Fishing Forum

[cool][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1][size 3][blue][font "Times New Roman"]Went to Willard twice this week and brought home limits of 8 “cookie cutter” kitties both days. My biggest cat from Lindon today would probably outweigh either or both of the cookie limits from Willard.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Had some minnows left over from Willard yesterday, so I decided to make a quick solo shot to Lindon. Figured I would check to see if there were any white bass inside or any walleyes anywhere in the vicinity. The big full moon didn’t scare me none. Best time to go fishin’ is whenever you can get away…and when you got leftover bait.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Just getting light when I launched off the LBH ramp. Air temp 42 and water temp 49 inside the harbor. 50 outside the harber a half hour later. Surprised to see that the water in Utah Lake is cleaner than it was at Willard yesterday.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Tried jigs inside the harbor. Water depth 4 – 5 feet all over the harbor and in the channel. Might be too low for the fishies. Did not see much on sonar and didn’t get any “inquiries” inside at all. [/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Made a few casts around the entrance of the harbor and then started kicking out to deeper water. Depth was just over 4 feet off the rocks. Finally got out to about 5 feet and started seeing a few fish on sonar. Put out a minnow on my bait rod and kept switching plastics, trying for whatever might wanna play.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful morning. The lake was glass and the mountains were lovely with a bit of snow on the tops. Need a lot more. Too bad so many folks do not get up early enough to enjoy daybreak. It is the nicest time of day.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]The new power plant was going full tilt, and sending up a big plume of steam. It was going straight up in the windless morning air. At one point I looked up to see the column of steam in front of my old sweetheart…Mt. Timpanogos. A quick mind flutter suggested that it kinda appeared to be a volcano. Mt. Saint Timpanogos? Nah. The old girl will never look the same from this spot again.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I had just looked at my watch, about 8:30…reflecting that I had been on the water for an hour without so much as a tweak. Would this be a jinx day…when I finally get skunked after two years of skunkless fishing trips? Nope. The line popped out of the clip on my bait rod and was zinging off the reel pretty fast. I set the hook into something solid and my rod went bendo. Yeee hawww.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Don’t these silly catfish know that it is late October and the water is only 50 degrees? They are acting like it is still mid July. True, they lack a bit of the kick-butt battle tactics they exhibit in warmer water, but they still put up a darn good fight…especially the bigguns. That first one turned out to be a slender 27 incher that weighed just under 7 pounds.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I decided to kick my way over to the bubbleup, fishing as I went. The water was still like glass and there were obviously fish to be had. For the next two hours I had pretty constant action on cats. I had pickups every few minutes and hooked most of the ones that took the bait. After the first larger kitty, I kept three more, figuring that would be enough for the smoker. I probably released another half dozen. The smallest I caught was 22" and 4.5#. I even got one 23 inch cat on a little roadrunner plastic I was throwing on my light rod while dragging bait on the heavy stick.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]When I got to the bubbleup I started casting plastic around the outermost buoy…at 6.3 feet deep. Nary a bump and no fish on the sonar. So, remembering that most of the other fish I had seen were at about 5 feet, I moved down the line of buoys, casting as I went. Sure enough, when I got into the shallower water I started getting bumps. Then, I began hooking white bass with consistency. Most were nice 12 – 14 inchers. Fun fun on light tackle. I kept three for a shrimp scampi pan meal and headed back toward the harbor. [/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I was hardly a hundred yards away from the bubbleup when a light breeze came up from the NW…the direction I had to kick into to get back in. Wouldn’t ya know it. The breeze picked up fast and got worse. I reeled in the small plastic jigs and put that rod up. I let out two bait rods, rigged with minnows hooked solidly through the nose, so they would track well under speed and put the lines out…and started kicking my way back in against the waves. [/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I doubted that I would catch anything on the fast trolled minnows. Eternal optimist that I am, I hoped maybe for an active walleye. As I began getting closer to the rock dike around the harbor, I looked back over my left shoulder to get my bearings. When I looked back, the line was streaming off the bait rod on the right side. I quickly reeled in the line on the other rod and then set the hook. The rod tip just stayed there and then line kept streaming out…against the drag. This weren’t no cookie cutter.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]That big mama whupped my butt for over 20 minutes on a stout rod. I would probably have let her go, but I knew she was over ten pounds, and I needed to verify her weight. My goal at the first of the year was at least one cat over 10 pounds. I have come close a couple of times, but this one would do it. 11.7 pounds to be exact…and 32 inches. Done and done.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Finally kicked my way back into the harbor and headed home. Didn’t see anybody else on the water or fishing from the dike all day. But, I wasn’t lonely. I had a full basket to keep me company. Now to fire up the smoker again. [/font]
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[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30458;"][#333366] LINDON DAYBREAK.jpg [/#333366][/url](120 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30459;"][#333366] MORNING MOONSET.jpg [/#333366][/url](144 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30460;"][#333366] BEST TIME OF THE DAY.jpg [/#333366][/url](160 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30461;"][#333366] MT. SAINT TIMP.jpg [/#333366][/url](164 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30462;"][#333366] 27 INCH FIRST CAT.jpg [/#333366][/url](122 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30463;"][#333366] NOT A COOKIE.jpg [/#333366][/url](186 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30464;"][#333366] JUST BY A WHISKER.jpg [/#333366][/url](192 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30465;"][#333366] KITTY BLING.jpg [/#333366][/url](159 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30466;"][#333366] BUBBLEUP BUOYS.jpg [/#333366][/url](205 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30467;"][#333366] BUBBLEUP BEAUTY.jpg [/#333366][/url](161 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30468;"][#333366] 13 INCH WHITIE.jpg [/#333366][/url](163 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30469;"][#333366] NOON BREEZE.jpg [/#333366][/url](186 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30470;"][#333366] AFTERNOON DELIGHT.jpg [/#333366][/url](165 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30471;"][#333366] 32 INCHES 11,7 LBS..jpg [/#333366][/url](188 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30472;"][#333366] JES ANUDDER PURTY FACE.jpg [/#333366][/url](209 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30473;"][#333366] OCTOBER HARVEST.jpg [/#333366][/url](282 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30474;"][#333366] FALL LINEUP.jpg [/#333366][/url](279 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30475;"][#333366] SMOKER FILLER.jpg [/#333366][/url](268 KB) [/size][/black][/font]
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nice lookin' kitties. Maybe I can still catch a couple. I have only fished utah lake once this year,
jed
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[cool][#0000ff]My first trip to Lindon since May. I guess I did okay.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]PM me if you need any inside info.[/#0000ff]
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Very nice! Pat, I think you outdid yourself this time. Those are some fantastic pictures! Brings back memories of when I used to live down there.

