08-29-2006, 11:49 AM
[cool][#0000ff]We were fishing the "west side", around the bend from Pelican Point...if you know where that is.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For those who are not familiar with the west side, here are some general guidelines. Begin at the intersection of Hwy 73 (that runs east through Lehi) and Hwy 68 (Redwood Road). There is a big Smiths and other businesses on the SE corner which makes a good meetup spot.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Head south on 68, through the vacant fields and construction. You will go through the Saratoga Springs area and the golf course, continuing past the turnoff to the marina and to the very visible Pelican Point. That's where the development ends and Hwy 68 makes a turn to the west. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are a couple of gated roads just past Pelican point. The first accessible road past the fences (near mile marker 21) goes straight down to the water. You will not need 4 wheel drive, but you will need good tires and high clearance. Follow that dirt road right to the water. Launch through the break in the reeds (see pics)[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A good landmark right now is the burn area (see pic) just before you get to the road. You can see the red fire retardant they dropped by plane around the edges of the burn.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are other roads that go down off the highway and most of them offer spots to launch out through the reeds and weeds. The fish are also all up and down that whole area, so I am not really "hot spotting" here. Finding the area and fishing it properly is not just a matter of "showing up".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Without sonar you will be at a di
vantage but you can still be in the game. Take a couple of small marker buoys and just move straight out from the launch area. You will be a couple of hundred yards from the launch site before you are deep enough. Use a weight on the end of some line to take depth readings and when you get to about 5 feet, toss out a marker. Now just drag a bait around in that general area...in and out...until you get bit. Throw over a second marker buoy and keep fishing in the zone. You can see the marker buoys from a long ways if it is calm and they will keep you on track. The bottom is fairly flat with little structure or variation so it takes a lot of movement to go much deeper or shallower.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You don't really need the sonar to see the fish. None of the cats will ever show up on sonar. But, the sonar will help you find the productive depth and then maintain that as you fish. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you don't want to go through all that, I suggest you go to Lincoln Beach and launch off the end of the south dike. Fish the big area between the dike and the reeds to the south, again trying to stay in about 5 feet of water. The fish are also out in deeper water so you can work out to a line straight out from the south dike. That will put you in almost 7 feet of water. There were both cats and white bass out that far last Friday.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Take minnows, carp meat, crawlers or whatever you have. If you can catch a couple of white bass, cut strips from them and put those on the hook. Both cats and walleyes like white bass meat. Unfortunately (sometimes) white bass also like the flesh of their brethren and can be pests.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For those who are not familiar with the west side, here are some general guidelines. Begin at the intersection of Hwy 73 (that runs east through Lehi) and Hwy 68 (Redwood Road). There is a big Smiths and other businesses on the SE corner which makes a good meetup spot.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Head south on 68, through the vacant fields and construction. You will go through the Saratoga Springs area and the golf course, continuing past the turnoff to the marina and to the very visible Pelican Point. That's where the development ends and Hwy 68 makes a turn to the west. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are a couple of gated roads just past Pelican point. The first accessible road past the fences (near mile marker 21) goes straight down to the water. You will not need 4 wheel drive, but you will need good tires and high clearance. Follow that dirt road right to the water. Launch through the break in the reeds (see pics)[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]A good landmark right now is the burn area (see pic) just before you get to the road. You can see the red fire retardant they dropped by plane around the edges of the burn.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are other roads that go down off the highway and most of them offer spots to launch out through the reeds and weeds. The fish are also all up and down that whole area, so I am not really "hot spotting" here. Finding the area and fishing it properly is not just a matter of "showing up".[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Without sonar you will be at a di
vantage but you can still be in the game. Take a couple of small marker buoys and just move straight out from the launch area. You will be a couple of hundred yards from the launch site before you are deep enough. Use a weight on the end of some line to take depth readings and when you get to about 5 feet, toss out a marker. Now just drag a bait around in that general area...in and out...until you get bit. Throw over a second marker buoy and keep fishing in the zone. You can see the marker buoys from a long ways if it is calm and they will keep you on track. The bottom is fairly flat with little structure or variation so it takes a lot of movement to go much deeper or shallower.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You don't really need the sonar to see the fish. None of the cats will ever show up on sonar. But, the sonar will help you find the productive depth and then maintain that as you fish. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you don't want to go through all that, I suggest you go to Lincoln Beach and launch off the end of the south dike. Fish the big area between the dike and the reeds to the south, again trying to stay in about 5 feet of water. The fish are also out in deeper water so you can work out to a line straight out from the south dike. That will put you in almost 7 feet of water. There were both cats and white bass out that far last Friday.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Take minnows, carp meat, crawlers or whatever you have. If you can catch a couple of white bass, cut strips from them and put those on the hook. Both cats and walleyes like white bass meat. Unfortunately (sometimes) white bass also like the flesh of their brethren and can be pests.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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