[cool][#0000ff]I cancelled a trip to Willard yesterday morning because of wind forecast. Starvation looked okay for today so I took up MacFisher's offer to ride along and we hit Bunny Gulch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Launched about 7 am and immediately got into the dink perch. Yeeee hawwww. But I also got a small smallmouth and a teen incher walleye...all in the first fifteen minutes. Good start. But it didn't get much better through the morning.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Both of us killed a lot of crawlers and fed a lot of small perch. Hope we help make them bigger. We covered a lot of water between us but just could not find any perch with shoulders. Both of us got a few walleyes and a couple of smallies. Mac got a 16 inch rainbow that did a FFR...flip flop release...as he was trying to introduce it to his basket. I did not catch any trout at all. First trip in about two years I have not got slimed on Starvation.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I probably caught about 20 walleyes. Most were underfooters. A few footlongs and some teen inchers. Biggest was about 15". Saw several boats back in the Gulch but did not see anybody in the boats catch any fish...and they all left quickly. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Weather stayed nice until about 11. Then the clouds started building around the horizon and a little breeze began to get stronger. We were off the water by noon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water levels are still dropping, but the lake is still much higher than normal for this time of year. The water temp at launch was 65 and 67 when we exited the pond. Looks like maybe my last time to go waderless on Starvy this year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Enjoyed meeting MacFisher. A dedicated angler and a serious float tuber. He seemed to enjoy the lake and I think we will likely be down for a rematch soon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Still got roadwork going on but we only got stopped at a flagman once...and the chip and seal operation seems to be about done.[/#0000ff]
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Wow fish on at starvy. Gotta love it!
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Way to go fellas. TD, gee I'm starting to think this is your favorite pond.
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[cool][#0000ff]I do dearly love Starvy. But my favorite pond du jour is any one that treats me nice. I gots no pride.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, today was not a "stellar" day. But we got continuous action even if the average fish was not all that big. Being able to take home few eaters is just icing on the cake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here's another pic for ya.[/#0000ff]
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Well I would expect nothing less from you man. Great work as usual. Do you dare say that now is the time for a man's 1st walleye? Are they "on" so to say?
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Looks like you had a good time! Always getting into the eyes up there. How are you presenting your "No Name" jigs? Kinda bottom bouncing them or trolling em? Always curious of that, seems you catch most of your fish now using them.
Fishing Starvy is different getting a little tough. I was there over labor day, battled the wind every morning. First day we were there I was able to get into the fish, then as the weekend went on it went to straight nothing. This was over at Indian Bay on the back side. But either way, it's still always getting out on the water! Catchin fish or not. Beats work anyday!
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I have to say this was definitely in the top trips for the year. I haven't fished Starvation since I was a little boy. All I knew then was to let Dad throw out the pole and wait for the jerk on the other end.
I can't believe I waited so long to try again. When I was given a tube a couple years ago by a fellow BFTer I really wanted to get into some EYEs at DC. Even after reading post after post about Starvy I always looked at it as a tough place to fish and to far away to make the effort.
My advice if you want to try for something go for it. This will most likely become one of my regular lakes. I had a great time fishing and a great time with one of the "Greats", TD. I learned a little bit and had a great time meeting you Pat. I was so happy I didn't break off my line once today. I would have been upset to lose one of those new lures.
To reiterate what you said. We caught tons of dink perchies and a good amount of EYEs. Depths varied but almost any presentation I through out seemed to work as long as it had some sort of worm or perch meat attached to it.
I will post some of my pics tomorrow. I went from fishing with TD to driving to Hurricane to fish Sand Hollow in the morning. I will have to download some pics when I have the chance to breathe. What a horrible problem to have, running all over the state to fish different waters for different fish in one weekend. I love my hobby! [
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Thanks again Pat for your willingness to join with an amateur and show him the ropes of a new lake. Always good to meet new faces.
