Fishing Forum

[cool][black][size 1][size 2][blue]While TubeBabe and I were doing a "reconnaisance run" last week, we drove south of Lindon on the shoreline access road. We admired the completed bike trail, and the sturdy guard rails. We didn't like the apparent lack of access fo anglers. Noticed some new construction work going on near the water and a big new cleared area on the east side of the toad. Got out to look and saw three little covered picnic tables (pavilions) in a sandy flat area next to the water. The shoreline/beach was clean and a gradual slope hard sand.

BINGO. A new launch spot for the tube. I always like to fish the bubbleup but it is a long kick from Lindon, formerly the closest launch spot. Now it is only a short ways around the reed point from this little beach. Talked to a sherriff who was parked off the side of the road and he said that it would be a county park, with no fees. Also said they have lots of plans for further improvements down there.

Checked it out this morning. TubeBabe couldn't make it so I did a solo shot. Parked in the gravel parking area, loaded my tube and most of my other stuff on my golf cart tube truck and wrestled it through the narrow opening into the bike path. Then backed the tube truck down the steep hill. Not bad. Did not take any gelandersprungs (triple klutz).

Got everything set up and launched by 8 AM. Air temp 35, no wind, no ice and no gloves. Water temp 43 and no fish. Well, I did get two bites and landed one 23" channel cat on a minnow. Fished all kinds of plastics, feathers, spinners and hardbaits. Nary a whack. Even when I worked along the bubbleup i saw only a few fish marks on sonar and did not get even one bump. I can't remember ever NOT getting at least a few white bass there. Water 9 feet deep at the furthest buoy and the water seemed to be coming in pretty good. About 1 degree cooler at the far end.

There was supposed to be south wind, so I stayed close to the launch area. About 9:30 I could see a line of wind ripples headed my way, from the south. But, it was only a light breeze and calmed back down to glass for the rest of the morning. A bit of breeze finally came up about 11:30 just as I was kicking back in to shore. Water temp had warmed to 46 in the shallows.

I really like that spot. The whole shoreline to the south looks like it is going to be a carp shooters paradise about the first of May. Shallow edges with lots of vegetation. And, once the water warms a few degrees the cattin' should be good there too. I have taken a lot of fish of all species in that general area. Nice to have a good (FREE) launch spot for the tube now.
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[/size][/black] [size 1]Attachments:[/size] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34319;"][#333366] 1ST LAUNCH NEW SPOT.jpg [/#333366][/url](156 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34320;"][#333366] NO WIND, NO WAVES, NO FISH.jpg [/#333366][/url](156 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34321;"][#333366] ICE FREE.jpg [/#333366][/url](129 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34322;"][#333366] BUBBLEUP BUOYS.jpg [/#333366][/url](174 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34323;"][#333366] EARLY KITTY.jpg [/#333366][/url](173 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34324;"][#333366] TROPICAL BEACH.jpg [/#333366][/url](201 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34325;"][#333366] 3 PAVILIONS.jpg [/#333366][/url](163 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34326;"][#333366] LOOKIN' SOUTH.jpg [/#333366][/url](170 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34327;"][#333366] READY FOR THE HILL.jpg [/#333366][/url](253 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34328;"][#333366] PARKING LOT.jpg [/#333366][/url](181 KB) [/size][/black] [black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black] [black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=34329;"][#333366] BIKE TRAIL.jpg [/#333366][/url](258 KB) [/size][/black]
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Not a bad looking kitty you have there TD. And it looked like a real good launch site.
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[cool][#0000ff]Surprising how hard that cat hit and how well it fought it 44 degree water. Earned its freedom.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hey, you up for a Willard Floatilla this Saturday? Looks like the weather might cooperate.[/#0000ff]
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Maybe I will check to see what is going on. What time were you headed up?
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Is the lake level always the same? Those [black]pavilions being built pretty close the the water?[/black]
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[cool][#0000ff]I will head north about 6 AM...figuring to be on the water by about 7:30 -8:00. Probably fish 'til about noon unless the action is stellar.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe will be out of town, so I am flying solo. Wanna rideshare?[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]Utah Lake is a big fairly shallow lake. It is closely regulated for the water users (farmers) and goes through a regular cycle. They let it rise a couple more feet than it is right now, in the early spring and they keep it up through the snowmelt runoff. After that it drops through the summer, depending upon late runoff, summer rains and the amount of water needed by downstream users.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In short, it will not get more than a couple of feet higher. No problems with flooding.[/#0000ff]
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Looks very nice. I had a big issue with the cats last year. Don't get me wrong I would rather catch them than nothing but, I caught alot of them last year. On plastics,spinners,and even one on a top water plug. I couldn't get away from them.
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So would it be to late to contact the folks at the County and request that they increase the size of the access points so that tubers and tooners can get through easier ??? I have been watching the progress on the improvments and like em also, just wondering about getting through the gates with the equipment !!

[cool][#0000ff]There is only one gate to go through, between the road and the bike trail. It was about 6 inches too narrow to pull my tube through on the golf cart, but it was easy enough to tilt it sideways. If I had been carrying it on my head, with a tumpline...like I often do...it would have been no problem. The barrier is not that high.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I suspect they set a standard width opening to prevent 4 wheelers from getting in there and making a hazard for bicyclists. I seriously doubt if the planners just said "Hey, let's make it tough on tubers and tooners.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Also, there is a big gate in front of the old Geneva Ponds gate that looks like it will have future use for vehicle access. Maybe just for the county to service the area, but hopefully not.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In the meantime, it would be simple to "up and over" with a pontoon...or any float tube. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am hoping they will pave the current gravel parking area, but it will be okay if they don't. Still better than what they have had...only roadside access. Not real keen on leaving my vehicle parked "in harm's way"...the way those big trucks come barrelling down the road.[/#0000ff]
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Sounds good on both accounts just shoot me a PM on a meeting spot and time and I will be there with fins on.
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Hey TD,

Do you have a pic of that golf cart tube truck? Sounds like something I could use.

z~
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[cool][#0000ff]I will make a separate post, with pics, of both the golf cart tube truck and of a "sled" I experimented with late last year.[/#0000ff]
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[cool]Thanks.

z~
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