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I have been peeking in on this site from time to time. thought i could learn more and possibly contribute by becoming a member.
I live in Salt Lake City, I have recently discovered bass fishing. I am a long time trout fisherman, traditional and fly, no bait. And for the past few years i have been kayak fishing. After accidentally catching a small mouth in flaming gorge right after a nice rainbow...I switched.
I have been doing okay for large and a few smallies in deer creek. does anyone have additional insight on good bass spots near the city? also, i have been debating outfitting my kayaks with a fish finder. I have never used one... worth it? i was thinking the "fishin buddy" has anyone used that all in one? Can you see whats on the bottom and locate fish?
thank you all.
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The best LMB lake in Utah is right where you live. Utah Lake has a great Large mouth bass population.
Fish the reeds and shallow areas now for the spawn.
Good luck!
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I feel really bad fishing the spawn at UL right now. The last few bass I caught the mouth was literally hamburger. Which is good and bad, good because it means people are putting them back...bad because I feel a fish could die after the beating they take spawning and the beating we as anglers put on them.
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great info... i am taking my nephew to Hobbs pond in Layton tonight... there has got to be a toad or two in there... assuming they haven't all been eaten. i will hit UL early sat or sunday. maybe night fish for catfish from 12am until sun-up then bass fish til i need sleep.
i will be sure to report back.
thank you.
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I have a picture of a 5 or 6 lb female that didn't make it...from UL this year, Spawning is so hard on the fish that there is always a die off, to what extent is debatable. I am not advocating everyone leave them alone, just debating it for myself personally.
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Welcome to Bass and the Board.
I've heard Kayaks can be kinda hazardous on UL, if it gets real windy/wavy.
There are a number of good bass lakes around. You'll find 'em in some rivers too. Pineview and Willard both sport some quality bass if you can find 'em. Some folks do well on Smallies at Starvation. Mantua may be a bit farther for you, but it's a nice smaller lake - good for 'yaking abouts. Only LMB there - but it's a pretty nutrient rich lake.
As for a finder - anything that helps you find fish or structure can only help. As they say "you can't catch em where the ain't". I fish some shallow murky water where the finder doesn't do squat for me, but especially bigger lakes, knowing the depth alone can be valuable. Being able to spot schools of bait fish, and bigger lunkers - well worth it.
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Bass die all the time. If a large female died due to improper handling i.e. being caught on to light of tackle, or just left out of the water for pics, dropped on the ground or boat. That would be a real shame.. Spawning had little to do with it.
Spawning marks on Bass are on the tail and lower fin area, other marks also occur when they fight with other fish to protect there beds. If the fish is beat up all over its most likely due to some one removing the slim somehow, like dropping it on the ground or boat. With the slim gone they can get infected and will most likely die.
I feel bad as well when I see any large Bass die. Its a shame.
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[quote CoyoteSpinner]
There are a number of good bass lakes around. You'll find 'em in some rivers too. Pineview and Willard both sport some quality bass if you can find 'em. Some folks do well on Smallies at Starvation. Mantua may be a bit farther for you, but it's a nice smaller lake - good for 'yaking abouts. Only LMB there - but it's a pretty nutrient rich lake.
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+1 to all what CYS had to say....although if you look at the species board at Mantua it "claims" that there are Smallmouth Bass there....although I have yet to catch one.
My best LMB days have been at Mantua...and when the bass are not biting as well the perch, bluegill and trout typically are.
Another good place close to SLC is East Canyon for Smallmouth Bass. The water is more clear than Utah Lake so fly fishing is typically more successful. Although EC is known for a few big SMB's....you are gonna have to wade through plenty of dinks to get a good one.
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I wouldn't be too worried about hurting the spawners. They are very resilient and if you're careful there really isn't any reason the fish would suffer.
As for the fish finder, at Utah Lake it won't be that helpful. However the fish finder is really important for fishing more normal lakes. Knowing the depth you're fishing in and being able to see the drop offs and points will definately help put you on the fish. Fishing blindly around the lake doesn't work as well for bass as it does trout.
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[quote CoyoteSpinner]...but it's a pretty nutrient rich lake.[/quote]
Now that's just funny.
Let me retranslate for you: "It's an underwater salad bowl."
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I use a fishin buddy on my float tube and it's been helpful. Not so much to find the fish, but to find good structure and also for water temps.
I live in extreme northern Utah, so Idaho is where most of my bass fishing occurs. When I lived in Provo, Deer Creek was one of my main spots. It's a pretty good little reservoir. You might want to try Rockport for smallies, that was also a favorite.
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