Fishing Forum

Ran out for a quick try, couldn't find a bass, but the cats were still playful even though water temp was 42.5 deg F. Ended up with 5 cats from 19.5" to 27.5". Last one was a beast, best mass to a cat that I've caught this year. Thought it was my first 30"er but it didn't measure up. Fun cold times. J
[signature]

Purty cats there Skunk. Fun catchin' no matter the size. Good on ya.

Bring on April please...

BLK
[signature]

Hey BLK, these silly cats waited until after the contest till the bigger ones bit for me... Still haven't caught any of your monsters, but I've gotten 3 that would have improved my score... They are sure fun, these big ole boys coming up from down deep really pull... Hope I can find them next season so I can be competitive.. Are you still fishing, or do you hang up the rods for the hard water season? Just wondering if Utah Lake is still producing cats...Looking forward to next years cat contest already... Thanks for the shout out... J
[signature]

Here kitty kitty kitty
[signature]

Here's another look at them. J
[signature]

[#0000FF]Wunnerful. Nice work on the late arrivals.

I keep tellin' folks that some of the biggest kitties come early and late in the year...not just when wimpy tanglers are comfy fishing for them.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]

Nice chuncky channel fo sho! I keep thinking, tear down the rods and reels for cleaning.....and then this. Better to toss them into the van tonight and see what happens.
[signature]

Skunk-- I'm in therapy/rehab now for my cataholicism. I go into a major depression every year after the cat season. Been chasing elk and buffalo some and also spent a few days in Nevada callin' coyotes; all helpful but just not the same as chasing cats. Never had much interest in freezing my butt off by ice fishing. I'm heavy in to plotting and planning ways to connect with that 20+ pound channel cat that eluded me all summer. Next year for sure...

BLK
[signature]

Yup you did tell me that, and I kept a bait rig down exploring for'em and they were still eating even though their bellies look like they are ready to pop. Boy it was cold last night and its even colder tonight. I may be getting close to my temp limit before I switch over to ice clothes. At least with this wind its cold. Had 4 deg F last night and tonight is supposed to be colder, who was that saying he preferred curling up with his wife by the fire? Sounds like a good plan, now I'm thinking I shouldn't have made her mad staying fishing so long. Hope she's quick to forgive. Later J
[signature]

Well I hope that rehab goes well, I'll probably be entering it fairly soon myself... Just not quite ready to hang up the muddy rods yet... However, those temps out there tonight are starting to make up my mind for me... I'd like to tie into those thoughts and plans for catching the big one next year, seems like I learned a lot this year, but every year things change a little and so I'll probably have to relearn new tricks for next season.. Well best of luck in your off season and looking forward to next springs grand adventure.... Later J
[signature]

Hey Jeff, good job!
I haven't been able to get it doing much of anything lately fist due to hunting and then my wife was in a bad rollover up at the top of Logan canyon so I've been pretty much tending to her needs for the last couple of weeks.
So what is the water level like now? I have been thinking of heading over, but really don't know where to start if the water is down. Is there still some slack water and pools to be found out there?
[signature]

Hey Mike, sorry to hear your wife had an accident. Hope she is on the mend now. Water level on Cutler is bottomed out like it was last winter. The river level dropped about 4' so everywhere is about that much lower. The 6' deep areas are now 2' deep and 20'ers are 16' now. So there are still deeper spots left on the river, but it can have shallow spots between holes. I have been using my toon over steep banks to get on the water so I don't know if you can launch a boat at Ballards bridge or not. That's probably the best option of getting a boat on the river and you may need a mud motor now for the shallow runs. I still see some guys with boats after pheasants but they are long shaft type motors and I don't know where they are putting in. It's getting pretty tough to fish it now. I'd like to try some of those big holes up in the tree section now, but its hard to find time. Later J
[signature]

You're killing me smalls!

For the guy who's always hoping for a kitchen pass, you sure are getting some good time on the water this year!

Now with the snow and chill set it, don't think I'll be getting my "first" tube float on this year, and even a run to Hyrum has been exchanged for the notion of PROPERLY wrapping up the boat. Just not ready for the snow and ice! I've got icicles forming outside, grr.

Some nice catches, and as said - putting props to the fall-fishing notion. None of them toothy fall-feasters though?

So where's that last indian summer? Oh, that was last weekend before the wind came up!

Buddy heater, check
sled, bucket, short rods, check....

Well dang it, looks like my streak came to an end this morning. I got up early, loaded up and headed out for an attempt. Ended up the wind was so dang cold I didn't even launch the toon. I casted out my two poles, one with a minnow and the other was cut bait. While the bait was soaken I worked on untangling a mess from that last big cat. After about an hour and a half with not even a nibble I decided it was time to give up skunked. Afraid it might be done for me until ice. Especially since one of my toons was totally flat tonight. I don't know what happened I didn't even pump it up today so I can't figure out what's going on.

Yes I have been pretty spoiled this year, I've made a lot of trips and caught some nice fish this year. I noticed the slow water on Cutler is mostly ice capped now, even by the tressle is iced over so I think its time to switch my reels to the ice rods. Unless you know of a warming trend that will get me going again. If not ill see ya on the hard deck. Later J
[signature]

Hey Jeff, since you are right there to report it, do you ever see people ice fishing cutler or have you ever tried it? I was wondering if it could be worth a shot (except for the draw down this year).
[signature]

I have seen folks and tried wandering out on the sloughs myself. Thing is some of the water is maybe 4 ft deep and if you were to slip through - you'll be in a muddy bottom.

Jeff will chime in I expect, but he has warned me (and others) of the danger of river ice, where there is current and movement below. Happens that cows break through, get dragged under, then are found downstream later in spring. Not a good plan. Plus with the current flow, ice thickness can change drastically fast.

But - some folks have been crazy enough to venture out. But low water year, less ice, and more water moving.

Still might try the sloughs. There are some spots where water flows in and keeps the surface open, that can make for some hot Crappie action.

Hey buddy how is Bear Lake?

I'd stay away from ice fishing rivers and slough's. You just don't know the thickness of the ice in those currents and not worth the risk IMO.

Lakes and ponds on the other hand...
[signature]

Hey Mike, I'll add what I can. I have tried ice fishing on Cutler many times, but I'm not sure I personally have caught a fish yet. I went with ShawDog down Cutler Canyon and he nailed four or five channels, I was skunked. I even tried the river channel last year,multiple times with lots of different lures and baits and I never had a hit. I did find the river wasn't as bad as I had always been taught but its still very unpredictable and requires a lot of caution. I took an aluminum boat out with me in case the ice broke, but it held me okay. I don't know how to catch fish through the ice there. I wish I did, but its not easy and not fast at all. I will probably try again, but there are a lot better spots and I'll fish them more. Later J
[signature]

Hey lava, bear lake is COLD! []
Actually I'm getting antsy for the whitefish to start their spawn the weekend after thanksgiving. It can be fast and furious for some of the absolute best eating fish there is.
Where did you disappear to during the cat contest?
[signature]

Hey Jeff, thanks for the info.
I'm afraid I'm a major puss when it comes to sketchy ice! I don't go out if I am worried about the ice changing drastically from spot to spot. Heck, even when bear lake freezes up over here I don't go to certain areas and even then it needs to be about 10" thick for me to wander as far out as the rockpile. I'll brave 6" on a few spots on the east side though.
If marshes and slow rivers are unpredictable I'll stick to normal haunts like mantua, hyrum or pine view.
[signature]