02-02-2016, 05:06 PM
[#0000FF]I fish Utah Lake a lot. But you are right. No fun if the wind comes up. That's why I usually go early and I pay close attention to the forecast...wind speed and direction. I choose my spot to launch and fish based upon the wind direction. And if the wind speed forecast is above about 5 mph I don't go.
Catfish are the big draw for me. They are plentiful, they bite well and fight well. And, contrary to what some believe, they are safe to eat. Properly filleted, skinned and processed they are great for frying or smoking.
The white bass are usually abundant and easy to catch. But the last two or three years (in the drought) the numbers have been going downhill. But they are great sport when you can find a few.
Lots of crappies and bluegills at different spots around the lake. Even some perch, although they are not very common on Utah Lake.
Walleyes are the bonus catch. Utah Lake has a great population of walleyes but they can be tough to find and catch on any given day. However, if you show up at the right places at the right times...with the right stuff...you can catch them over 10 pounds. I usually catch several in the upper 20 inch range each year...usually while casting for white bass or other species. If you fish just for walleye you will usually catch only the other stuff.
Hopefully the lake fills up again this year. The last two years it has dropped way down to "low pool" status. That really hurts the white bass spawn and white bass are a main part of the predators' diet. So low white bass numbers make for tougher fishing, both for white bass and the bigger fish that feed on them.
There is also some decent fishing for largemouth bass on Utah Lake. But, again, the low water messes up that fishing. Largemouths like the cover of shoreline reeds and flooded structure. In the low water there isn't much of that available. But some still show up inside the harbors.
In recent years there has also been a number of northern pike showing up. They like the same kinds of conditions as largemouth bass and quite a few are taken inside harbors and around other structure in the lake.
Then, of course, there are the bullheads. At times you can't keep them off your lures and/or baits. They can be fun, although pesky at times.
Last but not least are the carp. The lake is full of them and there is an eradication program to reduce their numbers to help restore the June sucker population. More and more anglers are discovering how great carp are as battlers. I catch quite a few every year on the small jigs I fish for white bass. And a growing number of fly flingers are targeting carp specifically. They pull hard.
Here is a picture of a 5 species "grand slime" I got one day fishing off the Knolls. White bass, bullheads, walleye, channel cats and carp...all caught on the same lure...fishing the same way in the same area.
[inline "WEST SIDE GRAND SLIME.JPG"]
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
Catfish are the big draw for me. They are plentiful, they bite well and fight well. And, contrary to what some believe, they are safe to eat. Properly filleted, skinned and processed they are great for frying or smoking.
The white bass are usually abundant and easy to catch. But the last two or three years (in the drought) the numbers have been going downhill. But they are great sport when you can find a few.
Lots of crappies and bluegills at different spots around the lake. Even some perch, although they are not very common on Utah Lake.
Walleyes are the bonus catch. Utah Lake has a great population of walleyes but they can be tough to find and catch on any given day. However, if you show up at the right places at the right times...with the right stuff...you can catch them over 10 pounds. I usually catch several in the upper 20 inch range each year...usually while casting for white bass or other species. If you fish just for walleye you will usually catch only the other stuff.
Hopefully the lake fills up again this year. The last two years it has dropped way down to "low pool" status. That really hurts the white bass spawn and white bass are a main part of the predators' diet. So low white bass numbers make for tougher fishing, both for white bass and the bigger fish that feed on them.
There is also some decent fishing for largemouth bass on Utah Lake. But, again, the low water messes up that fishing. Largemouths like the cover of shoreline reeds and flooded structure. In the low water there isn't much of that available. But some still show up inside the harbors.
In recent years there has also been a number of northern pike showing up. They like the same kinds of conditions as largemouth bass and quite a few are taken inside harbors and around other structure in the lake.
Then, of course, there are the bullheads. At times you can't keep them off your lures and/or baits. They can be fun, although pesky at times.
Last but not least are the carp. The lake is full of them and there is an eradication program to reduce their numbers to help restore the June sucker population. More and more anglers are discovering how great carp are as battlers. I catch quite a few every year on the small jigs I fish for white bass. And a growing number of fly flingers are targeting carp specifically. They pull hard.
Here is a picture of a 5 species "grand slime" I got one day fishing off the Knolls. White bass, bullheads, walleye, channel cats and carp...all caught on the same lure...fishing the same way in the same area.
[inline "WEST SIDE GRAND SLIME.JPG"]
[/#0000FF]
[signature]