Koke-less at Lindon 7-7-21

[TubeDude]

Last year there seemed to be a pretty steady stream of 30"+ fish reported from the UL regulars. But this year, at least so far, the 30 and above appears to be a bit stingy. I know with the crews that haunt UL that this can, and likely will, change on a dime - just seems a bit odd that the big kitties have lockjaw

Same ol' story.  Big fish are older fish...the survivors of natural attrition and angler harvest.  More and more Utah tanglers are fishing for catfish and many still keep the bigger fish...either to eat or to just show off and discard.  After all, they are only catfish.  Right?

However, it does seem strange that there are so many that are short of 30" and so few over it.  Part of that can be explained by the fact that larger and older cats often adapt different feeding habits than smaller ones.  They are more likely to search out larger meals...and to eat less frequently...and often to feed mainly after dark.  So the "average" cataholic who fishes smaller baits, during the daytime, is less likely to hook into the truly large ones.

Utah lake is a food rich environment for catfish.  Most of the fish we catch are fat and healthy.  There is no reason for them to stunt.  But as they grow older...like most species...their growth rate slows and they are less active and eat less.  Newly hatched channels in Utah Lake will usually grow about 8 - 10 inches per year...in their first two years...quite a bit faster than in many other waters around the country.  After that it may slow to only a few inches...or almost nothing in some years as they get older.  They are a long-life species...living from 15 to 20 years.

There are two times of year that the "average" anglers is more likely to hook up with bigger fish...very early (March and April) and late in the year (October into early November).  Those are transitional times when water temps are lower and fish are more motivated to eat...either to make up for a lean winter or to store up calories for an upcoming winter.  They don't think about it.  They just do it instinctively.  I have caught many of my 30" plus fish during those early and late periods...when a lot of anglers are either late skiing or early hunting.