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[quote TyeDyeTwins]Well I would expect nothing less from you man. Great work as usual. Do you dare say that now is the time for a man's 1st walleye? Are they "on" so to say?[/quote]
[cool][#0000ff]Starvation should be good fishing for all species for about the next month. Then, once the temps drop another 10 degrees or so all the fish except trout will be moving much deeper and will be harder to find.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You should be able to score a walleye much closer to home over the next couple of months. Both Willard and Utah Lake are good spots to find some fall feeders. Not easy, but possible. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you are still a walleye virgin by next June then you definitely need to hit Starvation. Anybody who can't catch wallies at Starvy in June should forfeit their fishing license. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But heck, they are pretty easy to catch at all walleye waters in June...the post spawn period. You just have to fish the right stuff, their right way and in the right place. Simple...right? Nope. Even guys who think they know all about those wacky wallies can still get skunked too.[/#0000ff]
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[quote SatanLBZ801] Always getting into the eyes up there. How are you presenting your "No Name" jigs? Kinda bottom bouncing them or trolling em? Always curious of that, seems you catch most of your fish now using them. [/quote]
[cool][#0000ff]The two key elements of their effectiveness seems to be the curve in the body and the little spinner blade. The former creates a zig-zag motion on the lift and a flutter on the drop. The spinner blade creates additional flutter and flash. All of that combines to draw fish in with increased flash and vibration. The piece of juicy crawler seals the deal.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I fish them mostly with a vertical presentation. I drop them to the bottom, raise them a few inches and then vary the wiggle. Sometimes I lift and drop. Other times I give it a "shivver lift". But I almost always give it a few seconds of "quiet time" during each session. And often that is when fish slam it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Coincidentally, a lot of the fish I catch on it pick it up off the bottom after the initial drop. I flip the bail and lift the rod to start jigging and it has weight...a rubberband feel. So I set the hook and there is either fish or weeds. Hooksets are free.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I also get quite a few fish on it while my rod is propped in my "quick draw" rod holder...with the jig suspended a couple of feet off the bottom. Both perch and walleyes will come up off the bottom to nail it when the only motion it is getting is from the movement of my tube. Here is a pic of that new rod holder I make from a 1/2" to 3/4" Tee.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The trout really like the little no-name too. They hit it on the drop, while it is being jigged and often while I am reeling it back to the top to check the bait. And when I see trout suspended below me I can almost always get one to smack it if I drop it down to the right depth and give it a couple of wiggles.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Starvation has fished differently all year...at least compared to similar times in previous years. I'm sure the higher water levels have played a big part in that. Hope it caps over again this winter and that we can find some bigger perch...and walleyes.[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks for the ride and yes, it was a decent day. Not the best Starvation is capable of providing but there was definitely no smell of skunk...just fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Great to meet you for the first time. I'm sure we will share some water (and fish) in the future.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope Mama Nature treats you nice at Sand Hollow. The forecast is for "iffy" conditions. Sorry I couldn't help ya on that one.[/#0000ff]
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Great report and pictures as usual! I know there must be a lot of large perch and walleye in that beautiful body of water. However, I frankly don't know where they are. Those fishing creations of yours keep on working and working! I love your newest lures (the no name lure and your new wobble jig lures). Let me know when you plan to go out next.
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I couldn't help but notice the lure also. Pretty spiffy. Is it something you flattened from the "lure body" lead mold?
I'm betting it would do well for me and the W bass at UL. [
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Maybe this winter I need to try Starvation, but I'm sure not ready for the hard water yet!
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[cool][#0000ff]Yes, I make those on 1/8 and 1/4 oz. spinner bodies. I run wire through the hole, and make loops top and bottom. Flattened and painted and bent for a wobble. They work well for just about all species so far. Looking forward to making some up with my super glow for ice fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Would be happy to do a show and tell next time you are over.[/#0000ff]
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I've made quite a number of different kinds of lures, but it's interesting how now that I've used them, most attracted ME to make them rather than their effectiveness. Now, I've narrowed down to relatively few "favorites" and it's become more about how to fish with them.
I can only surmise why, but something that rattles and flashes has DEFINITELY out produced other lures for me this year. So, the wobble with the bend, along with the noise and vibration from the blade, and I bet you have a real winner there! [
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[cool][#0000ff]YUP. As we have discussed before, it is all about triggers...what motivates a fish to come to your lure and then to munch it. Lots of different triggers when it comes to colors, patterns, size, action, vibration, flash, etc. Then you add some "sweetener" it it seals the deal. All part of the BDS (bait delivery system).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I gotta admit I am happy with the way that little dingus combines so many different triggers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]And yes, it does get lots of attention from whities. I also make it in the deadly RC color combo.[/#0000ff]
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Ok I know they are late but here are the pictures I promised. Glad we got there when we did. Things don't look to good for this weekend. Enjoy[
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There is also a pic of my 3 lb + LMB from the Soldier Appreciation tourney down at Sand Hollow this past weekend. Big thanks to FLW and the Ultimate Bass Tour team for putting it together for us. We may not have won but we got into a LOT of LMB's.
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