03-08-2010, 01:39 AM
[cool][#0000ff]Yes, Utah Lake has a HUGE walleye population. But, it also has a lot of forage for them right now. If the walleye are getting plenty of natural food to eat they are more difficult to entice with a bit of plastic or hardware. The good news is that they WILL hit artificials just fine...especially if you "sweeten" your jigs and spinners with crawler or fish flesh.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]RIGHT NOW is one of the best times to hit Utah Lake if you can find the fish. The water temps are just over 40 degrees, which sends the fish into a "prespawn" feeding mode. They instinctively know that in a week or two the water will be up over the 45 degree mark and then they will have to start "dating". No time or inclination to dine then. That early feeding session may only last a few days...or it may stretch out for two or three weeks...depending upon weather patterns.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As anybody who has ever fished walleyes will agree FINDING THE FISH IS NO GUARANTEE that you can catch them. Walleyes are notorious for being moody and non-biters. But, if you can time your fishing to a feeding schedule (theirs, not yours) you can catch a bunch in a short period of time. That will keep you coming back for many fishless trips in the future.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]YOU CAIN'T KETCH 'EM WHERE THEY AIN'T. That is true of all species. But, with walleye it is even more so. Right now, if you can find schools of small white bass (food) you will usually find walleyes in the same area. And, if they are there for the groceries they can sometimes be persuaded to munch something from your tackle box. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It really helps to know the lake and where the warm springs, tributaries and rocky structure areas are. If you are a wallie newbie, just watch for the crowds of locals and regulars. Many of them have fished the walleyes successfully for many years. And most of them are pretty tight lipped about it. Don't look for them to post on BFT. Also, don't just crowd in and start casting. You may become cut bait.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Personally, I am just as impatient as everybody else and I gotta get in my prerequisite early casts...even when the fish have not come in or they are involved in "family planning". But I don't really get passionate until after about the first of May, during the post spawn period. That's when all of the empty bellied fish start munching down on anything and everything that looks like food. That's when the tanglers and rookies fishing for catfish or white bass catch a bunch of wallies by accident...and then hold forth about how they are now experts on walleye. But, hey, if you catch one, you ARE an expert...even if it was an accident.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The GOOD news? There are walleye all around that stinkin' lake. The BAD news? They are tough to catch almost anywhere. There are a very few longtime walleye anglers who catch them on most trips. But, anybody who claims to catch them every time out will lie about other things too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Best spots for the next few weeks?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]1. Around the dikes and rip rap of any of the developed harbors. Cast parallel to the rocks with plastics, small cranks and spinners. Fish during low light periods...early and late in the day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]2. In the main lake around tributary inlets. Walleye will often move in close to the spawning streams before actually running upcurrent to spawn.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]3. Around naturally rocky shorelines or over underwater rock shelves. Lincoln Beach has traditionally been a great early season walleye spot but much of the prime areas are now off limits to anglers...NO TRESPASSING.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]4. Along rocky or brushy shorelines, with gravel and brush. The Knolls and both sides of Goshen Bay can produce good fishing and are not nearly as heavily fished.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Note: Walleyes prefer to spawn in flowing water, such as the Provo River. But, they will also spawn over wave washed rocky shoreline. In short, they are "free spawners" that do not build nests. The female just swims near the top and dumps her eggs...usually with several "amorous" small males by her side, doing their part to insure that the eggs are fertilized. If you are fishing a shoreline and see these commotions you will know that you are at least in a walleye zone. But, you are likely to not catch more than a few small rowdy males. The big females don't hit well when spawning. That doesn't stop the snaggers though, who deliberately target the vulnerable ladies.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That's about as much as I know...or don't know. I'll be out there with everybody else. If I catch walleyes I am an expert. If not, I have plenty of excuses all practiced.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The ONE GUARANTEE: You will never catch them unless you go fishing for them. You can't win if you don't play.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]RIGHT NOW is one of the best times to hit Utah Lake if you can find the fish. The water temps are just over 40 degrees, which sends the fish into a "prespawn" feeding mode. They instinctively know that in a week or two the water will be up over the 45 degree mark and then they will have to start "dating". No time or inclination to dine then. That early feeding session may only last a few days...or it may stretch out for two or three weeks...depending upon weather patterns.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As anybody who has ever fished walleyes will agree FINDING THE FISH IS NO GUARANTEE that you can catch them. Walleyes are notorious for being moody and non-biters. But, if you can time your fishing to a feeding schedule (theirs, not yours) you can catch a bunch in a short period of time. That will keep you coming back for many fishless trips in the future.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]YOU CAIN'T KETCH 'EM WHERE THEY AIN'T. That is true of all species. But, with walleye it is even more so. Right now, if you can find schools of small white bass (food) you will usually find walleyes in the same area. And, if they are there for the groceries they can sometimes be persuaded to munch something from your tackle box. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It really helps to know the lake and where the warm springs, tributaries and rocky structure areas are. If you are a wallie newbie, just watch for the crowds of locals and regulars. Many of them have fished the walleyes successfully for many years. And most of them are pretty tight lipped about it. Don't look for them to post on BFT. Also, don't just crowd in and start casting. You may become cut bait.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Personally, I am just as impatient as everybody else and I gotta get in my prerequisite early casts...even when the fish have not come in or they are involved in "family planning". But I don't really get passionate until after about the first of May, during the post spawn period. That's when all of the empty bellied fish start munching down on anything and everything that looks like food. That's when the tanglers and rookies fishing for catfish or white bass catch a bunch of wallies by accident...and then hold forth about how they are now experts on walleye. But, hey, if you catch one, you ARE an expert...even if it was an accident.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The GOOD news? There are walleye all around that stinkin' lake. The BAD news? They are tough to catch almost anywhere. There are a very few longtime walleye anglers who catch them on most trips. But, anybody who claims to catch them every time out will lie about other things too.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Best spots for the next few weeks?[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]1. Around the dikes and rip rap of any of the developed harbors. Cast parallel to the rocks with plastics, small cranks and spinners. Fish during low light periods...early and late in the day.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]2. In the main lake around tributary inlets. Walleye will often move in close to the spawning streams before actually running upcurrent to spawn.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]3. Around naturally rocky shorelines or over underwater rock shelves. Lincoln Beach has traditionally been a great early season walleye spot but much of the prime areas are now off limits to anglers...NO TRESPASSING.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]4. Along rocky or brushy shorelines, with gravel and brush. The Knolls and both sides of Goshen Bay can produce good fishing and are not nearly as heavily fished.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Note: Walleyes prefer to spawn in flowing water, such as the Provo River. But, they will also spawn over wave washed rocky shoreline. In short, they are "free spawners" that do not build nests. The female just swims near the top and dumps her eggs...usually with several "amorous" small males by her side, doing their part to insure that the eggs are fertilized. If you are fishing a shoreline and see these commotions you will know that you are at least in a walleye zone. But, you are likely to not catch more than a few small rowdy males. The big females don't hit well when spawning. That doesn't stop the snaggers though, who deliberately target the vulnerable ladies.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That's about as much as I know...or don't know. I'll be out there with everybody else. If I catch walleyes I am an expert. If not, I have plenty of excuses all practiced.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The ONE GUARANTEE: You will never catch them unless you go fishing for them. You can't win if you don't play.[/#0000ff]
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