Hey BFT guys,
Has anyone fished Newcastle recently? I haven't fished it yet this year and was wondering how it is fishing. Last year it wasn't that great.
[signature]
I can't give you a Newcastle update but the few reports we do get from that lake are very disappointing. When wipers were first planted in that lake we had high hopes of it turning out a state record but
ly that hasen't happened and from all reports there has yet to be even a 5 lb wiper caught there. Oh well, now that they are stocking them in other lakes maybe another lake will kick out some big fish.
[signature]
[quote wiperhunter2]I can't give you a Newcastle update but the few reports we do get from that lake are very disappointing. When wipers were first planted in that lake we had high hopes of it turning out a state record but
ly that hasen't happened and from all reports there has yet to be even a 5 lb wiper caught there. [/quote]
How's this: i caught a 22" wiper that was over 5 lbs.
Not sure why the reports are disappointing. The purpose for using wipers in Newcastle were extremely successful.
Keep in mind, golden shiners were so prolific in that reservoir that the quality fishing for both smallmouth bass and trout were extremely poor. The last couple years, the trout have been fantastic, and the smallies continue to provide quality fish.
What's happened to the wipers? Well, they did their job. You can't find a golden shiner in that reservoir anymore. They have pretty much wiped them out. Thus, stocking of wipers had to be reduced -- you can't just keep stocking them with nothing left for them to eat.
Numbers (quantity) of wipers are certainly not as high as they once were. Quality is still there -- they just aren't easy to find.
bonus: the trout have certainly come back to provide a decent trout fishery -- something I never thought would happen.
who would have guessed that those wipers would have been that successful in wiping out the shiners? Awesome!
[signature]
And the kewl part is that they (the Wipers) can be controlled. Either Stripers or White Bass would have been a mistake, but a sterile hybrid of the two does the job without being another boom and bust species.
[signature]
[quote Fishrmn]And the kewl part is that they (the Wipers) can be controlled. Either Stripers or White Bass would have been a mistake, but a sterile hybrid of the two does the job without being another boom and bust species.[/quote]
Right.
But, they do come with 1 problem, and that problem is reflected in this very thread: expectations!
They were used to get control of the golden shiners, which they did. But now many anglers (including myself!!) want to sustain the quality wipers we had while they were busy wiping out the shiners! I imagine we'll soon start getting requests to stock shiners to feed the wipers...
(will we see boils at Minersville this year???)
[signature]
Bummer to hear that Newcastle's wipers aren't what they once were. I got a chance to fish them several years ago and did pretty good, including this fish (see pic) that went 5 1/4 lbs. Myself and a buddy were just talking the other day about making a trip down there this summer. For fish like that it was worth the drive all the way down there, but for trout and smallies, no. I can catch them within a 45 minute drive locally. "Expectations" indeed I suppose [
] Fred K.
[signature]
Well I decided to give Newcastle a try this evening. I will report toomorrow. Would be nice if it was good it is only 25 minutes from my house[
].
[signature]
I'd be interested to hear how you do either by post or PM. Thanks! Fred K.
[signature]
There are still very nice wipers in there . In fact, 100,000 were stocked in 2011. Another 2,500 in 2012.
They just can't keep stocking 100,000 of them every year.
Give it a another month (or two), then go after them.
[signature]
Well, I was pleasantly surprised at the improvement at Newcastle. Got on the water at 5pm and fished til a little after 8. Caught 17 healthy smallies. Not huge but quality...hopefully people will practice catch and release to allow them to grow to decent size.
No wipers but I did see a huge wiper dead on the shore. Easily over 5 lbs. Zero shiners so yes as reported in earlier posts the wipers did their job.
I wasn't targeting trout but saw a lot of trout rising to feed as it got close to dusk. Trout fishing should be good.
Anyway I will be going back...those smallies were fun and would love to get into some of the wipers.
See ya on the water!
[signature]
[quote Fishrmn]And the kewl part is that they (the Wipers) can be controlled. Either Stripers or White Bass would have been a mistake, but a sterile hybrid of the two does the job without being another boom and bust species.[/quote]
It sounds to me like they boomed, and now they're busted...
[signature]
Nope. They did what they were expected to do. If they had boomed, there would be ten million of them and they would be just like the White Bass in Utah Lake. Emaciated, stunted, 6 to 8 inches long and way too many of them.
[signature]
[quote Capt.Nereus][quote Fishrmn]And the kewl part is that they (the Wipers) can be controlled. Either Stripers or White Bass would have been a mistake, but a sterile hybrid of the two does the job without being another boom and bust species.[/quote]
It sounds to me like they boomed, and now they're busted...[/quote]
You're right they boomed cause the DWR stocked them with a cannon. Then they got busted for drunk swimming. [crazy]
[signature]
[quote utahfishman]
Anyway I will be going back...those smallies were fun and would love to get into some of the wipers.
See ya on the water![/quote]
I just went through some of my pictures and notes -- July 10 is the day. That's when you should go try again for the wipers.
[signature]
[quote wiper_junkie]Bummer to hear that Newcastle's wipers aren't what they once were. [/quote]
Rumor has it that we just might have a new state record wiper caught from Newcastle.
I hope it's true. We've known for a number of years that is would happen sooner or later...
[signature]
Haven't really targeted wipers. What would you suggest as far as technique to catch a state record.
[signature]
My preferred technique is casting wooly buggers with my fly rod to the shoreline, and stripping away, or just dragging the bugger around behind my toon.
I'm sure that any of your typical striper or bass techniques are good too (cranks, plugs, rapalas, etc.)
So, as for the state record: we're not going to see an official record -- at least not yet. The angler did not care about an official record. He simply caught 3 whoppers (each over 10lbs), took some pictures, and let the fish go!! One fish was over 28"!
I'm trying to get a couple pictures that I can post. Hopefully I can get some.
[signature]
[quote PBH]So, as for the state record: we're not going to see an official record -- at least not yet. The angler did not care about an official record. He simply caught 3 whoppers (each over 10lbs), took some pictures, and let the fish go!! One fish was over 28"!
I'm trying to get a couple pictures that I can post. Hopefully I can get some.[/quote]
Yea, a pic would be awesome, but weigh is hard to judge on wipers, many anglers think a 3 lb wiper weighs 5 lbs but I'm sure the guy you are talking about knows how to judge them. A 28 incher would for sure be a catch and release record. I'm really glad to hear the Newcastle is cranking out some big fish, might be worth a trip down there after all. Thanks for sharing this info PBH.
[signature]
well that odd i fish newcastle all weekend and did not see one wiper get caught i caught lots of little small mouth .
[signature]
It probably happened a week or more ago. Makes you wonder what the secret was to their success[
].
[signature]