05-04-2011, 06:44 PM
[cool][#0000ff]The walleye spawn is semi-officially over and the annual post-spawn walleye feeding session is getting underway. Should be good until summertime water temps get over about 75 degrees and then they slow down a bit. Still feed but mostly nocturnal.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The "killing fields" thing with carp usually happens on days when the sun warms that shallow water above lake water temps. The carp sense it and swarm into those fields for a period of lustful thrashing. They do not stay in the fields and usually boogie back out into the lake...all except for the "casualties" left by crazy carp killers. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]And carp also have aerial predators to watch out for. There are lots of big white pelicans around both Utah Lake and Willard that chase the carp. Amazing how big of a buglemouth they can gulp down. It's always funny, though, seeing a pelican chase down and put the beak on a carp just a bit too large to handle. A big flopping carp can put some kung fu moves on a poor pelican. I have about laughed myself right out my tube a couple of times watching the shoreline show. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Pitchforks, spears and clubs are legal for killin' carp. Ditto for any kind of net...as long as it does not exceed 10 feet wide. But not guns or crossbows. Go figure. Probably a public safety consideration. Officials are afraid that the weapons might fall into the fins of terrorist carps.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I'm not 100% sure about the "circle slurp" activity that carp exhibit...not only prespawn but at other times too. Seems to be more of a social connection and just slurping air rather than anything to do with feeding. Since carp have no fingers to operate a keyboard maybe that is their version of facebook.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have caught carp when they are in that mode by slowly reeling a weightless small tube jig...tipped with crawler...right through the gathering. Sometimes one of them will (accidently or on purpose) suck in the offering and it is game on. But if I really want one...to bend my stick or to build up my bait stash...I will "force feed" one. Trouble is that when you stick one anywhere other than in the kisser they are much harder to control and to bring in. "Dorsal diners" and "tail takers" can take up a lot of good fishing time and put some serious twists in your line. But still fun.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The "killing fields" thing with carp usually happens on days when the sun warms that shallow water above lake water temps. The carp sense it and swarm into those fields for a period of lustful thrashing. They do not stay in the fields and usually boogie back out into the lake...all except for the "casualties" left by crazy carp killers. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]And carp also have aerial predators to watch out for. There are lots of big white pelicans around both Utah Lake and Willard that chase the carp. Amazing how big of a buglemouth they can gulp down. It's always funny, though, seeing a pelican chase down and put the beak on a carp just a bit too large to handle. A big flopping carp can put some kung fu moves on a poor pelican. I have about laughed myself right out my tube a couple of times watching the shoreline show. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Pitchforks, spears and clubs are legal for killin' carp. Ditto for any kind of net...as long as it does not exceed 10 feet wide. But not guns or crossbows. Go figure. Probably a public safety consideration. Officials are afraid that the weapons might fall into the fins of terrorist carps.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I'm not 100% sure about the "circle slurp" activity that carp exhibit...not only prespawn but at other times too. Seems to be more of a social connection and just slurping air rather than anything to do with feeding. Since carp have no fingers to operate a keyboard maybe that is their version of facebook.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have caught carp when they are in that mode by slowly reeling a weightless small tube jig...tipped with crawler...right through the gathering. Sometimes one of them will (accidently or on purpose) suck in the offering and it is game on. But if I really want one...to bend my stick or to build up my bait stash...I will "force feed" one. Trouble is that when you stick one anywhere other than in the kisser they are much harder to control and to bring in. "Dorsal diners" and "tail takers" can take up a lot of good fishing time and put some serious twists in your line. But still fun.[/#0000ff]
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