Fishing Forum

[cool][#0000ff]Took TubeBabe down to Lincoln Beach for her first tubin' trip of the year. She loves those kitties at LB and they love her.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We got launched off the shallow beach in front of the "facilities" at about 8 AM. Air temp 24 and water temp 39. I started off throwing plastics, hoping for a marble-eye. 8:15 missed a couple of bumps and then stuck a small white bass. No more hits on plastics so I sent out a minnow on one rod and went back to throwing plastics some more.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Heard a boat throttle down back behind us and looked around. Stupid boat was heading right for me. I figured either he was a typical power squadron idiot that figures that float tubes make good slalom markers...or maybe he knew me.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Turned out to be transplanted Idahoan WET1. He had seen my post about hitting LB and wanted to meet us. I put up my Uzi and tried to be pleasant. We had some good chitchat goin'. Just about the time he got close enough to touch his boat with my rod, my rod went bendo on a biggun. A big nasty kitty grabbed my bait and headed under the nearby boat. Todd had to lift the trolling motor to keep us from becoming all wrapped up in each other. Always happens that way. Whenever anybody gets close, I get a fish and end up fighting the other person instead of the fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A good ending. I scooped the fish and lifted it on board. Todd's fishing buddy Sam offered to use my camera to take a couple of pics. Don't get many pictures of me so I was happy he offered.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those guys must have been good luck. I got my first and biggest fish while they were there. And just as I landed my first, TubeBabe scored her first kitty a few yards out. It was a "baby" 3 pounder. My toad was 28" and 9.8 pounds at weighin at the end of the day. When they left we went a long time without any more action.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was fishing shallower than TubeBabe...4 to 5 feet. She was out in 5 to 5.5 feet. I was catching quite a few white bass on my plastic rigs. She was dragging two baits...one carp meat and one minnow. About an hour after her first fish, she went bendo again. I could tell by the "high C" coming across the water. No mistaking that sound. She was havin' some enjoys. I kicked a bit closer and got a couple of longrange pics. Her second and biggest cat was 27" and 9.4#. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My second cat came just after noon, after the north wind had been blowing for a long time...seemingly shutting off the action...as usual. It hit hard and fought hard for a winter fish. Taped out at 25" and weighed 6.2#. Other than a few more white bass, 1 big carp and 1 silly bullhead that ate a pink plastic, that was it for me. Of course I released the carp unharmed (see pic).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe scored one more fish to beat be for most cats honor...as usual. Her third fish was a respectable 24" and a lean 4.8#. She also got a "tail taker" carp we kept to cut up for bait.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Weatherman blew it again. We planned our trip to take advantage of the light SOUTHERLY breezes forecast. It started out calm and then the wind blew from the north all day...except when we got off the water to go home about 2.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Normally we don't keep the larger cats but we agreed before going out that we would keep 3 or 4 for the smoker. First batch of smoked kitty for 2009 will be done by Monday evening.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Didn't get a sniff from a walleye. Threw several kinds of plastic and cranks. Nada, zip, zilch. Did have a lot of hits on larger stuff but suspect they were the fiesty little whities. They were pesky today. But, I invited a few home for bait for big kitties next time. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, you wouldn't believe the stomach contents in those pigs we brought home. All of the 3 larger fish had at least one or two WHOLE bluegills in them, and my biggest fish also had a 10 inch freshly eaten white bass...and some "remnants" that were NOT SO FRESH. Whooooeeee.[/#0000ff]


[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45877"][#63626b]LINCOLN LAUNCH.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (222 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45878"][#63626b]FIRST WHITIE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (205 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45879"][#63626b]WET1.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (303 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45880"][#63626b]TUBED TOAD.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (177 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45881"][#63626b]TUBEBABE BENDO.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (263 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45882"][#63626b]BIGGUN ON BOARD.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (246 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45883"][#63626b]DA DUM...DA DUM...DA DUM.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (226 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45884"][#63626b]2 FOOTER.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (229 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45885"][#63626b]DA BABE BAGS ANUDDER.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (282 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45886"][#63626b]WHITIE & TIM-P.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (175 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45887"][#63626b]HELLO MUDDER.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (216 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45888"][#63626b]RELEASED UNHARMED.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (269 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45889"][#63626b]ALL RIGHT BABE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (260 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=45890"][#63626b]GOT MINE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (263 KB)
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Nice work!

If it would quit raining for 5 minutes out here, Id be out trying to make my own report. Thanks for allowing me to live vicariously for a few minutes. Love some catfish!
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Man that's some early fishing there. Good on ya. Didn't think they were biting that well this early.[] But I guess that's what happens when the old pro and his boss does the fishing. []
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[cool][#0000ff]Of course they don't bite this early...if you don't go fishing. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those cats bite all year...even through the ice. The guys who say they only bite during warm weather are usually warm weather anglers.[/#0000ff]
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Great report TD. Your photos and reports give a great flavour of fishing in lakes I'd otherwise not get to see.

That comment about the photos from the boat reminded me: this year I'll have to look up some of those "camera boom" threads, and fabricate something to solve that old problem - photos of everything around but none of the tube and occupant in the centre of the action.
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[cool][#0000ff]Glad you enjoy the uniqueness of some of our fishing "across the pond". I have fished all over the western hemisphere and am constantly amazed at the incredible diversity of fishable waters and the species within them. That has really been reinforced as I am completing the final edits on my book and inserting pictures. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Not sure about wanting to carry much more "hardware" on my already well appointed craft. It is nice to have good pictures of one's self and all that, but some of us want justice...others want mercy. The greatest favor we can do for those who look at our pictures is to remain out of them.[/#0000ff]
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While TD and TB are out and catching those cats...what is it like where you are in Ireland? In Illinois we can fish but I'm not set for the cold water yet, I would wait until I can dip in when it is warm, for now it is the canoe.
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Hey TD and TB. What a great trip! I'm takin' my laptop to the hospital with me today for some surfing later if all goes well. I am glad to have your latest report . I won't be fishing for awhile so you're providing me with some vicarious joys.