What lb. test were you using? Reason I ask, I just bought some 6# spider wire today (I know you use higher than that for the big 'uns).

I need to send your post to my brother, he'll drool and fall off his chair when he sees those pics.
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Looks/sounds like another great trip Pat. Glad you could find some active friends!
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Does this mean you will glow in the dark[] nice fish...
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Derek. Glad you liked the pics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For most fishing I use either 4# or 6# mono...Silver Thread Excalibur. When I will be dragging minnows, for catfish, I usually take two larger rigs. One is a 7 foot medium action spin stick...rigged with 8# Excalibur. The other is a medium heavy...rigged with 10#. And, I always tie a swivel on the end of the line and add 2 feet of 14# Excalibur leader. Luckily, I hooked the biggest fish on the heavier rod yesterday. [/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]Hmmmm. I have always thought that was an "inner glow"...from my charm and personality.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One thing about glowing in the dark. It makes it easier to rerig without turning on a light when night fishing. Doesn't bring in the bugs quite as bad either.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Makes for a great costume at Halloween. Scares the heck out of the kids when they show up at the door for trick or treat.[/#0000ff]
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Thanks for sharing the fun. I haven't been out for almost a month and I know those whities are laughing about it. Of course, when I do get out successfully, I get the last laugh as I enjoy bite after bite -- when they bite AND then when I bite!

The boys and I did try a new spot, Ken's Lake, recently. Will post separately.
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Nice cats TD.
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your gonna sink you boat with all those big fish. NICE
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Very nice fish. You are a brave man to defy the PCB warning. I can see that the "bubble-up" was not living up to it's name. Is that a hit or miss thing? Last time I was out there, it was churning the water pretty good.
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[cool][#0000ff]By the time I fillet, skin and completely defat the cats...and then brine and smoke them...they are greatly reduced in their potential hazard. When I die at age 90 I don't want cause of death on my Death Certificate to read PCB.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most areas of the lake are subject to changes in water temperature and weather patterns. The bubbleup is more attractive to walleyes, white bass and other species when it is putting out a good flow that is a few degrees warmer...or cooler...than the surrounding lake water. On Friday there was not much discernable water inflow and there was absolutely no difference in water color or temperature in the area.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, even when the flow is lower the structure of the pipe and other stuff seems to be a fish magnet. It is also a lure magnet if you don't learn where NOT to cast.[/#0000ff]
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