[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]I am planning to fish the Gorge again around the Thanksgiving holiday. It has been a while since I last caught a brown out of that reservoir. 2002 was the last year [frown], and I have only seen a few chase my lures around Antelope Flats last spring ever since like I use to. I understand that the Wyoming side probably has more browns swimming around. And they spawn around the end of November. [/#000000][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]I want to ask you of any good areas on the Wyoming or Utah sides too look for them by the end of next month? Also any type of lure in particular they seem to like? We use to catch them Nov. - March by the Dam visitor center off those large cliffs on 3-4 inch purple tube jigs. They were good sizes too, mostly over 21 inches but not over 30. I just cannot understand why they are no longer there [:/]. The strange thing is that none of the species at the Gorge seem to like the purple color anymore. It would be nice to again catch a good brown trout form there.[fishin][/#000000][/font]
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This summer I saw a nice 5 pound 24" Brown caught trolling for kokes near holmes crossing. If you want to warm up your brown trout skills Jordenelle has some huge browns - I have caught them ice fishing and trolling crankbaits in the early spring and late fall. I have also caught some nice Browns at Starvation in the early spring & late fall.
One thing to remember is the Brown trout is a true meat eater.
Good Luck....
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I sure get frustrated with that lake. I went ice fishing twice last year, for macs and burbot. Got nary a bite. Thats a long drive to get skunked. Those were $100 gas trips. Maybe I'll try it again (sucker!) this year
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if your complaining about spending $200 a year to learn to catch macs you need to just give up now. The bill is going to be 10 times that before you even advance to rookie status. You have to earn those hogs; in every sence of the word.
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You really shouldn't have any problems catching the smaller macks and burbot at the Gorge, the big boys are another matter[
]. We usually make a few trips up there come ice on If you want you could meet us up there on one of those trips this winter and we can show you how its done. WH2
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Not a lot of browns in the Gorge anymore. Their population detioriated along with the chubs. Wyoming still stocks some uplake, when the fish are available, so that area would be your best bet. Depending on the success of the tiger trout stockings this summer and in the future, you could start seeing a similar opportunity in a couple of years. Time will tell.
I caught one around 17-18 inches this spring while casting for rainbows, but that's my only FGR brown.
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Thanks for the offer. I'll keep it in mind. Reminds me of when I started walleye fishing. I hit all the walleye producing lakes. It took me 14 trips before I caught my 1st one. I'm a slow learner but persistent. "..the fun is in the pursuit, the reward is just icing on the cake." D. Boyd. .***not really! The fun is in the reward!
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You don't need to be a genius to catch macs. For a little over $200 you can fish with TarponJim!
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If you want big browns, go to Jordanelle.
Maybe Bassrods will guide you [
] He catches 30" browns everytime he goes to Jordanelle.
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In my opinion if you want to go catch browns and only browns, go fish the Ogden and Weber rivers. There are plenty of 20+ inch browns in the Weber and quite a few in the Ogden too. I wouldn't waste my time at the Gorge fishing for browns. Anything you can catch a brown on at the Gorge, you can also catch Rainbows and Macks on.
If you go fish for browns, you will probably have to sort through a ton of bows before you find one.
If you want to go catch 13-17 inch browns all day long and have a chance at some 20 inchers. I'll take ya on the Ogden and we'll slay' em.
If you go all the way to the Gorge, fish for macks!!!
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[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]Well then I get the general situation. I think next time I am going to try and launch at Lost Dog. I want to go up the river a little ways and see what it is like. When I was ice fishing in that area last season I had a nice conversation with a group from Wyoming. Supposedly good sized catfish come down around the are in the spring, 10-12 lbs. Maybe some browns too?[/#000000][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]Yes, I have read many reports and info so far about the nice browns in Jordanelle. I know that it is a great place to fish but is probably on the bottom of my list. The reason is that it is becoming very hard to take your pets (dog in my case) to State Parks. They are not allowed in the water, off leash, in some camping spots, etc. Also, there are no free and open spaces at Jordanelle. The camping is all developed and tightly packed. When I was last fishing there I got a real good talking to after taking my dog down to get a drink from the lake. Barely escaped a citation. I just don't need that stress especially when I am out for fishing. It is a time for relaxation and pleasure. I also like to sleep in my car. close to the launch ramp or lake. That way I can just get up and launch before most people can wake up. I got yelled at for that there too. [/#000000][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]I understand that these are the rules and are in place there for a reason, but for me it is too restrictive. That is why I drive to the Gorge mostly. Open space, many places to luanch and sleep right next to the lake. I can run my generator to charge batteries and not disturb anyone. I can let my dog run beside the car for exercise on the dirt roads. I can throw a stick in for a swim. And, one of these days I will learn to catch big Macks somewhat consistently. I can have me a time I tell you what. [fishin][/#000000][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]Sounds good to me. I have serious trouble in rivers. Almost always get skunked. Usually on fast flowing ones. I do well in slow flows. Go figure.[crazy][/#000000][/font]
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Whatever floats your boat [cool]
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At least you can eat walleyes. Everyone goes nuts over lake trout. Great, a 20 lb fish that doesn't fight, is hard to catch and tastes like crap....go figure !!
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Now wait a second Tom. I'll give you the "taste's like crap" part.
They can be hard to catch at times, but are also rather easy at others. There are some, actually quite a few besides myself, who can go out for much of the season and catch a 20-pounder anytime they want. You know some of them, both here, and in your area.
But "doesn't fight?" Have you caught any 20-pounders jigging yet? [
] They'll bend a rod and take some line for 5 or 10 minutes.[shocked] No, not on heavy trolling gear. And the 5-10 pounders don't do much on any tackle. But, I challenge you to go out with me and catch a few in the 20's, and maybe a 30, and then tell me they don't fight.
Are you going out for the re-opening on JL tomorrow?? Those guys we know that I've been taking from up there said they are! They've got a few biggies on jigs earlier this year too, I saw the pictures.
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As for the browns, fish 20 miles below the dam, or about 30 miles above the inlet to the lake. That's where there's far more 20-30 inch browns than the lake itself.
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I'll agree with the Captain! If you've never caught a 20-30 lb fish than you really don't know how hard they can pull. Also, I ate a ten pound mac yesterday and it was pretty darn good! Granted, a darnn good cook prepared it but don't believe everything you hear about lake trout...
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Hey WH2.. I've been wanting to get up to the Gorge to to a little ice fishing also.. never been there.. How about letting me hook up with you when you go ?? [fishin]
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The more the better when it comes to [#326aaf][/#326aaf]thinning out those smaller macks and all those pesky burbot. We could even do a BFT get together maybe even a biggest burbot contest if enough people are interested. Of course we shouldn't be talking about this on this thread but if anyone else is interested please send me a PM and if there is enough interest I'll start a thread about it. This is likely over a month or two away but it might be worth talking about for anyone interested.
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Jim, I'm just stirring the pot a little.!! I have never had a worthy battle from a mac, compared to other fish of the same size. We used to drag them around on Lake Ontario because they aren't strong enough to pop a release set for salmon. Even some 8 lbers!. I dont know how you can go from Macs all summer, to Tarpon all winter. That's like going from a Yugo to a Ferrari !!!. How many minutes did it take to put that 50lber in your boat ?? I would love to fish with you next year, I will be in touch on that one. And I did fish Jackson Lake today, from shore, ( my boat is stored already) and I got 7, 6 macs and a brown. The biggest was 4lbs, it fought pretty good !! Funny thing is Jim, I fish for macs about 75% of my fishing. Not really because I want to, I just dont have much of a choice here if I want to fish a lake using my boat.
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