Fishing Forum

[cool][#0000ff]Hit Rabbit Gulch at Starvation Friday morning. Man, since they paved the road all the way back in the whole character has changed. Can't believe all the trailers and motor homes. Also can't believe all the yoyos who try to launch cabin cruisers from the shoreline...no ramp. There were already a lot of folks there Friday morning and more arriving all day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]LloydE and myself got launched about 7:30 AM. Only light breezes, air temp mid fifties and water temp just under 64...warming to 69 later in the day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Started off slow. We found few fish on sonar and even fewer that wanted to play. In the first hour the best we could do was a couple of throwbacker perch. Covered lots of water, from shallow to over 36 feet. Finally started finding a few perch in 25 to 30 feet, but they were usually over thick weeds. Tough to fish with jigs. We harvested more salad than meat.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Later in the morning the bite picked up a bit, but it was sporadic. No schools of fish. Just onesies and twosies. I was dragging a "prospecting" rig...with a couple of dropshot "fligs" (floating jigs)...while vertical jigging with a variety of different lures. Over the course of the morning and into afternoon, I did catch quite a few perch and I caught them on virtually everything I presented in the right zone at the right time. See pics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lloyd was not catching as many perch as I was, but so far he had the only walleye...a "teen incher" that came on a homemade floater/spinner rig. I was beginning to think that the few perch in my basket were all I was going to get.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I worked my way over to the buoy line marking the sunken rock reef off the south shoreline. Found a couple more decent sized perch and few more "recycles". Then, when casting my pale perch roadrunner closer to the rocks, I started picking up a few small smallmouth. Much fun. The two biggest were 12" and 14" but they both jumped and thumped me pretty good. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The breezes had been off and on all day, and going into the afternoon a bit of a stronger easterly zephyr started coming up. I figured it was probably time to pack up and go, but wanted to make a last stop on a spot known to produce in the past under the current high water conditions. Good move.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In anticipation of potential action, I had gotten out my bright orange marker buoy and had it handy in the side pocket of my tube. As I moved over the area I had targeted, I had hits both on my dropshot rig and my jigged Roadrunner. Double. Out went the marker buoy. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Several porky perch later, I hollered at Lloyd, who was not far away, and told him to boogie on over to join the action. I could now see quite a few perch on the screen of my sonar. First real perch school I have found this year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lloyd and I enjoyed fairly constant action for the next hour or so. The best approach was using a single rod with a single fire tiger color "Ultra Minnow" jig...tipped with worm. The bite was very light at times and you had to fish with a cocked wrist. When you felt a change in the FORCE, you snapped your wrist and usually went bendo.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In addition to both of us filling out our 20 fish perch limits, I also scored a wee walleye...14"...to match the one in Lloyd's basket. I had promised him that we would both catch walleye and my promise had been fulfilled...barely.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We got off the water in midafternoon and it is good we did. The parking areas around tiny little Rabbit Gulch were filling up with mega rigs and ocean going vessels. We chortled as we watched one guy trying to launch where we had launched. We knew from our launch that there were several huge boulders just offshore. No problem for tubers, but the big outboard on that guy's boat did not fare too well. He did not seem happy when he pulled the boat back out of the water and assessed the damage. I'm sure it only got better after we left, but we had miles to travel and fish to fillet.[/#0000ff]
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Sounds like you had to earn the fishies today Pat. Funny about those boats. I wonder how long it will take for the "word" to get out about the big ol rocks.
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[cool][#0000ff]Once the water level begins to drop there is doable launching from the old roadbed. But right now access is flooded and the big boats can't get out to the launch area.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am surprised that the State Park has not put up warning signs or signs to indicate safe launching spots. There was another incident last week, at that same spot, where a truck tried to back a boat in around the boulders and almost lost the truck when the rear wheels went over a dropoff.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Cheap entertainment for tubers anyway. Once the boats got launched they made it miserable for us. I hate to bounce on the waves when there is no wind...or even when there is. Really makes "finesse fishing" a lot more difficult.[/#0000ff]
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Nice job on the perch. Fished Knights hollow for about an hour till I got so sick of all the idiots, we just went swimming. Managed 3 walleye. Two lost at the edge of the boat and one landed near the inlet. Also a little smallie. I was getting lots of small bites I think they were perch. The fish are getting better at stealing worms off the harnesses without getting hooked than they were earlier this year.
