I'm 99.9999 percent sure I can't shoot off those dikes. Right? Plus, I would have had to go swimming to retrieve the downed duckies, and I certainly didn't want to do that.)

Finally, feeling dejected, I reeled in the submerged shiners on the ends of my line (both perfectly preserved after two hours of soaking, I might add), called it a night, and drove home.

Dang, those 'eyes are sure picky. Maybe next time.
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[cool][#0000ff]You should have read the DWR stocking report. They did not stock that area with walleyes this week.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Congrats on getting out and washing some bait anyway. The best time to go fishing is whenever you can. Too bad the fish do not always show up to welcome you.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There is a lot of good time left for fishing those toothy critters. So far this fall they have just not showed up anywhere in numbers. Every year is different. Heck, every day is different.[/#0000ff]
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I fished that exact spot on Sunday with the same results with two poles. I fished in the morning howerver.

I tried WB meat, Minnows, some jigs, some lures and eventually went home without even a bite. I'm beginning to think I'll go back to creek and river fishing if I don't get a handle on these darn ponds soon.

I feel your frustration.
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[size 1]"(It made me wish I'd brought my shotgun, although I'm 99.9999 percent sure I can't shoot off those dikes. Right?"[/size]
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[size 1]Shawn, not sure if shooting off of the dikes is legal or not, but they tend to frown (aka it is illegal) to shoot in the dark.[/size]
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[size 1]"One I casted out into the mouth of the harbor, in the middle of the narrow inlet between both dikes, and the other I casted out into open water off the point of the dike."[/size]
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[size 1]Consider trying one of those rods not casted at all. Just drop your bait about six inches off of the rocks. This is worth trying anytime, but especially at night, combined with the waves crashing those rocks.[/size]
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You're right about the shooting at night thing--it being illegal and everything. When it got to the point that I couldn't see my rods without turning on my headlights, I couldn't have seen any ducks flying by anyhow.

When there was still shooting light, however, I'm sure the shooting would have been fantastic, because while I was baiting up and checking the rods periodically before I deemed it a bit too chilly to stay out in the wind and while there was still plenty of light to see, the ducks were flying over like crazy.

Again, though, I'm almost certain that one can't shoot off the dikes anyhow.

Thanks for the tip about leaving the bait close to shore in shallow water. I'll have to try that.
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Within state parks there are specific restrictions on discharging firearms. Some are closed to it altogether. The ones that do allow shooting still do not let you shoot rifles within 1 mile of any facilities or buildings, and with a shotgun I believe it is 1/2 mile or something like that. You'dhave to check with the Provo Utah Lake State park to see what their regulations are.
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[cool][#0000ff]Fishing in close might be better advice for warm water conditions that it would be right now. During the summer both cats and walleyes are often right up in the rocks, but not in late fall and winter.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I have tracked the fish locations over the past few weeks, as the water temps have dropped, I have seen them virtually disappear from shallow water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Up through late August, white bass and catfish were still hitting in water less than three feet deep. On my last two trips to Utah Lake, I have not seen any fish on sonar in water less than 4 feet deep, and most are in at least 6 feet. In fact, all of the fish that I have caught lately, or that I have witnessed being caught, have come from the deeper water...up to 9 feet deep.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is entirely possible that PF may have been fishing too shallow. None of the people fishing from the end of the Lincoln Beach jetties have been getting any action either. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The fish (of all species) should be moving inside the harbors very soon. When that happens, you can sometimes find big schools of white bass, and there are often walleyes that hang around with them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If one can get access to fishing around docks, this is a good time of year to drop a small jig down under the docks for both white bass and crappies. Sometimes some good bluegills inside too.[/#0000ff]
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