Been out on Utah Lake 3 times this past week. Monday (4-7) hit Lakeview Harbor, stuck one about 17" and broke one off that was bigger (Pumpkin green Yamasenko). Saratoga Springs outside the harbor to the south in the reeds, some activity on the surface and in the reeds, but couldn't get anything into the boat. Water temp between 47-51. Tuesday (4-8) fished the UTBASS tourney, beautiful day, water like glass, but not much activity. Stuck 2 fish, 18" (Provo harbor) and 17" (Lindon harbor), both on a Yamamoto hula grub fished weightless and VERY slow. Water temp 51-56. Good enough to get my tourney entry fee back and fund a couple more UTBASS tourney's coming up. Everyone caught fish but nobody tore 'em up. Thursday (4-10), another fantastic day on the water with my dad. American Fork gave up one 17"er on a Baby Brush Hog, again fished weightless and slow. Water temp up to 62-66. Talked with 2 other boats who didn't fare any better. Tried slow spinner baits bounced along the bottom, rattlin' crank digging up the silt, dead-sticking jerk baits, every soft plastic in my arsenal crawled off the rocks on shore. Hard to believe they didn't like anything I threw at them, so I'm inclined to think they just aren't "looking" quite yet. Won't be long though. Just gotta keep plugging away, ... there's no luck in the lure unless its in the water! Anyone else have anything to report on local LMB fishing?
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I Stuck 3 Yesterday Morning ... Lindon Boat Harbor. They hit a crankbait about 6 feet off the bank. Congrats on the win Bass Hawg! Call me so we can go!
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Basshawg
Congrats again on the tourny.
GLen
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I've been hitting all the famous LMB spots in the Uintah Basin. Like you, I've had some success, but not slaying them yet.
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I caught 7 LMB at AF harbor yesterday late evening using a secret lure that I swore total secrecy to UTBass. Hee hee.. they are all football shape and in the 4 to 8 pounder range. The 8 pounder put up a fantastic fight, and boy I couldn't put my both hands around its girth! Very nice hawg indeed!
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Geez WalleyePaul, sounds like you had the hot hand, or lure, yesterday. Has UTBASS been holding out on me? Where were you at in the harbor that the fish liked what you were tossin at them so much? Nicely done. 8 pounds huh? That is a hawg indeed. Did you get a Kodak moment? I noticed the fish I've caught out of Utah Lake are quite pale in color, not the usual black/dark green/white contrasting pattern. Do you suppose that's because the water is so murky they aren't getting enough light? Or does it have something to do with the forage base in the lake?
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Well if you get friendly with him he might tell you a secret or two LOL.
I was fishing the rocks across from the docks inside the harbor.
As for the color on the bass.., yeah I noticed it too more like silvery with a tint of green, instead of the usual green and black. I am not sure, but I like to think that they have been hunkering down until the thermocline suits their liking. Maybe they will retain their normal color as the water warms up.
I doubt the forage base has anything to do with it because they are big bass and they all look mighty healthy to me. They are eating well.
This is interesting and would like to hear Tom Pettigill's opinion on this. That's what he does for a living.
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I have noticed the same thing, and talked about it with a friend of mine. He was telling me that he had taken pale bass before, and put them in an aquarium, and after a few days they regain their bars. Not sure how that works. But it probally is a big advantage for them. Black shows up well in murkey water, but those black bars, help hide them in clear water. I have even caught bass at utah lake that are really pale, and have a golden hue, never seen that before. I guess what I'm saying is, it might have something to do with their ability to hide better.
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Yes, the murky water turns bass a much paler color. Bass in murkier water are much lighter colored, and bass in clearer water turn much darker. I've never caught a bass out of Utah Lake that was a real dark color, and most likely never will unless it just came out of a clear water area. In the summer I catch bass on the lower section of the provo river down at the state park, and they are a lot darker than the fish in Utah Lake. They're the same fish that were in Utah Lake, but because of the clearer water in the river there, they turnn much darker. I'm pretty sure ebass nailed this one on the head...
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LMB have an uncanny ability to blend in with there environment. I have caught several bass out of UT Lake that were really dark. Later on in the spring you will find them changing colors. When they get aggrivated, they also change colors. Pretty cool stuff. Paul, you are the perfect student! I am very proud of you! He he he he. Hey guys, I go in to surgery on Tuesday, wish me luck on getting this Gall Baldder removed .... Then it's back to fishing.
Don't forget the tournament on the 19th! email me if you want to fish! ... clif@utbass.com
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good luck, god bless, and ill bet you're out chasing mr bucketmouth next week!
sm
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Cliffie, good luck! I had mine out on a Tuesday back in January, and thought I'd be back to work by Friday, ... nope. Take heart though, it's going to be well worth a little discomfort for the relief you will have from that constant pain. Get yourself a nice comfortable chair to sleep in those first couple nights at home, ... getting up from a laying position is going to be difficult. Back to fishing, ... any chance you want to sene me a PM with that "secret lure" WalleyePaul used at AF? Or is it something you've already told me about? See you Saturday!
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