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[cool][#0000ff]It looks like Friday is the new Saturday on a lot of waters. There are already a lot of folks who work 4 day weeks, but the numbers of Utah State employees who now have Fridays off has really added to the traffic. Hasn't done much for common sense and sportsmanship though.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The perch have become more tentative. Got a lot of "hit and run" strikes yesterday that did not come back for "dessert". Most of my fish came while holding a rod and being ready for an "inquiry". Didn't catch all of them, but a lot more than if I tried to let the fish hook itself.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think that once the perch begin to feed on perch fry from this year's hatch they will become more aggressive. Virtually all of the perch we have taken to the fillet board have neither perch fry or crawdads in their stomach contents. But, they are all full of small black invertebrates and they are healthy...with residual body fat.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of the smallies I caught had a crawdad claw sticking up out of its gullet. And, toward the end of our trip, while we were catching a lot of fish, I was sure I saw a couple of schools of small baitfish hanging over the weed beds. We could be close to some better fishing for both perch and walleyes. Seems to be later this year.[/#0000ff]
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It was another great fishing experience. It started off a little slow, and I spent the morning kicking my float tube all over Starvation reservoir--trying to compete with the myriad of ski boats--(and catch a few fish). I finally learned (from some subtle coaching) that I would catch more fish if I didn't move too fast and if I did a lot more jigging. A lesson well learned!! I can't say enough positive things about the jigging lures the TubeDude has created--especially his Ultra Minnow jigs! The fish would not leave them alone.
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[cool][#0000ff]It is always a pleasure fishing with you Lloyd. You offer the double feature of being older than me (gives me hope) and perhaps having an even greater passion for fishing than I do...at least for walleyes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Starvation has been a good classroom for both of us over the past few years. It is often the spot where I try out new lures, new colors and/or new rigs and presentations. With the sheer numbers of fish, and easy access (usually) we can generally count on bringing home some fillets. And, I have also developed the theory that if the fish in Starvation vote for something, it will also be effective on other perch and walleye ponds.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope you didn't have to stay up all night filleting all those fish. Tough duty.[/#0000ff]
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Friday may be the new Saturday, but Monday and Tuesday are just plain sweet. Even on a Tuesday there are plenty of idiots on the water though. I hope I can go all summer without fishing on Saturday or Sunday.
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[cool][#0000ff]Many of the power squadron that come back into Bunny Gulch are considerate and stay on the other side of the channel if there are tubers or boaters fishing. But once it gets busy, they just run all over everybody.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I respect the rights of the pseudo-rich, who like to show off their toys and their disdain both for money and for other people. But why do they have to roar by so close, when they have the whole lake to play on...and why do they have to always yell so loud just to get our attention? And, why do they always have to dump their skiers right on top of the spot we are fishing so we can watch and listen to their them...and their ear numbing music?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think we could all coexist just fine if they banned the use of any engine larger than 10 HP. But, let's be fair and make it effective only on days ending in Y.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]This was the first trip we have made over there on a Friday, since Memorial Day. The first one was at Knight Hollow, and it was bad enough. Normally we like to hit it midweek. And, as you say, there are still plenty of wackos to keep it "interesting". [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a theory that if all waterskiers and wakeboarders...and PWC riders...were laid out end to end...WE WOULD BE A LOT BETTER OFF.[/#0000ff]
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Pat - that was really mean to keep putting different jigs into the same fish!!!

I boat and fish, sometimes both at the same time, and it can get frustrating as you get kamikazeed by the big fiberglass sideswipers. Ignorance of boating rules and regs can be a reason but not an excuse.
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Maybe we need to carry a marine radio and contact the fish cops when they get in the way so that maybe some of these freaks will get the idea they are actually breaking the law?
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"Pat - that was really mean to keep putting different jigs into the same fish!!!"

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, are you a PETA putz or what? Those fish don't feel pain. At least I hope they don't. Boy, if I really thought I was hurting them I would just quit fishing.[/#0000ff]
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I have some of these pre-formed, weighted snagging hooks (treble-5/0 I believe) left over from when I lived in Colorado, that we used for snagging Kokes (yes, it's LEGAL in Colorado-at least back THEN) I try to keep one tied onto my LONGEST casting pole, which just "happens" to have 50# Fireline on it!! The BEST cast it will do is +/- about 150' (50 yards for those football fans not good at math) I "think" you know where this is going! I use it or keep it handy cuz ya NEVER know what ya might need to retrieve that falls overboard- like my buddies fishing pole, I TOLD him to put it in the pole holder!! The "best" I've ever gotten was a life jacket out of a boat that screamed by at Pineview, within 100' !! Sucked that lifejacket RIGHT OUT OF THE BOAT...then waited for them to return to see if I wanted to keep it or not. They never even knew it left the boat! Some day I "HOPE" to catch a 190# towing toad!! Wouldn't THAT be the catch of the DAY!! I don't know if it's legal and I REALLY DON'T CARE!!
