A short time ago there was a thread about ice fishing tips, had great response and many helpful tips. I have noticed there is a lot of newer members joining the ranks here and started wondering why they joined and what if any expectations they have. This is kinda about fishing, so I hope it can stay here and get good participation. Though I am not real new, I'll go first.
When I first discovered this site I had just retired, had a lot of time on my hands and wanted to learn to fish for more that trout and koke's at the Gorge. Like most new members I ask tons of questions, got good answers and help from the members.
I was really struggling at Willard, so Wiperhunter 2 felt sorry for me and took me in his boat and showed me some things to help. With that help I have been able to catch a few on my own.
I have a standing invitation to fish for Tiger Muskies at Pineview with some anglers who really know how to catch them.
I seen a truck over at Starvation with a truck plate that looked familiar and when I talked to him found out he was a member here, He invited me to fish with him and we have been fishing together since.
I have been involved in large get togethers of members fishing together with fish chowder and many other goodies shared out on the ice.
I have met some great people here and consider them good friends.
BFT has far exceeded my expetions and I'm sure if you put any effort into it, it will exceed yours. One tip, if you read a report it's good manners to at the very least thank the poster. If they didn't mention where they were....they didn't forget they just didn't want to say, leave it at that.
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Ya for this website got some amazing people that helped me out a lot especially TubeDude for his amazing jig crafts / if I got any questions where to hit he's always full with info, Flygoddess for teaching me how to fly fish for carps with giving me a few flies / instructions how to make them that have increased my success for carps dramatically this year alone, and Remo being a great guy giving me his spare fly line that he didn't use that were still in great condition sure saved me some money in my pocket.
Tubedue now is like my great fishing grampa and Flygoddess is like my Fly fishing grama that I sure am greatful to meet them. When Flygoddess was going thru rehab with her arm she would invite me for more carp lessons that was just great time even if it was just for a few hrs.
There's one guy who doesn't really post on here anymore but whenever we go on a fishing trip we always have a great time and joking around. I sure hope I can meet more people sooner or later after being on here for 2+ years now.
Right now all I can say right now to the people I've meet so far, I'm really grateful for all the help, fun times we had, and hopefully more to come.
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Hey Gary, When I joined I was just looking for tips on whether there was ice on the pond without having to drive over and check... I soon found a weath of other information that I hope has made me a little better fisherman, but what I didn't expect to find was like you have mentioned all the great friendships that I have been able to make along the way... I think back to tips you offered to my Dad and I on Flamming Gorge on our first Koke trip on the north side of the lake... You really helped us find the fish that trip and helped us have a great time, it was much appreciated... Then I think of Shane helping us find the fish on Willard my second trip there after being skunked on my first trip... Then there's Mike, Scott, Ralph and Pat's tips for Bear Lake and on and on it goes to the help I've found on line... Great group of guys and gals here and I know I didn't even start with all the catfish chronicles... I know I shouldn't of started to mention names because there are too many to give appropriate credit to all of you that have helped me in the past, not that it wasn't appreciated that I didn't mention you, but more that my memory gets rusty and there probably isn't room for the other fifty names that should also be mentioned... Anyway in summary it's a great spot to hone your skills and make great friendships, not to mention the really cool redneck projects that you see and want to build for yourself... Good post Gary... Later J
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I just love fishing and cant get enough of all the talk and reports.. I am new to the site but not new to fishing.. Would love to meet up and fish with members of this site![fishon]
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Hawky, it's good to have you as part of the crew... We will probably have lots of BFT informal get to gathers on the ice this winter, assuming we get ice that is... a big one is the Cisco Disco at Bear Lake in January... BLFG had a post on it today... Usually see lots of members up there and I think there is starting to be a fair number of the members that have flags so that time of year you can look for the BFT flag and drop by and say hello... White fishing at Bear Lake was great this month seen a bunch of BFT'ers over there and had fun fishing along side them... At least as long as you can put up with the ribbing when you're not catching fish and everyone else is... but I do that often... Anyway watch the posts and we will try and put out invites to different things and we'd love to have ya drop by and say hello... Later J
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It's like others have said, there is a lot of good folks sharing information on this site. I lurked for years before my conscience finally got the best of me and I decided to participate. I have learned a lot from the information that people on this site have willingly shared. It is good to see new people getting interested enough to join and contribute to our groups addiction to fish and fishing. I report on places that I go that aren't as popular and are more out of the way for the folks living along the Wasatch front. There are so many great fishing opportunities in this state if you have the time and the resources to explore them. I almost always fly fish but I post my reports on the general fishing forum. I think that the information about where I fished will be beneficial to more people that way.
Thanks for asking the question wyoguy. By the way, I spent two years in Wyoming, it's too bad there isn't better participation on the Wyoming forum. [:/]
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Thanks skunkedagain! Ive never done the cisco! I will look at that post and come give it a whirl
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Like Skunked said a lot of members have little BFT flags and many have stickers on there ice sleds and shelters and boats. If you introduce your self most of them will likely talk fishing. The mods used to give stickers to those who wanted them, PM one of them if you do.
