So I had an hour before sundown and took a walk by the pond and took a few casts. Lucked into a 24"ish channel cat and 3 carp all caught on plastics. It was really fun for this time of year. However I lost the cat trying to pull it across the ice shelf and 2 of the carp unbuttoned about the same way. Only got slimy on one, but got the full fights from all of them. Anyway here's a few pics of Cutler starting to freeze over. Later J
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Well it shouldn't be too much longer.[
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Cool! That one looks like a mirror carp. Out of the "more than I care to think about" numbers of carp I've caught, I've only caught one with that scale pattern. Seems like it was at Yuba if I remember right. Nice pics.
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I'm not going to hold my breath. J
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I think Cutler has more of the ugly mirrors than the common carp, but I got some of both kind on this trip. I snuck down tonight but my wife caught me about 20 minutes later and with two tangles no fish tonight. One hit that I missed. Guess that might be my last casting for a while if the big freeze really happens. Thanks for the reply. Later J
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Hope Santa stuffs afew more kitchen passes in your stocking for next year. (Psst, shy dial, don't answer!)
Budiful carp that one. Cats too, on plasfic? YOU da man!
Doesn't seem as low as last year. Hope they get the job done.
Merry Xmas to you and yours Jeff. Keep the home fires burning and that kitchen warmed.
Thanks John, Merry Christmas to you. Are you going to do a little more ice fishing than you have done on the ponds lately? Hope so we haven't seen much of you since salsa time. Hope to see ya on the hard deck soon. Later J
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The whole Bear River drainage has a ton of those ugly buggers. That does look like a lot of fun, crazy that you hooked them on plastics at Christmas time.
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Sure wanted to get out after them today but didn't get a chance. I'm afraid it will be froze over and done for the year in the morning. I think it's because the water is so low from the draining that the deep holes are full of fish and competing for food so they hit it this year where most years they turn their noses up at it. I kept thinking there should be bass and walleye in there but can't get them to take it. Fun to catch those big heavy lunkers this time of year even if they are in slow motion. Later J
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I think you're right about them being congregated and competitive. I wish I'd thought to explore it this fall, but I just didn't have time. My Utah license actually expired in the summer and I haven't gotten around to renewing it. The recent hike in the rate doesn't help motivate me to get it either [:/]
I think you're also right about it freezing up. It was down to 4 a couple of hours ago. Oh well, I just feel lucky to have gotten out to fish open water in December, that's a rare treat in Cache Valley.
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It's been sort of a nice December for soft water fishing. But I guess it's over now. Later J
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I only made it out once this month, but it was a good afternoon catching over 50 trout, some even on dry flies, temps in the mid 50s. I had a bald eagle fly right over me, saw about 50 turkeys and a couple dozen deer. It was a nice way to end the season.
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Wow I'll say that's a wonderful day congrats. J
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Thanks, while I didn't get out too much this year, most trips were really good like this one.
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That's the way to have it then. You need to teach me the secret of either picking the right day or to fish better. I had a couple good ones, but a lot of so-so days. I decided March and April need to be my get work done months because I sure don't know how to catch fish that time of year. Have a good one today. J
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I had a few so-so days too, but I'm trying to make myself choose the best option for the conditions. I get excited for bass and start chasing them shortly after ice out. My one skunk in the last few years was this spring chasing bass early. The res was cold and murky and I should have known better. The next day I hit a clear reservoir, and even though it was colder, I caught a dozen bass. Clear water is almost always better with cold water for sure. Those early trips are often frustrating. However, March and April usually have some great stream trout fishing like I just experienced. I need to make myself focus on that more this early spring.
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I think there is a lot to the time and season thing. Learning to do it on the fish calendar and not your own is the important part of being any good at the game. J
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