JUST A THOUGHT TUBEDUDE!! Of course you'd look kinda FUNNY being towed around the lake on your tube...someone might think it's a new SPORT and copy it!! ROFLMAO!!
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[cool][#0000ff]Just so's ya knows, I ain't always been a pacifist complainer type. I been knowed to be a bit more "proactive". [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As a youngster I made my own slingshots and became HIGHLY PROFICIENT in "flipperology". I could take the head off a sparrow sitting on power lines...etc. In the early days of tubing Willard, late 1970's, there were no PWCs but there were a couple of the water ski boats that delighted in harassing me. When I yelled at them all I got was the "Hawaiian good luck sign". So, I started carrying a slingshot and marbles...along with some 1/4" steel balls. Boats aiming right at me got a marble-smashed windshield. Water skiers got a couple of ball bearings in their butt cheeks as the layed over to spray me. The rangers admonished me (while trying to keep from laughing) that it was not legal to do that...after getting complaints from wounded skiers (who couldn't explain how they got close enough for me to shoot them in the butt)[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]To avoid running (further) afoul of the law, I also carried a rod with a half ounce bell sinker...with no hook. As a pretty fair caster, I made this rig work for getting the attention of potential violators. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On other lakes, at different times, I have carried one rod rigged with an old heavy plug with three sets of trebles. But, I rig with "breakaway" line that will pop loose after I have completed the "hookset". Got a PWC rider around the wrists once. Hogtied and hooked up...bleeding badly. Can you believe he wanted me to help him. The ranger boat showed up just in time. Helped the guy out and removed the hooks so he could sign his ticket.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But ya know, some of my most frustrating encounters have been with other "anglers". It seems that there is a feeling among boating fishermen that the biggest and most expensive ride has unlimited power over all other fishermen. I can't count the number of times that I have had to dodge wide open bass sleds or had them run between me and the bank where I was casting. If anybody else pulled that on them they would scream like a wounded eagle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have mellowed a bit in my old age. I now believe that discretion is the better part of cowardice. No need to confront idiots who may be whacked out on "mind-altering substances" or who may be carrying a new toy (weapon) and looking for a chance to play with it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I always carry my camera and take lots of pictures of boats who seem to want to push the limit. You know, it is amazing how many of them shut down the throttle or veer away when they see the camera. Ya suppose they really know what the rules are after all?[/#0000ff]
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Looks like I may need to buy me a new camera. Wife won't let me use hers. Sounds like a good deterrent to me.
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Wish I would have known you were down there Friday as I was on the water pretty much all day, didn't get over to Rabbit at all though. I ended up catching a few eyes mostly small from 12 to 15 inches, I did boat one that went 23, and some smallmouth. I managed to find a couple pods of perch and ended up with 20 good'uns. As I was taking my boat out Friday evening I ran into a fellow BFT'R called Perchinski they were getting ready to do an all nighter walleye tournament there. My son joined me the next day but we had to launch out of Indian Bay as they closed the Park Sat. and Sunday at the main Marina for construction, what a Cluster that was launching off the old road bed. We managed 20 nice perch and and a couple eyes before an afternoon storm blew in, which I was lucky enough to have sense to get off the water before it hit. Checked my trail cam pics while I was down there and had some good pictures of elk, moose,& deer.
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That looks like a great bunch of perch, what was the longest one???

They look like the size from Yuba...
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[cool][#0000ff]Longest of this trip was just over 12", but just about all the ones I kept were over 10". And, they were really healthy...good thick fillets.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I got several from Starvation last year that just about hit 14" and lost one that could have gone well over 15".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I doubt that I will go back to Yuba until after the perch in Starvation have gone deep for the winter. Why travel the same distance (to Yuba) for fewer perch (and more carp). Yeah, the occasional pike is a bonus...for some. But the chances for walleyes are much greater at Starvation too. And, a lot more smallies once they move in to the shoreline.[/#0000ff]
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I think the perch in Starvation has gave it new life...
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