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wyoguy, TubeDude, wiperhunter2, wipermac, SkunkedAgain, coyotespinner, BLK, OldCoot, RockyRaab, and probably several others who's screen names have slipped my feeble memory. Some who I only know from their posts here in the forum, and some I have meet and fished with.
I have not retired yet (except from active duty) but still work for the USAF, and have been fishing or trying to fish northern Utah since I bought my first boat in 2004. The last 2 seasons since I started reading and then becoming somewhat active on the BFT site have been the most productive summers I have ever had, especially at Willard Bay. Now I won't even begin to say I have the WB figured out. Because it changes almost as fast as the wind and water level. But to the new folks joining the forum, young, old, or in between, there aren't a better bunch of anglers anywhere. Now they may not give away their most current hot spot of great fishin, but they will almost always give you the benefit of their experience to help you find your own.
The BFT Catfish Contest, the Cutler Flotilla, were some of the best times I have had with a group of fishermen in longer than I can remember. Even without catching the biggest or most, the time itself was memorable and I can't wait for next years.
New to BFT ? Get out there an get to know the other members.
See the BFT sticker on a rig or the flag on a boat, introduce yourself.
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Thanks for the input, you are right about Willard, she can be a cruel mistress.
As for retirement...I highly recommend it, best job I ever had.
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You haven't seen cruel yet! Another couple of years of Walleye snagging in the Willard Inlet and Walleye fishing in Willard will be really tough!
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I couldn't believe my eyes when I went down there to scout out the situation one evening last spring. Snaggers were shoulder to shoulder at the inlet.
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TL;DR
When I relocated to Utah from Texas in 2004, I had no plans of staying very long. I realized about 3 years later that this was no temporary stop and I was going to be in Utah for a long time.
I used to come out here when I was a kid/teenager to go camp in the Uintas. My mom had a lot of family in the Salt Lake area and we would drive out here in the summers to visit them and go camping. I have always loved the Uinta Mountains. We have probably camped at Moosehorn for more days than I can count. I remember one trip in particular where I finally asked my Dad why we never fished when we camped. We were right next to a pond in the campground! A religious bass fisherman my Dad said, "Son all they got in Utah is trout and we can't catch them things."
After realizing I would be here longer than just a year or so, I decided it was time to invest in doing what I loved again: fishing, shooting, hunting. I bought a fishing license the day I drove down to Utah Lake and noticed there were harbors where I could fish. I bought some gear and picked up a fishing guidebook. I looked at the fish species in Utah Lake and almost fell over. Catfish? Crappie? Bluegill? White Bass?! LARGEMOUTH?!! I went home and called my Dad to tell him what I had found in Utah.
I started fishing Utah Lake immediately and had a fair amount of success on bluegill and catfish. Little did I realize at the time was that I had been fishing during the spawn of both species. Once that was over, I was stumped.
I did a google search for utah lake catfish and found a bazillion BFT posts on the subject. A fair amount were attributed to TubeDude. It was great info so I decided to join. Since then I have learned so much from many members who have been willing to share. I have tried to help others (karma and all that) when I can because I was helped so much. TubeDude tricked out my float tube for me and I have been addicted to using the jigs he makes. It has been a great experience for me and I've even branched out to fish for just about all species Utah has to offer (still haven't landed a Tiger Musky or a Northern Pike but that is on the list for the upcoming year).
All I wanted out of BFT was to find and share fishing information with like minded anglers. I have found that and then some. I hope to be able to share more in the future once the Doc gives the all clear for my knee so I can go fishing. I believe I have convinced him that fishing from a float tube will be great therapy for my knee!
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A lot of us found this site with an internet search looking for information as well.
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I too spent my early years fly fishing the small streams and rivers of the Uintas with my dad. Wonderful and beautiful places. Now I am mostly boat fishing and ice when we have it. I caught a Northern last year, not real big, with info from here, but the Tiger Musky has eluded me.
Thanks for sharing.
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gofish, your right about the lack of reports on Wyo board and in summer when there gets to be a few, they are from East side on the state fun, to read but not much help to me. Thanks for sharing.
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The information is still there, just more discrete. Riverdog, I know you have several places you don't want to exploit to general masses, but willing to share on one on one. That is all this is.
I think you will find most forums are this way. As far as turning people off, it can work two ways. I don't post as often because I am not willing to exploit my style or some of the places I fish. I do own these spots, just like everyone else. So I do try to protect the more fragile spots;
There is still and always has been PM's for more detail. That hasn't changed.
I think more is made out of this than need be. The ones that want to share will still be able to do that. Just a select few want more privacy. I see this as totally fair.
Maybe the fee to be a member of this needs work is all.
I would like to bury any hatchet and maybe share some water with you in the coming year.
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Not to be impertinent, but TD is old enough to be a Grandpa, I believe he is several times over, but FlyGoddess, I am not sure about you being a GMa, unless you are a very young one !
Thanks sweetie, I will roll with that[
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