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+--- Thread: Willard NBC day...5-13-19 (/showthread.php?tid=1072410)
Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - TubeDude - 05-14-2019
[#0000ff]A hectic schedule and "variable" weather dictated that I make a fishing run today or not at all for the next few days. Opted to hit Willard north marina. Hoped for some crappies, wipers or walleyes. None of those species were harmed on this trip. But the everlovin' kitties came out to play. And I invited a few home for a smokin' session.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]At 6:30 am launch, air temp was 53 and water temp was just a notch under 65. Warmed to about 66 by the time I left the water just after 10. Dare we hope for summer temperatures soon?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Started in the marina. Saw almost nothing over a wide area on sonar. A few floating blips that were probably the small crappies that predominate this year. There were 3 other tuber-tooners on the water in the marina when I got launched. Didn't see them catch anything. Ditto for the few bank tanglers. Hopes for non-catfish action dwindled quickly and I fired up the "big motor" and headed for the open lake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Didn't see much on sonar outside either. But water levels are way up and that usually disperses the fish over a much wider area. Worked along the old road bed, "Rocky's Reef" and down near the shoreline off Eagle Beach. That can be good this time of year. Not today. Must be because it was Monday the 13'th. Worse than Friday the 13th?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Worked my way back out to deeper water. I did get a couple of cats once I passed the 12' depth zone. And as I worked deeper the bite picked up. Got cat bites out as far as 18'. Had one wiper (my call) that ripped line off the drag for a short run and then forgot how to hold on. Stupid fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Did the usual. Fished bait solo and on fligs with one rod. Pitched a rotation of tube jigs, grubs and crank baits on the other. Nary a nudge on anything besides bait or baited fligs. Got a couple on plain minnows dragged on the bottom. The rest came on several different colors of fligs...first with crawler then with chub minnows. Caught about a dozen and kept 8 for the smoker...first batch this year. Yum.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water was pretty clean...and about as high as I have seen it. Gonna get higher. In the 65 degree water the kitties put up a feisty fight...some ripping some line off the drag. When you ain't with the ones you love (ABC...anything but cats), love the ones you can catch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Cottonwoods are fluffing up the place with their annual cotton covering. See pics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Met up with fellow BFTer GSP back at the ramp. I had provided some intel for him to try for the crappies inside the marina. I was happy to hear that he had caught about 8 fish...of 3 species...crappies, bluegill and largemouth. He said he saw a lot of shad cruising near shore. Also a lot of carp doing the "buglemouth lambada".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Beautimous day. Even if it was NBC...nothing but catfish. And my early departure was well timed. Two separate PWC trailers unloaded as I was moving toward the ramp.
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - FatBiker - 05-14-2019
Nothing wrong with a basket full of cats, especially those headed for the smoker. Thanks for the report. Someday our calendars and the moon will align for an old geezer day at the bay. Probably load up tonight and head that way in the morning. Good job.
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - muirco - 05-14-2019
Nice getting some cats!
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - SkunkedAgain - 05-15-2019
Hey Pat I must of missed this post. Sounds like a great day even if it turned out NBC. Love those Willard cats for eating and so I’m sure that will be some excellent smoked catfish. Congrats J
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Re: [SkunkedAgain] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - TubeDude - 05-15-2019
[#0000FF]I started out only keeping about 3 for a fish fry. Then I began hearing voices...from my elderly neighbor and my bro-in-law. They were whining about not having any smoked fish yet this year. So I kept a few more to fill the smoker.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Now I gotta divide them into two batches..."nuclear" for my hot-loving neighbor and mild for my wimpy bro-in-law. For him, ketchup is "hot sauce".[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Me? I like it hot enough to weld with...or cauterize wounds. I guess us old folks have burnt out taste buds when we get enough miles on us.