I found myself strangely craving some catfish meat this morning.

zonker
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MEOW!!! TOO COOL!! Great report and some awesome pics!! With background like that, how can you keep your mind on fishin'??? (referencing the BEAUTIFUL mountains in the distance:o)
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[cool][#0000ff]All the best to you, my friend.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I will do my best to provide "reading material" for you. We plan at least a couple of tubing trips this coming week.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sorry about the "perforation pic" of the carpinski. They are a major problem in Utah Lake and there is a big restoration project for the lake that includes mass removal of up to 5 million carp. I just reduced it by 1.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let me know if you need something else to read. I have some semi-final edits on some of the tubing book chapters. I would be happy to send you some PDF files for your review and input. Same email address?[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]As you can probably tell from the pictures I post on my trips, the beauty of Utah is not wasted on me. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are very few of my favorite waters that do not provide some great scenery along with great fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have fished all over the USA and have gone both north and south of our borders with my float tubes. But, as I have said to a lot of people, I have never found a state with such a diverse fishing opportunity...for so many species...and big fish...as there is in Utah. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Not too many of the best species that are not found here. Flathead and blue cats are two species I would like to see, but can't get our state fisheries departments to stock. But, in a state that has been trout oriented for a hundred years, we still do pretty good with a bunch of other warm water and spiny ray species.[/#0000ff]
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[quote Bluegillman] [#bf0000]While TD and TB are out and catching those cats...what is it like where you are in Ireland? In Illinois we can fish but I'm not set for the cold water yet, I would wait until I can dip in when it is warm, for now it is the canoe.[/#bf0000] [/quote]

In Irish loughs we are nowhere so cold, or having such extremes hot in summer to cold in winter. It's due to a sea breeze and ocean currents that originate in the Gulf of Mexico and warm us up way beyond what our relatively northern lattitude would suggest if you looked at a map.

So medium to large lough don't freeze over enough to walk on except maybe once in 30 years. I fish pike all winter.
We're windy - "fresh breeze" average wind of 12-15mph beaufort wind force 3 [#000000][size 2]1/2[/size][/#000000] which cools and makes good taking temps during a lot of summer, and less thermocline stratification due to wave turnover of wider windswept "stillwaters". We only get thermoclines on smaller sheltered waters, or on a big open water during calm periods for maybe a month.
And we're rainy from the ocean moisture laden winds bringing rain, which gives the country that "green isle" name - no yellow brown desert grass anywhere. It keeps the rivers and lakes fresh much more of the time, and reservoir drawdowns are much reduced compared to the mid-west US.

Tubing is a minority sport due to wind and wave, an 18' boat with outboard is considered more normal by the 95% of anglers.

No high power bass boats due to no freshwater bass.
Jet skis banned on many fishing loughs, and restricted on many others.

Against that there are cold water species (trout, salmon, pike) but fewer warm water species. Carp for example cannot over-run a water because their spawning is only successful to a lesser degree, and their numbers stay reasonable.

Our perch is different but looks the same, Perca Fluviatilus. No pike-perch,zander or walleye. Brown trout are natural wildies, all rainbows are introduced stockies. No steelies, but migratory sea run browns that run the rivers are called white trout or sea trout. The salmon are all Atlantic salmon, (greatly reduced in numbers by over fishing). Drift net bans have been legislated and some species are crawling back from the brink of extinction.

I'll take plenty of photos of the next few trips out and put up a few reports, so you can get the feel of how it is here.
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Tubedude and Babe, nice trip out there. Weird that it can be so windy in some places while having no wind in others. I had a softball practice that was windfree up in Salt Lake. Odd.... anyway, enjoyed the pictures. Those are some hog cats early on... great job! I should be free on Saturday so I'm hoping we can hook up and tube somewhere together that morning. Hope you aren't burned out on catfish yet..... but if you're yearning for something else, perhaps I can swing by and make a deal for some bait?.... Glad to see somebody out there getting it done. I guess I qualify as a warm water angler, not because I don't think cats won't bite in cold water, just because I think cold water bites. [cool]
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Thanks my friend. I would love to see the latest incarnations of your book. I read the last ones from front to back and it has been awhile.

A perferated carp doesn't bother me in the least. Its a blood sport, after all. I know how they are an invasive species that can mess up the waters for other fish and ultimately take over. They need to be controlled. I just like to fish for them because they're big and the pull hard and they will, with more skill required than for taking most other fish, take a fly. And when I do fish for them I find I have miles of fishing over huge fish all to myself.

Email addy is the same.

Take care. Hope to "see" you when I'm out.

z~
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[cool][#0000ff]The weather forecast for Saturday...at this point...is for WIND. But, they have been wrong before...both ways.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Depending upon weather and schedules, we can go wherever you wanna start your tubing year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No problem with bait. You can stop by or I can bring some with.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a whole season before I may begin to feel over-catted.[/#0000ff]
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LMAO @ released unharmed! Once again Pat, great report and awesome pics. My holes here are still frozen ...

-ABT
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Frozen holes? Sounds like either the name of a rock group or a medical condition. Either way, sounds cool.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Maybe you need to get out and perform some kind of exorcism ritual on winter.[/#0000ff]
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[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Thanks.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Frozen holes? Sounds like either the name of a rock group or a medical condition. Either way, sounds cool.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Maybe you need to get out and perform some kind of exorcism ritual on winter.[/#0000ff][/quote]

LMAO.... thats hilarious Dude.... and I agree, nothing like hitting some soft water to get past that condition. [cool]
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