Fishing Forum

Would like some imfo all walleye fishing Utah Lake. Lures, technics etc. Much appreciated. Water temp and dates. Thanks
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OH MAN! I'm so excited for soft water. Utah lake was a bust for me last year. I saw a 10 and 12 lb. female walleye on a stringer but the only ones I caught were dinks and only a couple at that.
The high water and enormous amounts of baitfish in the reeds were my excuse but I sure did try. I did find alot of white bass though, I hope this year I can get into them.
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[cool][#0000ff]The walleye in Utah Lake took a hit at the end of the drought cycle. Due to poor spawning conditions for white bass, and overharvest of the larger fish, there were few baby white bass for the walleyes to live on for about two years. The wallies got skinny and many of them died off two winters ago. Still a lot of them in the lake, but not like many years in the past, and they will be back with the better water and more plentiful food supply.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Walleyes spawn when the water temps crawl over about 42-45 degrees. That is usually late March to early April. There is usually a prespawn period starting around the end of February that finds the fish feeding and they can be taken on plastics, slowly worked cranks, spinners and bait. Best baits are minnows or crawlers, on corky rigs. They also hit pieces of white bass flesh fished up off the bottom, either on a drop shot rig or below a bobber.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]During the spawn, you don't catch many of the larger females (legally) but the active and aggressive smaller males often hit bright lures. At that time, you can watch for spawning activity in shallow water and fish near the rolling fish. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The walleyes prefer to go up tributaries and spawn in moving water. That's why all of Utah Lake's inlets are closed during that time. Too many people fish with "walleye dry flies" (treble hooks) when the fish are on spawning beds. But, many walleyes also spawn on rocky points and shorelines where there is some wave action to aerate the eggs. They do not build nests. The female just swims along and spews the eggs while accompanying males fertilize them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some of the best walleye fishing of the year is for the two months after spawning...post spawn. That's when they put on the feed bag to rebuild their body mass and energy lost over the winter and during spawning. They hit a lot of different lures, but plastics or feather jigs work best in Utah Lake. That could make a whole book. They also readily accept plain old worms and minnows and lots of walleyes are taken by guys soaking bait for catfish. In fact, my theory is that there are probably more walleyes taken by accident than by the guys who specifically target them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can catch walleyes all around the lake, at different times and with different techniques. Wherever there are streams of moving water coming into the lake, there are likely to be some walleyes hanging around. It isn't always because the walleyes like it but because the white bass do. Where you find lots of white bass you will often find some walleyes dining on them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]With all of the flooded brush and reeds around the lake, many walleye have become structure oriented. Again, it is more a matter of them hunting prey, rather than preferring cover. They are mostly open water fish that will hang around structure, if that structure attracts baitfish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are several harbors around the lake and wherever you find rocky dikes you can usually find walleyes...spawning or hunting. They can be found both inside and outside the harbors for the same reasons. But, you have to hunt for them. They can be hit or miss.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are some good areas along the west side of the lake, and the Lincoln Beach area has a lot of rocks that are attractive to walleyes. However, with the water covering many of the popular fishing spots....and much of the area now being posted against shore access...you can't fish much of it without a boat or a tube or toon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Watch the boards for reports starting about the end of February. Many of the most experienced and successful walleye anglers are not BFT members and are pretty secretive about their favorite spots and favorite methods. There are also some BFTers who score pretty well, but do not care to post all of the particulars. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That is only fair. Some of the better spots are not very big and a guy's fishing can be ruined when ten other wild eyed and unskilled yo-yo's show up and start flailing the water. They not only chase of the spooky fish, but often leave a lot of line and lost tackle strung on the rocks to mess up anybody who fishes them with the necessary light gear.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of the biggest errors for most would-be walleye chasers is that they come down armed with heavy tackle and big lures. You need light and sensitive stuff to feel what is going on down there. Sometimes the bites are very light, and you have to fish "low and slow" for walleyes. In other words, you will do better with light heads on your jigs so that you can swim the lures slowly just off the bottom. Heavy jig heads dive into the rocks and you spend all your time breaking off and retying. It is an art form to fish those fish correctly, without losing a lot of gear.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The second best time to fish walleyes in that lake is the fall. Beginning about mid September most years the walleyes put on the feed bag to bulk up for the winter. Early mornings along rocky or reedy areas can find them actively feeding all through the water column. And, you can catch them on a wide range of baits and lures. Big silver lipless crankbaits are sometimes very effective. They imitate the prevalent small white bass that are a main food source at this time of year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Every year is different on Utah Lake. Some years, for no explainable reason, the fish swarm the shoreline for weeks or months and everybody catches lots of fish. Other years they are "no shows" and only a few of the regulars score any fish at all. And, if they do, they don't make a lot of noise about it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Anybody who claims to know all there is about those wacky walleyes will lie about other things too.[/#0000ff]
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WOW.. that was one hell of an explanation.. nice job, I think we should change your name to cliff claven [sly](except you really know what you are talking about)... let me know if you ever need anyone to go fishing with you tubedude, I would love to get inside that head...
