Fishing Forum

Fished Strawberry on Friday with a fellow member and his son. We fished The Renegade area and did Ok (I think the final count was about 41 cutts and 1 21 inch rainbow). All fish were caught either vertically or casting and bouncing back to the boat. We bought some red shiners on the way up and caught most of the fish tipping tube jigs with shiners and a few were caught tipping with crawlers. We anchored up or just slowly drifted (almost zero wind all day long) in 20 to 24' of water.

Great to get out again after a long dry spell, great company, great weather and we caught a few fish.
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We did about the same on Friday afternoon. I had never seen the water so calm. All caught on white tube jig tipped with minnow. Did catch one on my fly rod too. We just slow difted. Fished until dark. Kind of got spooky being on a pontoon when it gets dark. Had a great time. Had at least 3 over the slot. Got into some big ones for sure this trip.
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I wish I could say the same about Saturday. We fished Renegade as well but got blown off pretty early. Did pretty well in the little bay just west of the dock there in 8-15 feet of water with leech patterns. I ended up stopping by the middle provo on the way home where a film crew was filming a motion picture with Diane Keaton called "Darling Companion". The parking lot and the road was so filled with cars and stuff the crew that it scared the fisherman elsewhere. It was the first time I've ever had most of the portion below the dam to myself.
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We fished Saturday as well at East Portal bay. Caught one near the surface earlt on dragging my fly rod with a white zonker type fly. It took us a bit to realize that the fish weren't near the surface. We started throwing our white tube jigs tipped w/ worm. We let them sink near the bottom, and then did a super slow retreive, keeping the jig near the bottom. Every coulpe casts we would get hit. We had tried other retreive methods such as quicker retrieves near the surface and bottom, but nothing til we figured out the slow retreive.
I did try vertical off the bottom, but did not produce fish like casting out did. I am new to jigging, so maybe my vertical method was flawed.
Others around us seemed to be doing quite well also. The winds started blowing at 11:00 and our method stopped working and we needed to get back anyways so we left.
Jealous that Friday was clear all day as I usually go every Friday, but not this week. Maybe it was a good thing so we got home decent time to help get the kids ready for trick or treating. Probably would have got myself in trouble with the wife if the fishing had been good all day.
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We went yesterday (Sunday) Air temp around 40° water temp 50°
That is warm! They were deep but not out far. We found them in 18' to 22' but we were using Type III and letting it sink (count down to 20) before we started stripping it in.

I had one on a leech patter, the rest on my Chub Special.
Oh, I found a shiner floating on the water, did someone loose it? LOL

Seriously though, here is the real thing and my offerings





HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS? I know Weekend Warrior has, anyone else?


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This guy had a couple of those spots on it. You think they are just beauty spots or some kind of parasite/fungus/virus/etc.?

First one on it's belly by fin


Next one near tail


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Here is the answer:


That mark is actually just a naturally occurring color pattern we often see on fish. Think of it as a birth-mark on a person. The dye mark we use to mark groups of fish would not be visible without a black light, and are just tiny flecks. Sounds like you had a good day fishing. Thanks for sharing.

Alan Ward
Strawberry Project Leader
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
435-649-9368
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Were the fish you caught very active? We caught a handfull the same day. Every bite was just a little 'tap tap' and the fish hardly fought, just a head shake back and forth before being drug to the boat.
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We didn't have any complaints about how hard the fish fought and most of them bit aggressively. How were you fishing?
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I agree with you. It is like they are swimming towards you and hit the lure/bait/fly. You really don't know they are there till you tighten the line.
You get a couple of tugs then there they are.

If I can land a 20" Rainbow and a 25" cutthroat at the same time on one line with a Fiberglass rod, that should tell you they don't fight that hard.

