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Perch Jerkin' at Bunny Gulch 7-28-09
#1
[cool][#0000ff]Hit Rabbit Gulch on Starvation this morning with fellow tuber LloydE. Air temp 60 and water temp 67 at launch...about 6:20. Lovely calm morning. No wind, no power squadron.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I scored the first fish...a 13" walleye...within 10 minutes of launch. It hit my little pale perch Roadrunner jig with worm in about 18 feet of water. A few kicks later I bagged my first basket perch on the same lure...out in 24 feet of water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Once I got beyond the weed line, I cast out a "flig rig"...a floating jig rigged dropper style with a 1/8 oz. weight on bottom. Kept jigging with the roadrunner but had to keep taking perch off the flig rig. They liked the firetiger color flig I started with. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lloyd and I both were scoring some pretty decent perch, but in deeper water than expected. We were anticipating 15 to 18 feet. But, most of the larger perch were in 25 to 30 feet. No big schools but enough singles and doubles to keep it interesting.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Kept only perch over 9 1/2 inches. But, found ourselves tossing them back in the 10 inch range later, as we approached our 20 perch limits. We both got some 12 inch plus fish, with quite a few between 10" and 12". Good fighters.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lloyd got one walleye...a feisty 17 incher from 47 feet of water. If you were anywhere on Starvation you could hear his "announcement". He loves his walleyes and is not bashful about letting the world know when he scores one.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I got one more small walleye, about 12 inches, on one of my pale perch fligs. Got quite a few perch on it too, but got more large perch on fire tiger ultra minnow jigs and the every popular red/chartreuse plastic tubes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Had light breezes on and off from several directions. But not enough to be problematic. Decided we would finish off our limit of perch and head home early...about noon...since Lloyd had a meeting to attend in the evening. I found a "honey hump" covered with larger perch. I put out a marker buoy and topped of my limit quickly. I called Lloyd over and he did the same. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Set up my portable fillet station at the back of my vehicle and filleted all the perch (and walleye) into a heavy contractors' plastic bag, which we donated to the dumpster on the way out. Sure happy with the new 12 volt American Angler electric fillet knife. Filleted two limits of perch and a couple of walleyes without even dropping the voltage much on a small 4.4 ah battery.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, just as Lloyd hit the beach, the wind changed. Switched directions 180 degrees and picked up to about 20 mph. We were happy with our timing, as well as our fishing.[/#0000ff]
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#2
Looks like you had a great day. I have only been to Starvation once and didn't know anything about it's dreaded afternoon wind.
I intend to try to hit it at least once this year.
Keep up the great posts and pictures.
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#3
Nice filet board/setup. You really are the "King of PVC"! I might have to do something like that to keep the kitchen a little cleaner[Wink]. Nice report. I would love to get out there but its such a looooong way pulling a boat. maybe in 3-4 weeks I might have some time to try it.
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#4
Looks like I missed you by one day..... I was going to try it tomorrow in hope that everybody else(POWER SQUAD) is gone for a few days. Have not yet decided which area I should launch but you may have helped me decide. I just dont know how many more perch I really want to fillet after last weekend. I find more walleye on the other side but have not given the gulch much of a chance. This might be the time to give it a chance, who knows I have all week!!!! HAHAA[Wink][fishon]
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#5
[cool][#0000ff]The water levels are still way up. That gives the fish a lot more places to hang out and they seem to be scattered more. If you have been finding them in any particular location you should keep going there. Always best to fish with confidence.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By this time last year the water level was down a lot further and the fish were concentrated more in their usual summer hangouts. We have had to spend more time looking for them this year and have not really gotten into the walleyes as we have in years past. But, for us, Bunny Gulch is both closer and easier to launch and fish than going all the way around to Knight Hollow.[/#0000ff]
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#6
[quote Strikes_R_Us]Nice filet board/setup. You really are the "King of PVC"! I might have to do something like that to keep the kitchen a little cleaner[Wink]. Nice report. I would love to get out there but its such a looooong way pulling a boat. maybe in 3-4 weeks I might have some time to try it.[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Here is the whole series of pics of the fillet station for anybody who needs more PVC fumes. I made two identical bases and 4 identical 1/2" PVC shafts. It breaks down and stows easily, with the treated partical board table under the rubber mat in the back of my vehicle. I balance one end on the tailgate of my Jimmy and the other is held up by the PVC frame with the plastic bag in it.[/#0000ff]

[Image: image.gif] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=51348"][#212126]FILLET BOARD 1.jpg[/#212126][/url] (314 KB)
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[Image: image.gif] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=51351"][#212126]FILLET BOARD 4.jpg[/#212126][/url] (314 KB)
[Image: image.gif] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=51352"][#212126]FILLET BOARD 5.jpg[/#212126][/url] (457 KB)
[Image: image.gif] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=51353"][#212126]FILLET BOARD 6.jpg[/#212126][/url] (282 KB)
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#7
Nice work again TD and Lloyd[Smile] I am always a little jealous every time I see a new post from you. Just because I know it will have pics of fish you caught and not just a lingering smell of skunk[cool] Also one of these days I need to stop by your "tackletorium" ( I think thats how it's spelled) and purchase some of those "fligs"
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#8
[cool][#0000ff]Thanks fer the kindly comments.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You would be welcome anytime. Let me know when you wanna drop by and I will shoot you the address and directions. As I recall, you don't live too far from me.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you and the kids like fishing for 'gills, perchies and white basses I probably have a few goodies that would be worthy additions to your tackle supply.[/#0000ff]
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#9
Thanks for another great, detailed, fishing report and informative pictures. As I read your report of our trip, I realized that my pictures are always seen, but yours are never posted. You need to trust me with your camera so "the world" can see you in action. I don't know why I didn't think of this before now---but better late than never.

