09-26-2010, 08:21 AM
Popped over to Hyrum again to try for Crawdads, and pitch some lines while my chikn legs were soaking. Warm day cooling to evening as I arrived about 4pm. Was gonna meet a pal, but they never showed. The boy opted out of this one. He didn't believe there were crawdads there. I found some evidence.
Planted myself amongst the other bank-tanglers along the damn wall. Quite a few folks out. But plenty of room for more. Few boats out tooling around, most took off pretty early. Lake was pretty calm, and the fall colors are starting to set into the hills. Water's way down, they call it the "outlet" but not when it's way above the water line...
Not too much action on the rods or the strings. Few little nibblers and small bassling chasers. Saw a number of good jumpers, more as dusk approached. Tried a double dropshot jig combo under a bobber. It bobbed and shuffled, but never really DUNKED, but the worm tippings kept disappearing. Tried straight jigging to "feel" the hits better. Hooked up a couple perchies, and some basslings said hay, see ya.
Tried pitching various other patterns with a second rod. From silver rattlers to red spinners, a gold kastmaster- nada. Had a few little hits, but nothing serious. Tried switching to crawdad patterns, starting with a gulp on a football head weighted hook. Had a number of tugs, but as it got closer realized it was just more silly bass. Too small to take the whole thing! Pitched farther out hoping to find big-bro, no go. Switched off to a hard-crawdad-crankbait. Tipped with a salmon egg, but maybe the bright red scared em off. Switched to worm tips, and a gulp minnow. Small crank - couldn't pitch very far. Kept tossing to the risers, but no takers.
Checked up and down the strings, and still no "black coating" as I pulled them in, and tossed them back out. There were submerged rocks that looked like great places for the 'dads to hang under. Also tried along a gravelly ledge that dropped to a sandy bottom.
Right around 7:30 the water got all busy - but it seemed to be just the little guys. Though a couple big 'wumps' hit farther out. Switched off to a fly-n-bobber, with a black spinner fly. Ok, now started to get a couple thumps - strike back, but nada. Had several take and drops. Probably should have switched flies. but wanted to gather my stuff before dark. Did I have a flashlight?
Harder to find the strings - no light, tried using the camera "light" - kinda worked by brail with the net handle. Pulled up the end leg, and lost track of the string, but the leg was close enough - scooped it up with the net, and - yeah - a slow moving, large black thing attached and in the net. First 'dad on board, and what a pair of claws on him! Pulled up the rest, and - alas - found no more. But at least one nice one.
Went to gather up the rest of my gear, but couldn't find my perch. Seems my improvised stringer must have either got washed away with the waves, or some sneaky fish helped themselves to my catch! Maybe a little of both. Didn't even get a snap of 'em!
Gave Clawzilla a quick boil and a butter bath. Might need to try that again. After seeing the clawdad, my son wants to go next time! He has plans to snorkel and look for 'em.
Hoping to hit Pineview tomorrow, see what I can find there. New waters. (it is "opening" day at Porcupine too)
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Planted myself amongst the other bank-tanglers along the damn wall. Quite a few folks out. But plenty of room for more. Few boats out tooling around, most took off pretty early. Lake was pretty calm, and the fall colors are starting to set into the hills. Water's way down, they call it the "outlet" but not when it's way above the water line...
Not too much action on the rods or the strings. Few little nibblers and small bassling chasers. Saw a number of good jumpers, more as dusk approached. Tried a double dropshot jig combo under a bobber. It bobbed and shuffled, but never really DUNKED, but the worm tippings kept disappearing. Tried straight jigging to "feel" the hits better. Hooked up a couple perchies, and some basslings said hay, see ya.
Tried pitching various other patterns with a second rod. From silver rattlers to red spinners, a gold kastmaster- nada. Had a few little hits, but nothing serious. Tried switching to crawdad patterns, starting with a gulp on a football head weighted hook. Had a number of tugs, but as it got closer realized it was just more silly bass. Too small to take the whole thing! Pitched farther out hoping to find big-bro, no go. Switched off to a hard-crawdad-crankbait. Tipped with a salmon egg, but maybe the bright red scared em off. Switched to worm tips, and a gulp minnow. Small crank - couldn't pitch very far. Kept tossing to the risers, but no takers.
Checked up and down the strings, and still no "black coating" as I pulled them in, and tossed them back out. There were submerged rocks that looked like great places for the 'dads to hang under. Also tried along a gravelly ledge that dropped to a sandy bottom.
Right around 7:30 the water got all busy - but it seemed to be just the little guys. Though a couple big 'wumps' hit farther out. Switched off to a fly-n-bobber, with a black spinner fly. Ok, now started to get a couple thumps - strike back, but nada. Had several take and drops. Probably should have switched flies. but wanted to gather my stuff before dark. Did I have a flashlight?
Harder to find the strings - no light, tried using the camera "light" - kinda worked by brail with the net handle. Pulled up the end leg, and lost track of the string, but the leg was close enough - scooped it up with the net, and - yeah - a slow moving, large black thing attached and in the net. First 'dad on board, and what a pair of claws on him! Pulled up the rest, and - alas - found no more. But at least one nice one.
Went to gather up the rest of my gear, but couldn't find my perch. Seems my improvised stringer must have either got washed away with the waves, or some sneaky fish helped themselves to my catch! Maybe a little of both. Didn't even get a snap of 'em!
Gave Clawzilla a quick boil and a butter bath. Might need to try that again. After seeing the clawdad, my son wants to go next time! He has plans to snorkel and look for 'em.
Hoping to hit Pineview tomorrow, see what I can find there. New waters. (it is "opening" day at Porcupine too)
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