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - SkunkedAgain - 05-15-2019
What heat rating is on the spice recipe that you passed on to me? I love that stuff, it seems like I did kick up the cayenne a little above the recommended level on some batches, every so often I'd get a hot spot that got my attention but for the most part, it was very enjoyable eating... One batch I had some tia peppers that I added and that was pretty good as well, however, I did need a sweat cloth to keep my brow dry... Surprising how that adds such a new dimension to eating fish... You sure have made my fish prep easier and more enjoyable to eat.. Really appreciate your willingness to share that info with me over the years... Thanks Pat... Later J
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Re: [SkunkedAgain] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - TubeDude - 05-15-2019
"What heat rating is on the spice recipe that you passed on to me?"
[#0000FF]My "super spice" recipe is a blend of Cajun and Tex Mex. The mix is 3 parts black pepper, 1 part cayenne pepper and 1 part each of cumin, oregano and garlic powder.
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[#0000FF]You can adjust the proportions according to your own personal taste. But application is what usually determines how "tasty" the final product turns out. It only takes a couple of extra shakes to raise the needle on the heat guage. After a few uses you can tell by the visibles how much you are using. But if wimpy guests start gasping for breath and turning red you will know you mighta got a little heavy handed.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Glad you like it. Happy to pass it along when I find something I like.[/#0000FF]
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - Kent - 05-15-2019
[quote TubeDude]
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[#0000ff]...and mild for my wimpy bro-in-law. For him, ketchup is "hot sauce".[/#0000ff]
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I can certainly relate to your "wimpy bro-in-law". I wish they made a milder salsa sauce than the standard "mild" version.
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Re: [kentofnsl] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - TubeDude - 05-15-2019
[#0000FF]I respect that everybody has their own "limits"...some lower than others. And I don't deliberately try to fool anyone into biting into something I think might be too spicy for them.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]If you like salsa, my wife gets some (at Walmart??) that is very good...as a base. Of course I kick it up a notch (Bam) with some of my spice mix, but it is very tasty...and mild. It is Italian Rose FRESH SALSA. She gets the 32 oz. square plastic jar and it is great on many things...including Burger King charbroiled burgers.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]As you might expect, I make my own "pico de gallo" salsa when all the ingredients are in season. But it contains fresh jalapenos and green chilis...and is definitely not mild. Arriba.
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - SkunkedAgain - 05-15-2019
Yup I think that is the one, but I thought I used two parts black pepper, but anyway it is a very good and interesting twist to smoking fish... I loved it on catfish to start, but now I'm using it on my trout and the whole works... very good flavor and haven't found many folks that try it that don't like it... unless they don't like fish to start with... Had a fun night last night on Cutler, it was actually fishing like Utah lake for numbers... I think I ended up with 11 fish in 3 hours or so and missed quite a few other hits and lost a couple... and I do agree with your comment about the fish fighting a lot harder now the water temp is up... Man they pulled hard last night... I had one that I couldn't turn with 30 lb braid and my heavy rod and reel... it came unbuttoned.. Wish I could have seen that one... Later J
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - GSP - 05-17-2019
Thanks for the info Pat! I was excited when I started catching fish. Grew up in Brigham City and never fished Willard (trash fish ya know [
]). The first crappie I ever caught, a nice big blue gill and a good bass.Also, thanks for showing me how to filet catfish. If I ever start fishing for them I will know how to "butcher those hogs"[
]Have been chasing turkeys so this is the first I saw your post.
GSP
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Re: [GSP] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - TubeDude - 05-17-2019
[#0000FF]Always good to broaden your experience base...with new waters and new species. Glad to be able to contribute to your affliction.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Hope you are doing well with the big birds. Turkeys? Well, "sweets for the sweet" ya know.
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Re: [TubeDude] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - GSP - 05-18-2019
Finally called in a nice double bearded Jake before this crappy weather hit. Will email ya a pic, don't know how to post here from iPhone.
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Re: [GSP] Willard NBC day...5-13-19 - TubeDude - 05-18-2019
[#0000FF]Nice. Here are the pics for you.[/#0000FF]
[inline TURKEY.JPG]
[inline "TURKEY 2.JPG"]
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