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Thanks so much TubeDude for the info. I hope to catch one! I heard they are great tasting fish.
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks. I have been fishing Utah Lake walleyes since about 1964. I have even caught a few. In the "good old days" there were few walleye fans, since most Utards were troutaholics. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In those times there was a limit of six, with no slots or size restrictions. I had days of tubing for walleyes in the late 70's and early eighties when I brought in 50 or more fish in an outing...culling a limit over 5 pounds (see pic).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Since then there have been a lot more walleye fans fishing for them, and some groups that harvest for the market (illegal). Utah Lake has also experienced some ups and downs in water levels and spawning success. That is why we have the current restrictions. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As most BFTers will verify, I ain't hard to line up for a fishing trip. Just PM me with a date and time you plan to hit the water and if I can work it out we will hook up. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By the way, my "brief" dissertation above was only the "Readers Digest" version. Attached is a Word doc of about 14 pages with some more "light reading". I had almost forgotten I wrote it, until after I had posted the above response. I have another (longer writeup on catfishing) if you need some more abuse.[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]No doubt about it. Walleyes are definitely some of the best eating fish in Utah...or anywhere.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]They have a simple skeleton, so they are easy to fillet and skin. And the meat is firm, white and flaky. You can cook them just about any way you want. It is hard to ruin walleye.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As a general rule, however, you will find that they are better eating up to about 3 or 4 pounds (up to 24"). The larger females can be softer fleshed and not quite as tasty as the younger females or smaller males. There is usually a lopsided balance of more small males than larger females, so that works out well. Plus, the more big mamas you release to spawn, the more walleyes for the future.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, you don't need to apologize to anybody if your first walleye weighs ten pounds and you want to take it home to eat. It will still be better than any trout you ever put a fork to.[/#0000ff]
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what time is it? its time to rig some rods and get ready!! if this heet wave keeps it up. it reals close! im feeling it. this yr some huge eyes. thank you high water. starvation is in for some great eye fishing as well. yuba will start to pick up for smaller eyes this summer.
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[cool][#0000ff]Yeah, I figured your rod arm would be gettin' twitchy pretty soon. I know you guys like to fish the February prespawn.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By the way, do you know something I don't about Yuba? I have heard from a couple of reliable sources that the perch have turned the tables at Yuba. They are eating all the baby walleyes before they can get big enough to eat perch. Heard tell about some large perch caught last June that were full of baby walleyes...not baby perch. And, since the perch spawn before the walleyes, the baby perch are there to eat the newly hatched 'eyes before they get rid of their yolk sac.[/#0000ff]
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Hey TubeDude, Would it be possible to hire you to take me & MacTuna on a Walleye trip? I sure would like to not only catch a Walleye but to taste one. Thanks Nansea
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[cool][#0000ff]Be happy to take you along on a walleye expedition. Just watch the boards for reports of possible activity and PM me when you guys might be available. TubeBabe and I will work out the details of a meetup and fishing trip. Might even bring the cookin' stuff for a "shore lunch". How's that for optimistic?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let's think sometime around the first to middle of March, depending upon weather, etc.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Do you have float tubes or will you be bankin' it? [/#0000ff]
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Sounds Great!! We have toons.
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[cool][#0000ff]That will definitely improve our chances of finding some fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Stay 'tooned.[/#0000ff]
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I'd have to say that TD's "brief explanations" are what got me hooked on this site. Lots and lots of good folks on the site, but there's nothing like a classic TD dissertation.
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Thanks for all the info TD, I would also like to hook one of these elusive critters, maybe this is the year.
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it would be good news for some of the eyes to be consumed. it will make the ballance and great fishing last a couple extra yrs. but we both know walleyes. dude. they always come back. and the pike will bennafit as well. some slab perch wont make me cry if i dont get the eyes for a bit. and yes the walleye itch is getting stronger in me daily. with the temps comming up so fast a mudline will be. you hearing me[].
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My one and only walleye caught in UT was about 5 inches long caught at Starvation last summer. I haven't caught a REAL 'eye in years (caught a few in SoDak many moons ago). I wanna get in on this eyeball action too!
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[font "Lucida Console"][#ff4040]This year is going to be a good year for them eyes![/#ff4040][/font]
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[cool][#0000ff]I vote for that. Are you going to go chase a few this year?[/#0000ff]
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I too am looking forward to getting into some Walleye this year. TD and I tried to get into em last year, but the wipers at Willard wouldn't leave us alone. Silly wipers! []
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