08-07-2008, 07:49 PM
I fished Big East Lake at the Payson Lakes campground area yesterday from about 7 am to 10 am, and again from about 1pm to 4:30pm. They must have just stocked it because the fishing was incredible. I fished from a raft in the middle of the lake and totaled 35 fish for the day, all rainbows. A few were very fat and good sized, and all were very energetic fighters. They were in good shape too, with very little fin damage typical of planters.
Although I came prepared with many different lures and flies, the best method was to keep it simple. During the morning I caught 13 fish with a worm a couple feet under a bobber. Later in the day they stayed down deep and I found that fishing a combo of a worm and a salmon egg with a slow retrieve off the bottom was the ticket for the other 22 fish. There were periods where I caught fish on every cast. Because I released so many I used a small barbless hook.
Shore fishermen had fair success. If you want to catch fish in the summer like that, doing it from a raft, float tube, or other small boat is really the best way to go.
A couple pics will be posted soon. Unfortunately I did not have my camera for the second excursion in the afternoon, and that's when I caught a very nice fat rainbow, probably 18 inches or so.
I had never fished this area before and right now I highly recommend it if you want fast fishing for planter bows, especially if you have kids to take along. It's right up Payson canyon, about an hour and half drive max from Salt Lake County. Big east lake is probably your best bet, but there is another lake that could be worth checking out. It's not my first choice, but I was with my wife helping supervise a girl's camp and was able to get away a little bit. Fortunately it turned out to be a great day on the water.
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Although I came prepared with many different lures and flies, the best method was to keep it simple. During the morning I caught 13 fish with a worm a couple feet under a bobber. Later in the day they stayed down deep and I found that fishing a combo of a worm and a salmon egg with a slow retrieve off the bottom was the ticket for the other 22 fish. There were periods where I caught fish on every cast. Because I released so many I used a small barbless hook.
Shore fishermen had fair success. If you want to catch fish in the summer like that, doing it from a raft, float tube, or other small boat is really the best way to go.
A couple pics will be posted soon. Unfortunately I did not have my camera for the second excursion in the afternoon, and that's when I caught a very nice fat rainbow, probably 18 inches or so.
I had never fished this area before and right now I highly recommend it if you want fast fishing for planter bows, especially if you have kids to take along. It's right up Payson canyon, about an hour and half drive max from Salt Lake County. Big east lake is probably your best bet, but there is another lake that could be worth checking out. It's not my first choice, but I was with my wife helping supervise a girl's camp and was able to get away a little bit. Fortunately it turned out to be a great day on the water.
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