Had so much fun two weeks ago, had to go back yesterday and today... Started Friday trying some new territory, but it was a long troll with no attention, so just as I was leaving the area, probably to never return, wamm fish on... and it was a good one... Problem was, new reel that I had the drag too lose and the big ole cat pulled all the line it wanted until it got into the pompus grass and scratched the hook out.. Well I didn't want that cat anyway... Trolled back to my previous honey hole and on the way zing goes my reel as a monster takes off... I fought that fish for ten to fifteen minutes before I landed it... It was a cannibal Bear River Tarpon weighing in at 8.5 lbs and I think it was 26.5" long.. Just about filled my fish basket thats for sure... Well got into the honey hole and nailed two nice cats about 20" then I caught my best cat in several years... She was a tank, I got her into the net and took a picture, and then tried to hold her up to see the basketball sized belly on the fish, and as I was trying to get the camera far enough away to fit the whole fish in the picture, she flipped and gashed my finger with her spline and I tried to catch her as she was slipping through my legs, but I guess the weight and measure was not to be... She was at least as big as the carp, if not bigger, I guessed her at 8 to 10 lbs and probably 27 to 28"... Nice fish and a great day... On the way to the truck, thought I caught a snag and tried to pull the toon to the snag and holy cow the water errupted and another monster cat took off, except I couldn't turn this one, it was game over quick..
After that trip I had to try again today, but I started way late, like ten and it was slow, caught two cookie cutters 15 and 17" and had one I couldn't turn that got away... Fun but slower... Anyway, it's been hard to beat this cat troll'en... I guess they will be done spawning soon so they will move out of the shallows, but it's sure been fun while it lasted...
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[#0000FF]Fun, fun. You're gonna need longer arms if you catch any bigger ones...and/or a bigger net.
Some problems are just so much better than others.
Nice work.
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I know Carp aren't generally pretty, but those carp out of Cutler are strait up HIDEOUS!!!
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Anyways nice cats. When you troll for them, does the bait drag along the bottom?
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Hey thanks TD, yup this is one of those problems I can deal with. I think I'm learning why you spend so much time chasing channels. They are a blast, especially when they hit a moving target. Thanks again for the minnow trolling tips, they made some great trips for me. The toon mod tips are great as well. I love that little craft. Later J
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Those carp get ugly when they turn cannibal and start eating their own kind. This one took a 2" carp minnow on the troll. It surprised the heck out of me. I thought I had a king cat. Most of the time my minnow is dragging bottom or at least the weeds. I didn't mention today, but I'm fishing water that is less than knee deep. So when I get a hit they really tear things up and splash like crazy. I even had one leap out of the water as I was fighting it today. Fun times. Good thing I didn't get signed up for the contest this year, I was jinxed so bad last year, I hardly caught 20" ers. Don't know that had anything to do with it, but I'm glad to be able to catch a few. Later J
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[fishin] so what size boat can you put on cutler ? I have a 19ft alluminum starcraft with 115 . sure do love them cats maybe someone knows a good place i can dock.
thanks
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How deep do you need to run? If you launch at Benson marina it's about 3 to 4' deep with some deeper and some shallower areas. You need to be a little careful until you figure out the shallow spots. There also a launch at Ballard bridge up by the church and its deeper but on the bear river. I expect the cats to return to the bear in the next few weeks. Good luck. J
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Dang Jeff - I'm sorry you didn't sign up for the contest! Seems you getting out there and getting on them enough.
So you gonna smoke 'em if you got 'em? I've been enjoying some of those 20s with a creole sprinkle, and a long slow bake. Hmmm, flakey!
You'll have to fill me in on your minner-rigs and locations. So out on Cutler, not the Bear?
Wish I had access to my minnow stash, might have to go find some freshies. Bet my pool is popping with 'em now. Sure plenty of Carp out doing the happey dance!
Glad the tube-rig is doing ya good.
As for launching big boats, I see 'em out there. Benson and north only. The ramps can be tough where they drop-off at the end. But see good sized ski boats heading out, but you gotta know where the channels are, or you'll be up to your hips in mud.
Don't ask me, I don't know. Often ended up jacking my shortshaft to run on electric in 2-3ft of water, or pole my way into 1-2 feet of shallows.
But see boats run more easterly from Benson, and more westerly from CJ.
Just be aware of proximity, which includes shorelines. So if you're on the river - 150ft doesn't even count shore to shore, but that doesn't stop folks buzzing up and back.
Dig the spring, but I'm lost after that. It'l be time for Bass and Crappie by then.
