I can't seem to catch ANYTHiNG at Utah lake. No white bass, walleye, or catfish. Nothing. Any advice as to where to go? What to use? I usually try around Lindon harbor and I don't have a boat or anything
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What have you tried? Maybe try bait 2 ft under a bobber near reeds or structure . Or a jig with a curly tail or tube cast and retrieve just fast enough to keep it off the bottom...
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That sounds rough.
[left]My advice would be to go back to Lindon. Buy some nightcrawlers and bobbers and tie on either a 1/2 crawler on a worm hook or tipped on a jig 18-24 inches below a bobber. Go back to the inside of the harbor and cast out [#800080]half[/#800080] as far as you think you need to. If you are really ambitious, slowly work the rig around structure. Be ready for the bobber to subtly go down and set the hook hard. Reel in. You might catch a mudcat, channel cat, crappie, bluegill, white bass, largemouth bass, or carp doing this. If that fails, go to SW and get a barbie pole. Thats what my kids use to good effect.
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We caught a mess of bluegills, crappie and even a catfish and a bass last week in Provo Boat Harbor. We were just using a worm under a bobber.
A man fishing next to us also using a worm under a bobber wasn't catching anything. The problem was that his hook and bobber were way too big for the fish.
Most of the bites were light--especially the crappie. The bobber almost never went under even though I was using a small bobber.
My guess is the other guy was getting bites but just could not tell because of his oversized equipment.
We were using a half-inch bobber, no weight, and about a fourth of a nightcrawler on a #10 hook.
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I've tried some curly tails but never tipped them with worm. Does it make that big a difference?
I've also tried a dead minnow on a hook but didn't feel any bite. Just let it sink to the bottoms. I've usually just gone late evening. Maybe ill try it tomorrow morning any see if it helps. If not I give up on that lake haha [reply][/reply]
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I typically have struggled at UL in the past, and I am a shore fisher as well. This year after reading up on posts on BFT, particularly Tube Dudes info, I have done rather well. Mainly using curly tails. sometimes with a blade on it. I have fished the rocks around the harbors much like a steam or river. Take a few casts, and move 5-10 feet along, and continue . I have been casting parallel to the harbor jetties. Most of my fish have come with casts that are landing within a few feet of the land, and reeling the jig back in parallel to the shore. I haven't caught any while casting away from the shore, unless it was by some structure like a stand of reeds.
I have caught mainly white bass, even with the crazy boat traffic on Memorial day I did okay. Caught my first crappie the other evening, and my first UL Large mouth, which went about 3 lbs I would guess.
The others fishing that saw me catch it thought I was crazy when I tossed it back.
6 lb line is what I use, I am a big believer in using a small line diameter, but not sure if that is as important in UL as it is in a clearer body of water.
And for me, lately I have caught catfish with bait about a foot to 18 inches below a bobber, and 10 to thirty feet from the shore. I am guessing 18 to24 inches deep at that point.
let the line stay loose, and let the fish take the bait for 5+ seconds, and then set the hook. I missed a few trying to set the hook once the bobber "swam" away.
Buy a roostertail spinner in 1/8th oz with a gold blade, lime green body, and yellow tail fur. Put a nightcrawler on the treble hooks. If there is a white bass in the area it cannot resist taking a bite!
You can also catch Large Mouth Bass on this rig as well.
For bluegill the "worm under the bobber" cannot be beat. Even letting the worm sink weightless works for bullhead catfish and an occasional bluegill.
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Go to the state park and fish the mouth of the river around sunset and you will get into white bass action. Remember to bring mosquito repellant...
If you're going for cats, a worm is likely to catch you both Bullheads and Catfish. But if you mainly want to catch Channels (which are more fun to catch), then shrimp is the ticket. The catfishing is hot right now as they're actively feeding with the warm weather and getting ready to spawn.
I would also move about every 15 minutes if you don't get any significant action. I like to think of it more as a hunting game as opposed to a waiting game. If you're not getting any bites, then the fish aren't there, aren't feeding, or your bait may be lodged in a place they can't get too.
Hope this helps and good luck!
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