Fishing Forum

[#484848]Finally got the Tin Can on WB yesterday morning with oldest son. Didn't keep exact times, but was about 0800. North launch ramp depth at 2.5 to 3' , depth out the channel if you stay in the middle, 5-7' with some spots dropping to about 8.5'. Water temp was 44-46* weather was partly cloudy, air temp about 40, and slight breeze. Once across the "hump" at the main body depth was from 8' out to about 13' near the west wall straight out from north marina channel. Got about 60 yards off the west wall, turned right and was trolling north about 1.2 mph with new Happy Troller at the 45* notch. Had an old white 3" Rat-l-trap on the line. Less that 10 minutes into the run, looked as if my line was snagged up on the bottom. You know, now a line stripping run like a fish on, just a steady pull and rod bend like snagged and forward motion of boat was pulling it tight. Grabbed the rod, hit the shifter into reverse in hopes I could back up and keep from snapping off the lure. When I got the line reeled back to taught, then felt the head shake. OH boy 15 minutes on the water and Fish on already. ! Reeling it in it had the feel and a quick glimpse on the surface like a medium size Carp. So, kept reeling thinking I might at least get to carve up some fresh kitty bait. [/#484848]
[#484848]NOPE - but even better, about 2.5 lb Cat. Fat with an attitude. In the live well with you ![/#484848]
[#484848] less than an hour on the water, wind up, clouds in, temp getting cold.....ahhh....just not worth the fight it would take to stay on the water. Zig-zaged in to the marina where was much calmer. Decided to anchor out and drown some worms. Well no joy there, but did get to meet and talk a little bit with another BFT'er. WiperMac. Was nice to meet ya face to face. And you look a bit familiar to me. Work on Hill ? [/#484848]
[#484848]Anyway, decided to pull out of WB, head for Hyrum. Shoot worked for me last weekend, give it a try again.[/#484848]
[#484848]Got on the water at Hyrum about 1030, weather calm, not too cold, partly sunny. Got the Tin Can launched out again, and not too long after getting the lines set and the pointy end of the boat moving roughly East-South East at about 2.0 mph, partner (oldest son) hooked up one of those young planter Rainbows. Fun to catch, did the CPR, and now both felt like day not wasted. Chased the skunks out of the boat. Stayed at Hyrum maybe 2-3 hours, then the wind, clouds, and lack of bite decided us to call it a day. Caught second CPR Rainbow, and pulled out.[/#484848]
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[#484848]Heading south on I15, got to WB north and decided to just pull thru and see what the water looked like. Found WiperMac just pulled out and in the parking lot. Said he hooked up somebody's old Penn fishin pole, and 1 Wiper. [/#484848]
[#484848]Took the son home, and decided to take a look-see at WB South. Well wind was much calmer, and seemed to be enough water to float my boat. So stuck Tin Can back in the water for 3rd time yesterday. [/#484848]
[#484848]Now, WB south isn't totally DRY, and there is water at the dock (the south dock anyway) but not a whole lot. Was able to launch the boat and didn't hit anything. Right off the trailer depth was 1.7 to 2.0 ' so kept the motor up in the shallow drive notch. Off the trailer about 15 yards and had a more comfortable 3.0' under me. Pulled bow in to the dock, depth under bow at dock cleat looked to be about 1.5', and under stern hull sonar said it was 1.0. Not a whole lot of safety margin, but doable in a small craft that isn't over full with people or gear. Middle of marina out to the channel was a pretty constant 3-4'. Middle of channel to the "hump" at the main body ran 6-8', then jumped up to 2.0' and then back to 4-5'. Went out about 150 yards straight out from the marina in the main body. Best I could do was 5'. And of course as usual yesterday, wind came up. Decide I had done enough WB recon for the day and got the Tin Can back on her bunks and headed home.[/#484848]
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Nice and great report!
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Hey, I didn't realize the paparazzi was out of Willard Bay yesterday. Thank goodness you got my best side. Wow, you launched your boat how many times yesterday? You're a wild busy man!

Yep I'm out at the base. Was taking advantage of my down day looking for some tugs. Slow day at Willard but nice to get out.

By the way you left too early. I was on the water no more than 20 minutes and the wind died down and had glass water all day long. Even got a little sunburn on my neck. Guess I need to get the sun screen back on the boat.[cool]
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Like you said - 3 launches, geepers, the dude is hardcore!
Tin Can - Must have your system down, and your plugs in and ready.

Nice Kitty-Chow. Cats on a crank - they must be getting frisky! At least Willard has the visibility for them. I think my cats rely more on their strong olfactory gear. At least - that's what I could on.

Thanks for all the details.

Well, like to keep a record of our fishin trips, and my memory ain't what it used to be.
Yep, launched and recovered 3 times Friday. But it ain't too hard with that little boat.

That's about the way my luck is sometimes. We wanted to hit Hyrum for fishin, and for some camping recon my son and I did. Wanted to take a look at those 2 cabins at Hyrum. Probably going to rent one for a weekend in August. Wish there was something like those or some Yurts at Willard. Someday maybe.

I hear ya on the sun screen. That why I wear the big brim hat. Keeps sun out of my eyes, and keeps the tops of my ears from getting toasted.

Did you catch anything more than that one Wiper after the wind stopped?
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How much has the water come up since your first trip to Willard this spring ?

From your launching descriptions it doesn't sound like it is rising very fast?
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North marina is up maybe 3 feet from what it was in early March. But south marina may have maybe a foot more than when I looked at it mid March the day they opened the gates. Since WB "tilts" down as it goes north, north area will fill up more noticeably than south area. It's going to take quite a bit of H20 to fill that "pond" this year. One plus to low water level is easier for me to find the fish.[laugh]
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[quote Tin-Can] One plus to low water level is easier for me to find the fish.[laugh][/quote]

Well if you're bragging I'm going to formally invite myself to fish on YOUR boat. I was having a hard time finding anything more than a couple fish period. I checked out Free Way Bay, the Island, the S. Inlet, the shelf on the west side, a string of humps I have on GPS and finally trolled the entire West/North dike before picking up my single wiper.[pirate]

Oh well, still great to get out![cool]
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Mac, I just meant that it was easier for me to find the fish in low water. Finding them, and getting them to bite are two completely different kettle of fish.[:/]
I've actually watched my bait hit a fish on the head, and they wouldn't even bite out of spite or agro.
Fishing for me is for sure proof that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. []
And I don't think I have ever actually seen on my "fish finder" the fish that I do catch. Especially at WB. I've trolled around there for hours, never seeing more than a few shad up near the surface, but still got a few good hook ups.
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