Fishing Forum

I headed down to AF harbor with the tube, got on the water about 6 a.m. I noticed a few dead fish floating around. 5 mud cats (good riddance), a couple white bass, a couple blue gills, and one decent sized channel cat. I don't know if it's due to the heat, or just nature being nature.

Anywho, I threw a white curly tail on my way out to my spot. It's depressing, in the past, I would catch at least 1 or 2 whities on the way out and back to the harbor throwing basically any jig or lure. This year I've only caught 3 white bass, all accidently on shrimp. I did however hook onto the first fish of the day on that same curly tail. It felt big. I thought it was a carp, was hoping it was a big bass, or walleye. None of the above. It was the first kitty of the day. A solid 21 incher.
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I got to my spot about 6:45 (I don't have a motor on my tube, my knees hate life). I threw out shrimp on my first rod, and as soon as I had my second rod in the water with white bass, the shrimp took off. A good 23 incher. (ended up being the biggest of the day[frown]).[inline 005.JPG]

I thought it was going to be hot (fishing) all morning, but it was actually pretty slow. After 45 minutes at the same spot, with only a couple bites, and no fish, I decided to move. After 20 minutes there with nothing, I moved again. 20 minutes there, moved again. After moving around a bit, and not catching anything for almost an hour and a half, and the power squadron being out in full force, I figured I'd move one more time and call it a day. Good move. Between 9:00 and 10:00 I caught another 4 decent kittys, all between 20-22 inches.[inline 008.JPG]

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All fish were caught on shrimp. It's interesting, it seemed like they only took white bass early in the year, and now that it's hot, only shrimp. Also, the first trip to UL only catching channels (no complaints). Nothing new to add to the contest, but a much needed relaxing day.[fishin]

P.S. AF harbor is now having road work done, they did a good job with the detour route, just follow the signs.
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Looks like a fun trip. You sure those are different cats, and you didn't just hold up the same one a half dozen times?
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One thing I'll say for ya'll's UL adventures - they do produce in numbers.

I'd concur on the change in baits. I find early spring worms can do great, but seems like at things warm they put on the chow bags and want to real meat! As for bait, I sure prefer handling shrimp over something goey like chicken livers. I haven't done a side by side, but sucker seemed to produce better than carp for me.

Though I'm overdue for dragging minnows. Maybe next week I'll get on that.

Thanks for the report.

Hey I think I saw you last Saturday morning (6/22) - I was fishing off the east side of the dike and saw a guy go out on the tube around 6-7am. I actually just bought a tube and plan to hit up AF harbor pretty regularly. I'm moving up to Saratoga Springs next month so the northern part of the lake and Jordan river will be the regular fishing spots. Saturday mornings are the only time I can really sneak away with the wife & kid so I'm sure I'll see you out there.

I've been using sucker meat on the Jordan - tried it @ AF? Also, have you tried your tube on the Jordan? Not sure if I'm comfortable on flowing water like that yet, but I would hope to be able to get to different holes quicker.
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[#0000FF]It is illegal to possess or use sucker meat on Utah Lake. The June suckers are on the endangered species list and DWR has enacted regulations to keep folks from "accidentally" keeping and killing any suckers at all.

But carp meat works very well around the lake and there is plenty to harvest.
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Oh yeah. I use sucker fillets you can get from sportsmans warehouse - these fall under that regulation as well?
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Haha, when I was out on the water, I actually thought I was catching the same fish over and over. I was relieved to notice different markings on the fish when I was going through the pictures. That first one actually had a hole in its tail, it cracked me up.

@UtahLakeCats: Yet that was me, in the blue tube. Saturday is the day I usually go as well. AF harbor is a good spot to launch a tube, and its pretty close. It only takes me about 30 minutes to get down there from West Valley. I did see people fishing there on the dyke, how did it go for you guys? I have not used my tube on the Jordan, like you, I don't think I would like it in the moving water. Though, I do have an anchor. Last year at UL I would take my anchor out and drop it, but this year, I've just been cruising in shallow enough water that I can just use my feet as an anchor.
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[#0000FF]You need to read the regulations and decide for yourself. The only statement about Utah Lake is that ALL suckers must be released. But that has already resulted in citations for anglers using sucker meat, even though the wording in the regulations is vague.

In fairness, you should be able to use sucker meat purchased from an approved commercial vendor. But the exact interpretation of the law may be up to the CO who checks you.

Just letting you know that if you have access to other bait it might save you either a citation or a lengthy discussion with a CO.
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I think he means chubs cause I've never seen suckers at sportsmans. Can u use chubs? I've used them on the Jordan and done well.
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Guess you're not looking hard enough. They sell sucker filets all the time.

I can't see anything in the regs that says you can't use sucker meat as bait at Utah Lake. [crazy]
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[#0000FF]You are right. There are no specific restrictions. But in talking with a couple of DWR folks they said they could cite anybody in possession of suckers where suckers are C&R. Just like the regs that say you should not possess a full limit of trout from one lake and then go fishing at another lake with a lesser limit or no limit restrictions. If you are checked and found in possession of more than the limit at the second lake you risk citation. Subject to interpretation.

There has also been discussion that the wording needs to be more clear and easy to understand. Anything not clearly understood is misunderstood.

Personally, I have not used sucker meat since my early years of fishing Utah Lake and the Provo River. Used to be able to go a short ways up the lower Provo when the suckers were spawning...Utah Suckers...and they covered the bottom. Easy to scoop up a couple to take down to the lake for bait. I never even knew there was such a thing as June suckers until the recovery program was put into place.
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When u say catch and release for suckers are u talking about both the June Sucker and Utah Sucker? Can't u keep all the Utah Suckers u want at Utah Lake or is that just at other places? I would just keep the whole sucker fish, show the DWR guy that it's mouth is pointing downwards, not forwards and if he gave u a ticket for that proof that it's not a june sucker, he's a j/a.
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Really? I must be blind. Are they in the same freezer thing as the chubs and minnows?
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[#0000FF]The regulations say that ALL suckers caught from Utah Lake must be released. Because the "average" angler is unable to tell the difference in species DWR tries to prevent accidental removal of Junies by folks who can't tell.

Actually, the number of Utah suckers in Utah Lake has dropped way down too. So protecting them is not a bad idea.

If you want suckers for bait...where legal...there are still plenty in plenty of other places...like the Jordan.
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Yeah, I actually don't fish Utah Lake much, I went last year once with someone and our trip went horrible (so many delays), and we had no idea what we were doing. I caught 1 white bass and that was it. I just would like to go down there one day and figure it out better. Down on the Jordan River I ONLY use Sucker or worms for catfish., Shrimp and Chubs would work on UT lake but I've tried those and they usually don't work on the Jordan River(at least in my spots). That's shocking to me that Utah Suckers are down but I remember reading that from my old research paper.

When they were spawning, one particular spot on the Jordan River that I found had over 100 visible suckers spawning , and if u got too close to the river then they'd shoot out from some rocks and stuff they were hiding in. I also had several other spots I could see 20 or so. I never can get more than 3 or 4 per hole but I can tell where only they stay/go. Would never guess there was more of them.
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