Fishing Forum

After much deliberation, and with the boss' permission, i decided to hit fishlake again while gas is still sub 5 dollars a gallon.
Started trolling at 5 am. on friday morning for about 2 minutes before crossing paths with a hungry 18 pound mack not sure on the length. After sending him on his way we continued on without a bite for about 20 minutes until the next fish, a ten pounder or so got to the boat only to break my knot and steal my lure. I thought they would be done biting after that but about an hour later a 16 or 17 pounder proved me wrong. I don't know the exact weight i just used my lip grip which showed somewhere around there. Had a few good mack hits between then and the next fish, strangely another 18 pounder hit and fought for about ten minutes before joining us in the boat. After that fish, we went about two hours before hooking up with a fish that i estimate to be 20 plus pounds and between 35-37 inches (it was the same length but much much fatter than either of the twin 18's). That fish put up a good fight, and when we tried to land it without a net the line became tangled on partners glove and unfortunately he dropped the fish and the line snapped bye bye lure bye bye fish. I became upset and shouted obsenities that could've been heard for miles away, and swore that we would not have that opportunity again. WRONG! I did a 180 and about two minutes later with the same bait hooked up with my personal best 30lbs 3 oz mackinaw. It actually was the worst fighter of any of the fish we caught. On with the show we went on to catch 3 more fish that day all between 4-8 pounds. Saturday we hit the water early and hooked up with two pups right off the bat, one was maybe 4, the other maybe 6. Went dry until high noon and hooked another good fish, unsure of the weight my estimate something over 10 maybe 12 don't know don't care. All fish were released to fight another day, We totaled 9 fish ranging from 4-30 pounds the average would be something over 10 lbs i guess. Sorry the pictures are jumbled, the three teen pounders looked like triplets i didn't measure any of them because i didn't want to waste precious time on releasing them. If somebody is dying to see the pup pictures let me know and i'll put them up.
[url "http://utahwildlife.net/forum/download/file.php?id=3255&mode=view"][/url] 30lb
[url "http://utahwildlife.net/forum/download/file.php?id=3253&mode=view"][/url] 16 or 17

first 18 lb bye bye
[url "http://utahwildlife.net/forum/download/file.php?id=3257&mode=view"][/url] don't know you tell me [url "http://utahwildlife.net/forum/download/file.php?id=3256&mode=view"][/url]
30lb [url "http://utahwildlife.net/forum/download/file.php?id=3254&mode=view"][/url] second 18
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Way to go, those are some beautiful fish.

Wow! Excellent report and pics. Very nice fish! [cool]
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Now that's what I'm talkin about! Looks like you guys hit the jackpot down there.
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Nice fish Chris. That is a mess of hogs. Looks like a beautiful day to be down there. Did you see any deer near the lake? Any bucks yet?
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Wow those are some nice fish. the coloring on them is fantastic
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Way to go Chris! You had a couple days at Fish Lake that I dream of having down there sometime.
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Nice Fish!! Glad you had a good trip and weather.
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Dang, you are becoming a regular master down there at that lake. I have to ask you if they have moved up or down in depth since you last posted your previous Fish Lake Macks? I am thinking they are shallower right now but don't really know the water temperature. Fish Lake is definitely the Gorge's smaller twin. It is so beautiful too.
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They have not neccessarily moved to anywhere in particular, i used a downrigger for a while and didn't catch a thing so i just stuck with the topline. I think getting them is just a matter of patience and a little luck. The water temp was 48 degrees at noon yesterday so i'll bet they'll keep cruising shallow, mid depth, and deep for a while. The fishfinder showed alot of fish on the bottom, but i hate using the downrigger it seems like i lose a lot of stuff when i do.
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Wow! You had a great trip! Congratulations!
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WOW how did i miss this post that is some sweet fish
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[shocked]Wow, nice work guys!! If its not too much to ask, what sort of lures were you using?? Lead leader?? All these years and we NEVER catch those damn Mac's!!
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there wer alot of deer, you can see them all over the west hillside. A few bucks around, i was more interested in the 34-40 inch bucks we were pulling out of the lake. Lures i won't completely give up all i can say is make sure you lure looks a fish. A fish that mackinaw love to eat.
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I'm impressed. Those are nice macks anywhere. Fish Lake--The newest "great" laker fishery in the west! (even though they've been there a long time) Maybe still a little less-educated than the Gorge fish? I don't know, but possible.
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[#400080]Absolutely amazing, thanks for making me want a boat again![/#400080]
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Great pictures of your Macks and a heck of a report.

I was looking at your boat -- Is that a older Starcraft with the Teak wood benches?

I have one that is 12 1/2 ft. and is a great fishing boat.

What is the length of your boat length and what size motor?

Again thanks for the Fish Lake Report
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I don't know if those fishlake macs are a little more unedecuated than the gorge fish, i'll be up there in a few weeks to figure it out. I've been to fishlake about 15 times in the last year and this is only the second time i've caught more than one fish over 10lbs in a day. Had days where i've lost a few nice fish but this is a first. I know one difference i can tell you is that gorge fish pack a lot more weight in their humps and in their guts. Some of the pictures from jim's website of 30lb fish look like they're not even 35 inches long. A fishlake 30lb is always a little longer and more slender through the gut and hump.
To answer the boat question you are right on except for 14 foot not 12.
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Nice fish!!! How deep were they?
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