This past year has been interesting in regards to Utah Lake. Several things have happened to give me a new appreciation for the big pond. First it was the College Kids going out and doing themselves proud in the FLW Regional in August.
So, my question is an off shoot of TD last report on the Utah Lake Abyss. I don't know if the hole that the kids from California showed me is the same, but methinks it is different !! In August the hole was only 20- 25 ft deep, where TD is describing his hole as upwards of 50 Ft. I am beginning to think that there are LOTS of deep springs out there, we have just not done the work to find them.
Anyone willing to offer more on this ??
[cool][#0000FF]Yes, there are several deep spots...mostly with incoming springs. Waljustia did some educated searching this last week to locate another spring that he had been given "numbers" for. He found it but also determined it was smaller and not as deep as the "abyss".
In the past three years I have spoken with several folks who have spent a lot of time on the lake and who all know of SECRET spots. Some of the reports are still a bit suspect but others have offered to show me. There are surprisingly few people who know exactly where that deepest hole is or any of the details...like how deep and how wide it is. Dave found it while out fishing in his boat several years ago and has fished it both from his boat and through the ice. He reported dropping a camera down on a 50 foot cord and it did not reach the bottom. The temp probe read over 90 degrees and the water was so turbid that nothing showed even with the light on.
I suspect that the inflow is warm and highly mineralized. Fish do not seem to like it near the center but hang out around the edges where the water is cooled and oxygenated better.
While the depth is great enough that the warm inflow does not keep the ice off in the center, two years ago it did create a noticeable bulge in the ice.
I suspect that you may have been shown one corner of the big hole. It is like a morning glory, with a deep center and upward slanting edges around the center. There seems to be a fairly wide semi flat area around the edges...dropping quickly from 6-8 feet down to the "flats" in 20 - 25 feet.
But, in spite of seeing it with my own "lying eyes" I still get challenged by the know-it-all goobers who have been fishing Utah Lake for at least half as long as I have.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
One has to wonder: does this "abyss" actually connect to Fish Lake?
Your buddy, the guy that dropped the camera down 50ft, how come he didn't drop his jig, or spoon down to figure out how deep? I'd imagine he had more than 50ft of line on his reel, didn't he? That should have given him an idea of how deep this pool is...
[signature]
[#0000FF]Who said he DIDN'T drop his jigs down? He has fished it numerous times...with no results in the deepest part. But sometimes catfish suspended at mid depth over that spot. Hmmm.
He has also "sonared" it. A bit deeper than 50' but a very narrow spot with the deepest hole.
Hint: Any question about fishing...or fishermen...that begins with the word WHY is not likely to have an easy or satisfactory answer.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
glad to know he used his noggin!
WHY do you suppose that Nessie isn't using this as a potential portal to and from Loch Ness? We already know that she uses similar portals to get between the Ness and Bear Lake, and occasional to Fish Lake (which has no bottom).
[signature]
[#0000FF]Aliens, I tell ya. Don't suppose I posted a report on that time my tube was sucked down that hole and I awoke to find myself in the big fountain pool at the Mirage in Las Vegas. I suspect the abductors performed some ghastly experiments on my body. Turned me from a young and robust young man into a fat old dude with grey hair. And for some reason I was more interested in scooping coins out of that pond than looking at the pulchritude around me. Fishin' wasn't good enough to warrant a report.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]