08-15-2019, 09:24 PM
ES: Julie and I fished out of the Utah Lake State Park Aug 15 from 6:15 to 10:15 A.M. Water temp was 74 to 75 with light southerly winds from 0 to about 8 mph. The cats were cooperative at a rate of about 5 per hour with sizes from 20 to 29 inches. Most fish were over 24 inches and all took cut white bass on FLAITs dragged along the bottom. We got 3 whites, including one at about 11 inches that stuck to a 4/0 hook in a bait about 4 inches long.
FS: We got to the ramp just before 6 and trolled out of the harbor at 2 mph with the electric. One white bass liked the silver spinner enough to volunteer for bait duty. We headed out to 7 FOW and started the usual slow troll into the light southerly winds. The first cat hit about 10 minutes later. It was a bit slower than the last trip, but made up for it in size. The 27.5” wall had cracked last week and today we got 5 fish 28” or better. What fun!
The first good fish was 28” and greyish. The next was right at 28.5 and while I was trying to get a good contest picture, the line started screaming off another rod. Thinking I had enough pics, I tossed it back in and battled the other fish. Later I found the pictures were blurry. I was bummed for about 90 minutes when another one came aboard. I told Julie it was a good one and it taped out at 29”. The best so far this year.
The fish came mostly in little spurts of 2 to 3 fish in 10 minutes and then 15 minutes or so with nothing. At about 9:30 we got another one at 28.5” and got good pictures. I guess I’ll have to make up the other 1/2” next time!
At one point one of the rods with a larger bait had a hard hit but the rod never loaded up. Then it just started to jiggle and I guessed it was a white. Sure enough, there was an 11” white stuck on a 4/0 circle hook he could barely get in his mouth.
We gradually worked deeper or at least farther offshore, but eventually we hit a dry zone and opted to head back where we had gotten a couple of the larger fish. Things were quiet for quite a while, with only a couple of one tappers but when we got back to the spot we got 2 more quick ones. The best one was just under 28”.
About 10 we decided to pull the gear so I could get in half a day at work. Just as we started bam, another nice cat hit. We landed it but decided to keep bringing the lines. On the last line, I decided to slowly reel it in and it had only gone a foot or two when it got hit. That one didn’t stick and we called it a day.
We still had one live white in the basket and several good chunks from another so we have a good start on bait for the next trip.
It was great to be out on the water and school starts next week! Today started to feel like fall, with smaller numbers of bigger fish. I hope it lasts well into October!
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FS: We got to the ramp just before 6 and trolled out of the harbor at 2 mph with the electric. One white bass liked the silver spinner enough to volunteer for bait duty. We headed out to 7 FOW and started the usual slow troll into the light southerly winds. The first cat hit about 10 minutes later. It was a bit slower than the last trip, but made up for it in size. The 27.5” wall had cracked last week and today we got 5 fish 28” or better. What fun!
The first good fish was 28” and greyish. The next was right at 28.5 and while I was trying to get a good contest picture, the line started screaming off another rod. Thinking I had enough pics, I tossed it back in and battled the other fish. Later I found the pictures were blurry. I was bummed for about 90 minutes when another one came aboard. I told Julie it was a good one and it taped out at 29”. The best so far this year.
The fish came mostly in little spurts of 2 to 3 fish in 10 minutes and then 15 minutes or so with nothing. At about 9:30 we got another one at 28.5” and got good pictures. I guess I’ll have to make up the other 1/2” next time!
At one point one of the rods with a larger bait had a hard hit but the rod never loaded up. Then it just started to jiggle and I guessed it was a white. Sure enough, there was an 11” white stuck on a 4/0 circle hook he could barely get in his mouth.
We gradually worked deeper or at least farther offshore, but eventually we hit a dry zone and opted to head back where we had gotten a couple of the larger fish. Things were quiet for quite a while, with only a couple of one tappers but when we got back to the spot we got 2 more quick ones. The best one was just under 28”.
About 10 we decided to pull the gear so I could get in half a day at work. Just as we started bam, another nice cat hit. We landed it but decided to keep bringing the lines. On the last line, I decided to slowly reel it in and it had only gone a foot or two when it got hit. That one didn’t stick and we called it a day.
We still had one live white in the basket and several good chunks from another so we have a good start on bait for the next trip.
It was great to be out on the water and school starts next week! Today started to feel like fall, with smaller numbers of bigger fish. I hope it lasts well into October!
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