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I haven't seen a report from Blue Lake for quite a while. Nice job and thanks for the report.
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Looks like fun. I'm sorry that the access wasn't so good--I was thinking it would be. As they say, you never know until you go. Are the panfish in there just tilapia or are there other species?
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The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
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There are bluegill, but it seems the Tilipia have taken over. There were some bass in there that looked over 5lbs. Mabe the water was distorting the size a bit, but I've got to back in a few weeks and find out.
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[#0000FF]If you want a shot at some bass that aren't as "people-wise", wander down the outlet stream going out of the SE corner of the big pond. There are some deeper spots and undercut banks that hold some bass too. But their only food source seems to be small water beetles. So small dark jigs are sometimes better than more traditional bass lures.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I have done well on nice bluegills in the main lake but you have to be afloat and search them out. They have a few favorite hangouts. You are right about the tilapia taking over. They guard their own nests aggressively against the bluegills but are happy to raid the bluegill nests in return...and the tilapia are bigger and badder.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I haven't done any diving there but I understand the "Blue Lake carp" (divers) have introduced several species of aquarium fish...just because they thought it would be nice to see them while diving.
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[#0000FF]A word of caution. Never go there by yourself and leave your vehicle unattended while you go out on the main lake. Lots of car vandalism when there is no one remaining in the parking area to prevent it.[/#0000FF]
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Is it mandatory kill and keep on the invasive species? Too bad people can't just leave things alone.
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[#0000FF]What is the difference between ignorance and apathy? I don't know and I don't care. Seems to be a common trait among folks everywhere...especially when it comes to (mis)managing fisheries.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]From the 2019 Fishing Guidebook:[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF][font "Comic Sans MS"][#000000][size 3]Blue Lake, Tooele County
• No limit for pacu or tilapia. Anglers
must not release any pacu or tilapia
they catch. All pacu and tilapia must be
immediately killed.
• Underwater spearfishing is allowed for
pacu, tilapia and carp only.[/size][/#000000][/font]
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Pacu is a common name used to refer to several species of omnivorous South American freshwater serrasalmid fish that are related to the piranha.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pacu+fis...c3jUH9brEM:
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[#0000FF]Blue Lake is not the only place pacu have shown up in Utah. [url "https://www.ksl.com/article/355254"]Read this.[/url] Also, check the attached.
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Gaardvark, we also noticed at least 2 more variety of these aquarium escapees in the water. I will admit I could have spent a couple hrs playing with the little Jewel Cichlids that we took the underwater shots of. They were attack dogs. As for missing oppurtunity, I could paint that on my truck as our motto, but, that just means we get another trip, right.
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I will wander around the other side on my next trip and check out those hidy holes you suggest, and take along a pouch of waterbug imitations. Txs for the tip. I passed a few unsavory characters going in, so can imagine vandalism could be a proble.....but come to think of it, I might appear a bit unsavory to the random traveler who are not familiar with my kindly manner but rather rough exterior.
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We fullfilled the catch and kill prime directive issued by the wildlife high command for the Tilipia. They will either find there way into the smoker or as crawdad bait
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[#0000FF]Here is a pic of one of the bugs (water boatman?) that were to be found in the innards of a few fish we kept.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]But, it is a whole fish-eat-fish food chain in there. Most species subsist on eating the young of their own and other species. So small twisters or tube jigs in white combos can be effective too. The big bass love plastics...grubs, worms, creatures, etc. But as you might expect in that clear water with lots of traffic (divers and anglers) the big bass don't get big by being easy. Bring out your A-game in finesse.
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