Fishing Forum

[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Life’s been such that I haven’t gotten any line wet in nearly a month… And I haven’t been fishing with my brother since early ice last year. [:/] I’ve wanted to get my nephews into some cats all summer and schedules happened to work out a few days ago so my bro grabbed his boys out of school early in hopes to take advantage of the warm stable weather and try to duplicate some success that had been reported at UL last week.[/size][/#000000][/font]
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]We launched from Lindon about 4 pm, no inquiries to our offerings in the marina. Still lots of water out there to check though. The lake was calm and only a light breeze. We drifted for a while as we headed South, still nothing. OK, now I was starting to wonder… We went north, then south of the bubble up and FINALLY our 7 year old landed a nice white bass. That’s a start.[/size][/#000000][/font]
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]It was a while longer before this mudder wanted to play. Still so small that it hadn’t broken the habit of sucking thumbs. Though my brother found out just how much jaw pressure it had when he tried to release it. Guess the fish thought he was his mamma and didn’t wanna let go. “Ow, OW!” my bro cried. It reminded me of our growing up years to hear my brother in pain – the only sympathy I offered was an amused . Some things never change. [sly]
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]We fished all around the Bubble Up from 5.6 – to 3.5 feet of water (throwing spinners and drifting bait) and all we had to show for our efforts were two more whities. Thankfully there were no skunks in the area, but I was getting frustrated. [/size][/#000000][/font][#000000][size 2]My goal was to get the boys on a respectable channel cat.
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]So I went thru the process of elimination (no, I don’t mean taking a leak) and I looked at the water temps. 75 degrees. Hmmm…. more than 10 degrees warmer than just a few days previously reported. I thought I may regret the attempt, but I had little to lose as I headed to the North side for the reeds. I wondered if I could even get there with the water so much shallower than it was earlier in the summer. Grateful for an old boat and a beaten up prop that I didn’t have to worry about, we threw out some worms under a bobber in less than two feet of water - soon they started to disappear. Ah, the the satisfaction when my oldest nephew brought in this nice kitty all by himself.[/size][/#000000][/font]

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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]I wondered if it was just a stray, but I got a nice one too soon after. Felt good to feel a tight line again, probably should have handed the pole to my brother, but that might have been breaking sibling protocol. [:p] We tried another spot and my youngest nephews’ pole bent like crazy, but he was determined to not let his father help at all – and none was needed until it was time for the net. I have never heard a boy giggle like that as he fought with the fish. Times like this remind me that the expense of boats do have their rewards.[/size][/#000000][/font]

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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Unfortunately, my brother blanked on the cats, he had a few pull his line, but the hook sets didn’t quite find their marks. Maybe that will encourage him to take time off and go with me again. So, with the success of their trip, the boys enjoyed the wind in their hair on the way back to the marina.
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]As nice as that felt, it was all the more welcome to be away from the mosquitoes. Man… they were bad... Our “Off” spray was little deterrent. It would have helped if I didn't use sun screen at first by mistake. [crazy] (BTW: If anyone’s got any specific recommendation for some more serious stuff that really repels bugs – I’m all ears.) I'll never be caught without my head nets again!
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Finally, keeping with the tradition of typical sibling sentiment, this last image was an experiment with a whole different kind of bait. Fortunately, the older brother thought enough to retrieve it. Maybe it was out of brotherly love, or maybe it was because his mom wouldn’t let him go fishing again if his little brother came home missing. Given how brother’s can be, my bet’s on the latter.
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Gotta go, I hear there's a message from my brother to see if we can go out next week. []
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[font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Cheers everyone!
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[cool][#0000ff]You are getting better at figuring out a pattern, rather than just mimicing what somebody else did a few days (or weeks) before. Nice goin'.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On every trip you need to consider several factors:[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]1. Most recent reports.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]2. Current weather, water levels and water temps...and clarity.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]3. Weather, moon and barometric stuff for the two or three days previously. Fishing is always better after a couple of stable weather days.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]4. Past successes (or failures) under similar conditions...after consulting your fishing logs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It can also help to call and bug somebody else who fishes the area more than you do...and then do exactly the opposite of what they tell you.[/#0000ff]
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Nice Post Roger,

Shawn M
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[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]You are getting better at figuring out a pattern, rather than just mimicing what somebody else did a few days (or weeks) before. [/#0000ff][/quote]

I feel like I'm finally gettin' out enough for a lot of those factors to start to mean something to me - and to go out and learn enough from others to have different options to try when the first "plan" just tain't wurkin'.

I have definitely seen the value of hitting UL time and time again this year (as opposed to going to many different places as I have other years) and experiencing the many changes in conditions.

The only downside from this last trip, is that it was like Summer again and I still need to experience some true "Fall fishing" and hook up with some cats in deeper water. []

Hmmm.... I wonder... since doing exactly the opposite of of what someone tells me may work in fishing - what if I did exactly the opposite of what they tell me at CHURCH? It would likely affect the weather, and I'd be struck by lightning. [laugh][laugh][laugh]
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Nice going! My kids and I enjoyed the pic of the man eating catfish. Very funny!
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Thanks man. I'm happy to know that your family enjoyed it. []

I don't typically get as many responses to my posts as some others, and that sometimes leaves me wondering what people think. (If reviews are mixed, then that's OK with me. Being an Artist by profession - if 1/2 the people like your work, and 1/2 don't - then that means you're probably right on the money! []) But I trust and hope that enough get a good chuckle for me to take the time to present them - all for the fun of it.

So - I appreciate your expression of appreciation![cool]
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