07-13-2006, 02:31 PM
I normally don't go out during the weekend of the fourth but thought that I'd take a chance and go down catfishing at the big Utah county community pond. (Utah Lake). Anyway, I got there about seven thirtyish, set up my NEW FishCat4 tube and kicked out away from shore. I kicked down to some close cattails and worked my bait there for a few minutes with no takers. Then I decided today I would kick south along the shore instead of going north like I usually do. I trolled along, avoiding ducks and grebes until I got to the first big clump of cattails. Sure enough, as soon as the bobber splashed down by the green, it sank right under. FISH ON!!! Turned out to be a pretty spirited mama kitty. I'm sure that my apron measurements are off but she draped across the whole thing so she was a nice fish. I kept kicking around that clump of cattails and wound up picking up about four from those weeds and the immediate surrounding areas. I kept kicking down the shore, enjoying my new higher riding tube and basking in the sun. I was fishing only cut carp meat and was doing quite well. Most of the fish were good solid 2-4 pounders with a couple bruisers thrown in for bursts of excitement. I wound up catching about 14 cats on the day with only two that went 6 pounds or so. I kicked down to some spots that had held fish for me before and found that since I haven't been able to wade down there in a year or so, the landscape has totally changed since my last visit. Where willows used to hold fish right on the weedline, there is now a shallow bay with stickups just about everywhere. I only caught a couple fish out of what used to be a honeyhole for me. Again on Sunday, the fish mainly came from around cattails or severe cuts back into the tules but they were right close to the weedline. There were grebes everywhere and it was hard to fish a spot without having one or two diving around my bobber. One silly bird actually grabbed my bait I think and swam off with it because when I set the hook, my line swam off and then the bobber came up with a grebe right next to it. Fortunately for both of us, it wasn't hooked. Anyway, I also caught what I think was a gorgous male channel that was the color of wet sand with the golden green color showing through in only a few spots.... for some reason, it was just a really pretty cat to me.... I know most people think they're ugly. He had some nice speckled gray colors all up and down his sides so he was pretty neat looking. All the cats I caught were nice and firm, healthy fish. A couple of them had been eating well apparently, judging by their little potbellied appearance. Anyway, it was an awesome trip, I got really sunburned (especially on my knees where they stuck out from under the apron) and I caught quite a few cats. The weather cooperated and I'm pretty confident in my new tubes ability to ride out waves after getting repeatedly buzzed by jackalopes on Jetskis..... Ah Dude, if only I was as good a shot as you with a slingshot. LOL. [cool] People are such idiots. Here's some pics of the day.
Early morning swell
First Kitty
More small kitties
Big cat
![[Image: 100_0999.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0999.jpg)
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Early morning swell
![[Image: 100_0991.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0991.jpg)
First Kitty
![[Image: 100_0993.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0993.jpg)
More small kitties
![[Image: 100_0995.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0995.jpg)
![[Image: 100_0996.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0996.jpg)
![[Image: 100_0997.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0997.jpg)
![[Image: 100_0998.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0998.jpg)
Big cat
![[Image: 100_0999.jpg]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/RiverRat77/FishingPics/100_0999.jpg)
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