Fishing Forum

Woke up at 3:30 am this morning to hit the road, as I knew fishing would be done by 11:00 am because of the wind (I'll come back to the wind in a bit) and it's 3 hours from Grand Junction. Left the house at 3:45, arrived at 6:45 right on cue. I did notice some surprise dark clouds were scattered, but with it early in the morning didn't think much of it.

Parked on the east side of the lake, pumped up the tube, got my gear on, rigged up the ole 3 weight as gills were on the agenda, and hit the lake. I kicked out for a bit to hit some spots where the ole girl put out previously (although it had been 8 years since I've been there), before I really started to fish. Right when I began to fish, a little rain began to fall, and immediately I started to feel a little something on my rod hand. Next cast, I realized my rod was shocking my hand- under the cork handle on the rod right above the reel seat against my palm. No lightning or thunder had been seen or heard, so I went ahead and cast for the 3rd time, and the electricity increased- felt like a normal static electricity but there about 10 per second.

Well, I about gave myself a new reason to by myself a new set of waders and shorts, immediately put my rod under water, and high tailed it back to my car. I've been at the trial lake trailhead the day some people died from lightning, and I've been in a lightning storm at Jordanelle Reservoir when someone died and I kind of freaked out, and I take lightning seriously. I was very grateful to make it back to rare instead of well done.

A few minutes later, after the dark cloud blew over, went out on the hunt. Funny, but the ole girl didn't put out as easily as she used to, and I had to work for my fish. Caught a couple in my old honey holes, but they were only about 7 inches, not the 9 inch average I've experienced previously. I did catch 2 bass close to shore, and kept a foot long for mrs as she's never had bass before. After slow fishing, trying different flies and techniques, I was stumped as to the sudden display of intelligence put on by the bluegill. Seeking dumber/more fish I headed out in my float tube to the off shore reeds, and immediately found bluegill detention. Caught my 5 biggest in a short time, but then the daily Uintah Basin Hurricane whipped up, and I was at the mercy of the waves. Where it took me about 25 minutes to bust out the the weeds, it then became a 90 minute ordeal to make it to the east shore, well north of my wheels. Way more work than I had intended. Foolish me for not checking the clock until it was too late, but the fish had me distracted.

All in all, 9 bluegill and the two standard bass. I know it's been a while since I've been there, and I probably didn't pick the best day to go, but I used to go there annually before grad school, and I'm used to picking up some better gills. I would never have kept a 7 incher before, but today fate forced my hands. I would always have a few between 10 and 11 inches, with a few slabs near or at 11 inches, but my biggest today was 9.5. What gives? Is that why they upped the limit from 10 to 20, or was I just not finding the decent slabs?

Anyways, alot of work, I'm exhausted but it was good to get out. A 3 weight wasn't the best call with the wind, FYI. That being said, I love the birds out there....



The boy loves to watch me fillet and poke the eyeballs,


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Wow...typically that place is full of fish that just won't quit biting. At least you avoided the skunk! Not a bad day at all...but there are better ones out there. I know what you mean by getting shocked by your fishing rod....kinda scary with the dark clouds overhead. Wonder if you coulda managed some more fish with bait?
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Back an ice season or so ago, A DWR biologist was out doing a creel survey, and told me that is exactly why they upped the limit. The gills are a bit smaller than they used to be, and more numerous. They're not POSITIVE why, but they think not enough bluegill being kept, and not enough people keeping smaller bass. Wprd out of her mouth.

They still are pretty big, though, and 7" is still down on the small end. Last May friends, kids, and I took limits of bluegills, tossing back anything smaller than 8". I bet you were there on an off day or just didn't hit the big pocket of them.

Either way, I'm still jealous. I may not make it to Pelican this year at all.
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ETDT, I may have done better with bait, but in my experience I have never had problems getting anything in that lake to accept a damsel imitation or a chironomid. Plus, nice gills on a 10.5 ft 3 weight is just a kick in the pants. I may chalk up the fair fishing to the weather, as almost all my fish were caught the few moments the sun was out.

Also, aren't the gills on a 5 year life cycle? If so, if that age (5 years) is smaller in comparison to 8 years ago, would it not improve the fishery for bass and bluegill if the bass limit were raised to something like 10 fish 12 inches and under? Most people don't keep bass anyway, so I don't think many people would limit out, but they are in direct competition with bluegill of the same relative size. Even with the massive amount of chironomids and damsels in that reservoir, reducing competition would have to be beneficial to the average fish size of both species.
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