Soft water again, Lindon 3-4-2023

[Piscophilic]

Glad you were able to launch and at least do a problem finding session.  Saves a busted trip later.

I almost always start at Lindon because it is usually the first to open.  But it is also usually very stingy until water levels and water temps climb a bit.  But I am almost always able to at least score a few white bass around the bubbleup.  Wondering how that will be affected this year with the reduced white bass population.

Smelling only carp is almost as bad as smelling skunk.  But, still, they pull good and bend your stick.   And that's mainly what we fish for.  I'll betcha you do better on your next outing.  But it will be interesting to see what effect the rerouted Provo River has on fishing in that area.

Thanks Pat,

I hadn't launched there before, it was your earlier post about the harbor there opening earlier that made me watch and try it there. 

I think there are a lot of interesting possibilities in the new "delta" area. I think it will increase panfish populations in the general area. From the map it looks like it could be a tubers dream, except a guy might get lost in all those channels! It will be interesting to watch and maybe even participate.

---

"Both were equally not effective "

Boy that sounds familiar.

It is going to be very interesting to read the UL reports this year to see how the WB die off impacts things. Any predictions?

I watched with great interest last year after the die off and it didn't seem to have a major impact on the cats, after they digested the big feast anyway. WB were harder to find, but always around enough to get a few for bait. The scariest thing was that I never saw a single young of the year whitie last year and I looked harder than usual. 

The ice fishermen found adults regularly, but not in huge numbers. I think the population is in OK shape, and the anticipated higher water levels should lead to a really good spawn. 

My biggest concern was if we had a long winter with thick ice and short food supplies. We got a short ice season, so I'm guessing we will see minimal changes in the number of predators, but they will be hungry until this years forage spawn shows up.

Also, in a "normal" winter for the past decade or so, the water level would raise about 2" a month from Nov to March or so. We would end up getting about a 1 foot increase in depth before the snow started to melt. This year it is already up over 2 feet and there is a lot of runoff coming. I think we dodged a bullet. A dry, cold winter cold have been a disaster this year.

I think it will be a good year for cats and by next year white bass numbers should look more normal.  I do always lean to the optimistic side though.

---

Jim,
Congrats on a successful shake down cruise, glad you nailed a rocky mountain tarpon... Great fighters even in cool water... Kind of hard to believe you're into soft water... After all the snow, my boat trailer is so under snow I can't see the top of the tires on it anymore... Man we need a warm up in Cache Valley... Another week of the ice contest then bring on the warm... I'm sort of funned out this year... Later Jeff

Thanks Jeff! That sounds like a lot of snow. I know there is a lot in the mountains too. I had snow on my boat until about a week ago. It hasn't been cold enough the past few weeks to keep it on the gond long though.  I suspect it will be gone sooner than you think up there. I hope it warms slowly so we don't get bad flooding.