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Pelican Lake
#1
I have benn told that this is the place for large bluegill. I was wondering about how big it is for pontooning and float tubing.
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#2
BIG, Bigger than Devils Creek and Daniels. They hold bass tournies there all the time. And Shallow, perfect pontoon water.
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#3
Are u gonna fish for the bluegills there?
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#4
Pelican is a great body of water to fish from a tube/toon. It has both LMB and bluegill. It has tremendous shoreline structure, vegetation, and some off shore stuff to. This time of year it will be extra full, with the reeds and bullrushes flooded. There is an old road bed on the north side that gets flooded this time of year that provides good access. East side had decent access also, but the better fishing is on the north. There is a boat ramp on the southwest corner of the lake with a semi-improved campground. One of the things that makes it such a productive lake is the huge insect population. Midges, midges, midges. You may want a head net. I would use Google Earth to get a birds eye view of the lake if you have never been there before.

Both Red Fleet and Steinaker have good bluegill populations along with LMB.
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#5
Well I am not sure if I can get there with the gas prices but if I did go I would be after bluegill with the fly rod. I would love to catch a big one on the fly rod.
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#6
[cool][#0000ff]That is probably one of the best spots I have ever fished in the USA for LOTS of BIG bluegills. They readily take flies and most years there is a good crop of 9" to 10" fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The main downside, as you mentioned, is that it is way on the other side of Utah from Salt Lake, and it takes a lot of gas money even for us guys in Utah to get to it. But...it's only money.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As Therapist mentioned, bugs are a big negative too. Without a headnet you will inhale or swallow lots of extra "protein". The mosquitos can be fierce too. Not a good place to camp at night, even with a tightly closed tent or camper.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Another nasty little secret about Pelican is that it has the organism known as "swimmers' itch". You need to wear waders, even in warm weather, to keep the water away from your skin. Otherwise you will develop a rash and itching.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The final deterrent, for many people, is that a high percentage of the fish from Pelican are infested with white grubs...a flesh parasite that looks like maggots inside the flesh. They are easily removed when flilleting the fish, and are harmless if eaten, but they certainly ruin the appetite. A lot of guys practice catch and release just because they don't care to deal with the parasites.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here are a couple of pics of Pelican 'gills.[/#0000ff]
[inline "BLUEGILLS - PELICAN LAKE.jpg"]

[inline "BLUEGILL COUPLE.JPG"]
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#7
Thanks for all the info. We have one lake here that has some 9"ers coming out. I hope to go there Sat afternoon, but I had heard there were lg gill's there and those deterents explain why, lots of food[Wink]
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#8
If you are in Idaho, two lakes closer to you are Hyrum and Manuta in Northern Utah. Of the two, Mantua has the best gill population and some of the bigger ones. Both are great tubing/toon waters. Mantua has LOTS of vegatation, which in the mid to late summer holds the speedboaters down. Check em out.
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#9
[cool][#0000ff]Don't know how long it has been since you fished Mantua, but the bluegill situation has changed over the past couple of years. DWR uses Mantua as their "warm water hatchery" for bluegill and bass. The hold sessions where groups of anglers all fish for them and keep everything they catch...transferred to a holding pen. Then the fish are trucked to community ponds and to the Kids Fishing Pond at the State Fair.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That, plus increased angler harvest from others has resulted in fewer large gills...and the ones that are left are much more difficult to catch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]During the summer months, the aquatic weed growth in Mantua comes almost all the way to the surface, even in 20 feet of water. The bluegills swarm over the top of the weed mat and will mob almost any fly or small lure you present. Only problem is that the average 'gill is only about 5 or 6 inches long. Fun on a flyrod, but not worth the gas money from Idaho.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Twin Lakes, above Preston, has some great action for larger bluegills in the early summer. They are all over around the trees along the east side. Also some good largemouth and big perch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If I was Michael, I would spend more time on Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir.[/#0000ff]
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#10
Thanks TDI will be getting out to "Salmon" as we call it. I was outr 2 weeks ago in the afternoon and had 4 fish on but never got to see them. Was tring for crappie or walleye. Looking forward to when you guys will be coming, maybe need to keep an eye on the 10 day forcast for projected wind. Water temp had not made 50 2weeks ago but I sure it's warmed up as I heard the eyes were starting to spawn. Little murky with the runoff also.
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#11
[cool][#0000ff]Since this is your thread I guess it is okay if we hijack it a little.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We might be postponing our trip until after Labor Day again this year. Between gas prices and some other family commitments it will be tough to justify a two day run to Idaho in the near future.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Overall conditions will probably be better then too. We did well at that time last year.[/#0000ff]
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#12
Well that will just give me more time to get to know where the fish are hanging out. I agree on the gas prices, real scary[frown], probably gonna keep alot of people near home.
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#13
Sounds like us and the Henry's Trip. The camp site was very generous in giving me the five days I gave up last year to go home and take care of business and we are planning that weekend to make up for it.
We will wave if we pass you, he, he, he.
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#14
[cool][#0000ff]Yeah, well I will wave back...but I might not use all the fingers on my waving hand.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I recall, your Henry's Lake trip last year was interrupted by your mom's passing. I know it hit you hard. How are you and your dad doing now?[/#0000ff]
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#15
Butt heads all the time. Feels about like it did before I moved out the first time many, many years ago.
Got to look at it as a job. Good days and bad. The trip to Henry's this year will be.....different.
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