Great job on the cats and carp. I usually fish the lake at night for the cats so it is good to see that some big ones still get caught during the day. When you mention carp minnows are you catching them in a trap and then lip hooking them or how do you aquire them. I went out 2 weeks ago with a friend and we brought home 5 nice cats and caught a couple of carp over the 10 pound mark. If you want to pm me with the info that would be great I will check back on it. Thanks, Chris
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Yote was right about the ramp. I always launch off the gravel on the south of the cement ramp at Benson. If not you may loose a trailer axel. J
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The minnows were caught last fall when the waters were cooling down. They are about 2" long, but I only had two dozen frozen, so I've started using fat heads. They aren't as good, but still work. I use a minnow trap to catch them. I haven't tried lip hooking, I have run the hook down its back and out the top fin. It's probably not the best way but its working. Nice job on the fish your catching, it's fun isn't it? Later J
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Yote that sounds like a good way to prepare the cats, but I just take pictures and let them go. One of these days I'll try one again, but since I'm the only fish eater in my family, I don't keep very many. But if I had a good fish taco idea I'd keep a few. I'm looking for a walleye for that.
Hey I have been in the shallows of Cutler after the cats , but my source told me the cats are starting to show up back in the river. So I'm going to have to figure out a new tactic I guess. He also said the walleye are starting to show up in the river again. So that's exciting, but I'm going to have to figure out how to catch them. I have been using TD's troll style for Utah Lake on the cats and it converts rather well. Now I need TD or Mike to teach me a 8' deep murky river walleye technique. Trolling method that is. I can catch a few with bait and jigs, but I like to catch them on the troll. I'll have to show you one of my spots, its hard to find unless someone shows you because its a narrow passage that leads into it. I didn't get over by your spots, but I'll bet I could have caught fish there also. You have been doing really well this year on cats yourself. Your score has to be close to 80 for three fish and that's not far from last years winning score. Well good luck and one day we'll cross paths again. Later J
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glad you had a good time say by to cutler pacificorp is going to drop it 15 feet in oct no awnser to when it will fill up again ,, im told spring
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I'm not sure what is up with that company, they keep draining it every couple years and I'm sure it hammers the fish, somehow they have survived, but they must find deep spots somewhere to hide... I'm sure the numbers really take a hit though... I hear they have dam repairs that need to be made, hope they fix it this time... Later J
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Let me get a run up to that minner-pool, and if it's active, I'll let you know.
Expect to pick up my freezer soon, and will have plenty of extras if you want some then. Most were vacuum packed.
I know there's other places you can net up fatheads, or other minnow types. Sure fresher is better, long as they are "too" fresh that is!
15 feet drop on Cutler? Most areas I float are inside of 8ft, typically! Guess I oughta get out the mud boots.
Might make carp-shoots even easier.
If its like the water drops in the past it will be 15' at the dam and rapids on the rivers upstream. Hope the fish have somewhere to survive. It will be a shame if it kills them off.
The minnows can be caught with a minnow trap, but it usually has to soak for a couple hours or more and finding the 2.5 to 3 inch size is sometimes tough. Let me know if ya need some. I can get them (fatheads) most of the time. I like freezing my minnows like TD suggested with enough water to cover them in a zip lock and they keep fine without freezer burn and its not as spendy as using the vacpac. Save that for when ya catch a bunch of halibut or salmon. Maybe I better keep a few fish and eat them if they are going to drain cutler. Later J
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Do you catch the fatheads in cutler? I just purchased a trap today and I would like to go out there this weekend and try to get some myself but I don't know what type of bait to use or where a good area is to try
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Yes you can catch the fatheads in Cutler or the Bear River. I don't use any bait in the trap and i still catch some. I hear bread crumbs work well, but the fish find their way in the trap without. Find an area around some structure and let it soak for hours and then sort through the game fish and small ones and you usually only need a dozen or so per trip. If you're not finding any dont be afraid to move. This time of year you start picking up bluegill and crappie minnows so make sure you let them back to grow up. If you don't find any let me know I can hook you up with some. Later J
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might try goldfish or koi pellets, bread is good, maybe a satchel of tuna or catfood.
connections between river and sloughs seem to hold up minnows, and thus drawer bigger fish too. I find a lot of the pockets to - a bit of shelter from the current. And shallows - sandy shores - if you can find areas (inside arms of bends). I always see minnows scurrying around the shore/dock by the Benson church launch.
Found mostly fatheads, small carp in my 'cone' trap. But with cast net, or net - I got into more bigger carp minnows at the right time, right place. 3-5 inchers.