Utah Lake 7/13

[Jig-fisher]

My wife, daughters and I got up early and drove down to Utah Lake State park. Very few boat trailers, but lots of bank anglers along the dikes. Launched around 8:00 and went north. Found a spot that looked promising and put out some baits under bobbers next to the reeds. The action was pretty steady and it seems like I was helping net fish every 5 minutes or so. It slowed down later but my wife and girls really had a good time battling some really nice cats. My oldest daughter caught the big fish of the day, a beat up big male that went 28". Used crawlers and carp meat. The crawlers outfished the carp, and brought in the big fish of the day. My biggest went 26". I didn't even try some of the whities I caught in the harbor on the way out. The weather was very nice with the cloud cover and the wind never did pick up until we were leaving. Got off the water about 12:30.
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[Boatloadakids]

Ugly fish, pretty young ladies, Dad.... well he's happy.[]

Nice job of getting the family out for a fun trip. Good to see the girls out fish Dad, that always makes a trip successful.

Just wonderin"... do you see many beat up old males up north or are they pretty much limited to Utah Lake? I've caught a few that were so ripped up and skinny I had to wonder if I wouldn't be doing them a favor to finish them off. Pretty hardy fish though so I guess they probably live to love again.

Again, nice job.

BLK
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[EyLayo]

Good job Jig. River must be slow if you're headed down yonder
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[Jig-fisher]

We get them too. Here's one I posted last week of a 30" beat up, skinny male. He had about a 2" gash in his stomach that went right into the stomach cavity. Don't know how he was still kicking, but swam away strong.
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[Jig-fisher]

It is slow, but it's hard to take the family fishing out on the river. The lake has overall better fishing. Was going the go to Strawberry today, but I didn't like the unsettled weather report. My boat is not very big and has a shallow draft. Any sizable waves can cause problems.
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[Tin-Can]

Hey Paul, nice batch of fish caught. Couple of those whities look almost big enough to be their hybrid cousin Wipers [laugh]. Great looking family, glad to see you and the daughters wearing PFD's.......what happened to the Misses vest ?
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[Piscophilic]

It sounds like you and the family had a great morning. Thanks for the report and pictures. Thase look like the exact reeds Julie and I worked about 2 weeks ago and of course you got a bigger fish than we did[]

Keep up the good work!
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[Jig-fisher]

Thanks Forest. She had her vest, but while anchored, she opted to take it off. We were only in 4 ft of water, so we could have stood next to the boat. It was fun, good times with the family. My wife took a couple of videos, which we have replayed so many times now, especially the one with the big fish. Memories that will last a lifetime.
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[Jig-fisher]

Thanks Pisco. All those cats are still swimming, we only kept the whities. If it is the same reeds, go get that big male. I bet he went right back to the same little hole in the reeds we caught him in.

For several years I took my boys down to the lake 1 or 2 times a year. We caught a lot of fish, and they always had a blast. But before that 28" cat on Saturday, our biggest was 27". I guess it is just luck sometimes.
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[Piscophilic]

Thanks JF. I was just being playful about the location. During May and June we stared out at a point between Vineyard and the Lindon Marina and have worked our way south from there. We've never fished the same place twice and have caught good numbers each trip and had a lot of fun. Even though we have been at the place you were fishing, I certainly would not recognize an exact spot from pictures.

I decided during my last trip that the evidence indicated that most of the spawning age fish were leaving the shallows, but I know it is only a general observation and even then some big fish will still be in there. I enjoy trying to figure it out.

I also enjoy hearing about other peoples success and hopefully learning from what they do. I hope you keep having fun and sharing it.
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[Cowboypirate]

Good to see the girls bagging kitties, need more ladies out there teaching us how to catch a few
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[catchinon]

"Even though we have been at the place you were fishing, I certainly would not recognize an exact spot from pictures."

Maybe you could spray paint a big X on the reeds so the rest of us can find that spot [].
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[Springbuck]

So, do you just walk around all day feeling smug with a family like that? [] You are a blessed, rich man.

MY four daughters are just a sweet and beautiful, of course, but I can't drag them outdoors at gunpoint, especially not for fishing.

My wife is twice as bad. She won't go on a hot-dog roast in the park.

(SIGH!) My youngest herd is the only one that wants to do anything, and the logistics limit things. We get out, but she''s over 5 ft now, and weighs as much as her mom did when we married.
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[Jig-fisher]

I do thank my Heavenly Father everyday for all the blessings in my life, especially for my family. My wife and girls at least will go, but it surely isn't the first option on their list. My 16 yr old son is missing from the photos because he would rather be doing something else. They all like to hike though so we do that a lot as a family. I find myself fishing alone most of the time.

You must be a special person and a great dad to have been blessed with a sweet daughter with challenges. I wish you best in all you do.
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