Not like the fish up north that straighten hooks.
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tube jigs tipped with chub. It was a fun day, don't get me wrong, just lethargic fish
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Some great looking Cutt's if you ask me. I'll be there in two weeks to try my hand at it. Thanks for the nice report.
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Being the other member(s) of Kent's party (and finally able to check in) - our day may not have been what others consider "stellar", but was a record day for my son and I! My thanks and gratitude to the very fine Captain for finally allowing me to have a breakthru at the Berry! [img]../../../images/gforum/.gif[/img]

In recent years I've been out with a fair number of folks that were sure they could get me on numbers fish, but ended up rather frustrated. (I'll never forget one fellow that chucked his expensive Shimano pole to the ground at the end of the day. Hey, it wasn't MY fault. [angelic]) And especially after the 30th, it never ceases to amaze me how some will preach a particular method with unwavering zeal, but only catch well when conditions match their method...

I spoke with a respected fellow at a respected fishing shop the day before we went out and he gave me very comprehensive info on where and why the fish would be "very reliably." Well... the fish weren't where he said they'd be. Interestingly, I caught one fish in 40' of water right on the bottom and I really had to finesse the hook set, and my son got another in 35' of water suspended 5' down as he was reeling in - but most were caught as Kent said.

It's sure proven to me that it pays to be flexible and have different methods to find out what works on a particular day. Prior to my first trip with Kent in late summer this year I had never understood his described manner of presentation and he out fished me 3-1. But the second time was the charm and I doubled my previous catch record. Lesson learned.

I'll agree with others in how the fish hit and fought that day, (no comparison in my mind to the fun summer kitty wrestling at UL), but a fish is a fish and I have no complaints! (I also prefer a bit lighter tackle than some.) Though, I was bringing one fish in the early part of the day and another followed it to the surface as if it were hoping the lure would come out of the other's mouth! Too bad I hadn't rigged my other pole yet! Fun stuff!

Here are the catches of the day. Darn shame both sets of batteries were dead on my camera and had to settle for this one at home. My son and I got the cutts over the slot, and Ken the nice tall rainbow. The pictures just don't do them justice. Nor does my wife's hand that's pretending to be a great white shark for comparison... (No Photoshop fun this time. [:p])

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Man, with these sunny cloudless warm days, makes me wish I could get back out there!
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Thanks to those willing to be mentors out there - for the students that are ready to learn.
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great pics Roger. Glad you got out with Kent....he is a great fishing partner. Ralph, another great coach and fishing partner, I and Ivan made it up a few days ago and had a blast! We all need to head up together next year earlier in the year.

Shawn M
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My Strawberry "wimpfish" complaints are well known. The reason the fish in Strawberry have little fight, especially the cutts, is because they get caught and released so many times before they are above the slot that they will bite anything if they're hungry that even remotely resembles food on the chance that it is real. If it's a hook, they have learned that they can simply allow themselves to be reeled in and released. They forget they're in danger when they reach 22.1 inches.
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Roghet, those are some nice fish!
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[cool][#0000ff]Nice work.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It's not the destination...but the journey that is the most enjoyable.[/#0000ff]
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Thanks guys.

And, I would add that part of "the journey" is among those that one would take it with. I've very much enjoyed getting to know some of you!! []

And this I know, the journey for me would be all up hill (BOTH WAYS []) were I to have traveled alone. In fact, I'm sure I would have found myself traveling in circles, gotten lost eaten by some toothy critter. Or at least, gotten bored fishing with methods that only occasionally work, from the bank, where fish of'n ain't. [laugh]

But speaking of destinations... I've got to find some more ginger and wasabi marinade after those last dinner guests! [cool]
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ginger and wasabi? You making trout Sushi?
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OOOHHHH.... I LOVE SUSHI! Boy do I wish we could catch tuna or yellowtail in Utah! [img]../../../images/gforum/cool.gif[/img]

Those big trout made for several meals and I like to try different things in preparing them for variety sake. I was given this Ginger-Wasabe Sauce from The Pampered Chef and it really was deeelish! [cool]

sayonara.[]
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