I don't know how things could have been better yesterday (except for a little more walleye action perhaps). The weather was fantastic until we got off the water. The fishing action was constant. The company was, as always, great. Your fishing lures were "magic". All of the fish I caught yesterday were caught on one of your creations. Thank you! Thanks also for the great mentoring. My fishing skills are so much better now than they have ever been.

Give my best to Delores!
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#10
[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Lloyd. Always a pleasure sharing the water with you...and the fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No need to post more pictures of me. The stars of the show are the fish and the surroundings. Folks hear (and see) enough of me. No need for more "visual pollution" on the board.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Glad the lures work for you. As we have discussed, the lures I use these days are the result of many years of experimentation and refinement. As with most tackle tinkerers I am always messin' with stuff to try to come up with something new and wonderful. It's great when the fish actually agree with my ideas.[/#0000ff]
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#11
Very nice work!! That sounds like a great time. Glad to see the floaty jigs kicking butt!! Thats cool to catch fish on something you invented.
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#12
[cool][#0000ff]Thanks. I did not invent the CONCEPT of floating jig heads. But, I have taken it to a different place by incorporating my built-up painted body designs...using some of my original colors.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those silly perch and walleyes like them. But, if you can find fish in Starvation it usually isn't too hard to get them to open their mouths for something. The good news is that other species in other waters are voting for them too. Will probably have a whole bunch of new colors and new pics of willing participants within the next few weeks.[/#0000ff]
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#13
As always, great read and information TD. You have really excited me about getting out and learning the Utah waters after my move from Las Vegas. Starvation is one lake I really would like to get on a little more. After reading through your "Tubin and Toonin" book, I feel a little more prepared to take these on. Hope one day to figure these lakes out like you have them down.
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#14
[cool][#0000ff]Thanks. We have a lot of good tubing venues in Utah, but Starvation is one of my favorites. Just in case you did not get this on a previous post, here is a labeled map of Starvation. Of course it will help to get one of the blue and white paper ones too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have fished many of Utah's ponds since the early 1960's. And, while I have them "down PAT", I continue to learn more about them every year. That is one of the great things about fishing and Utah. Always something new to learn and experience.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You should also spend some more time on the float tubing board and invite yourself along on some of our little get togethers. We're a fairly friendly bunch.[/#0000ff]
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#15
Quote:[#0000ff]Lloyd got one walleye...a feisty 17 incher from 47 feet of water. If you were anywhere on Starvation you could hear his "announcement". He loves his walleyes and is not bashful about letting the world know when he scores one.[/#0000ff]

Reminds of the time a friend of mine caught a nice sized smallmouth near American Fork harbor, oh boy did it attract attention! Right after my other friend yelled "He caught a black bass!". I nearly got snagged by some idiot fishermen in a boat who wanted to catch a black bass. And to make matters worse other bank tanglers near by decided to fish right where we were.

I have a sense of humor about it now though he he he.

I hope to hit starvation this year. I have not even gone yet this whole year! Ugh! Aurgh! Ick! Ooof! Pisser bummer! Fizzle wizzle! Pooper! Ah shucks! Dog gummit! Sheezam! Walla walla! Woop woop woop!
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#16
[quote fatkidfishin]Nice work again TD and Lloyd[Smile] I am always a little jealous every time I see a new post from you. Just because I know it will have pics of fish you caught and not just a lingering smell of skunk[cool] Also one of these days I need to stop by your "tackletorium" ( I think thats how it's spelled) and purchase some of those "fligs"[/quote]

Hey![crazy] Are you making fun of my many posts of bad luck???
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#17
Starvation continues to frustrate me. Majja Matt and I went last Sunday to very poor results. We launched his tincan in Rabbit Gulch and caught a few smallies and perch right away. Then things just got slower. Maybe we fished too shallow. Maybe we got blown around too much. Ended our day at 1pm when the lightning started. Seems like we always do better in our tubes. Had we focused on the bass... we probably would've slayed 'em! They we very aggressive; even barfing up crawdads. Gotta hit this place at least one more time this year. I have a need for another fish fry!
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#18
[cool][#0000ff]Shoot me a PM with a schedule that you and Majja can work out for a trip. We would be happy to show you what we THINK we know about the place as it is right now. That is a biggie. As the water level rises and falls the whole program changes. Some weeks we have to find the fish all over again.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In my opinion, a boat is best for bottom bouncing and actively searching for fish. But, for working over a defined area...and setting up over a school of active fish...it is difficult to beat the hands free approach of float tubing. Of course any time the wind becomes a factor it is tough to fish finesse no matter how you are fishing. And, finesse is often the name of the game to put numbers and size in the basket.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In checking my fishing logs from the past two years, the first of August is when the water levels start dropping rapidly. That is usually a good thing at Rabbit Gulch because it moves the fish out of the weeds and more out into the open channel and along rock ledges. There are a few areas that are MONEY when the water levels are just right. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]So far this year it has been a real search most of the time. Fortunately we have found a couple of areas that have had active fish and have managed to avoid serious wind...at least until we were ready to get off the water. That has allowed us to bring home some decent fillets but the results from past fishing log entries have been even better...with 100 plus perch days and several walleyes on most trips.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]August should be a prime month at Starvation. Let's get our dance cards together and go whack some fishies.[/#0000ff]
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#19
[indent]Sounds like a plan, Pat. Hopefully we can get something set up.
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#20
Walleye Guy, I wasn't "making fun" of any "posts of bad luck" except my own trips that left me smelling of skunk.[cool]. TD is the man IMO and I was just letting him know that and I need to learn more from him. Hope your luck gets better and you land some nice fish soon.[fishin]
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