Posts: 435
Threads: 6
Joined: Aug 2004
Reputation:
1
My wife has a goal to catch a 20" fish this year from her float tube. I figured that Strawberry would be the place to do it. The fishing was really slow last week and she wasn't able to reach her goal but I keep seeing reports that Strawberry fishing is really good right now. Anyone willing to offer advice on where to fish at Strawberry? We will be going out again this weekend and she will be fly fishing. Thanks in advance.
[url "mailto:cje04@hotmail.com"]cje04@hotmail.com[/url]
[signature]
Posts: 3,669
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2003
Reputation:
0
[cool]First of all, cje04, welcome to BFT Utah. Your gonna like it here. I haven't been to strawberry lately, but if you are gonna be out in a pontoon, you can do well at a number of places. I've fly fished from a tube before in the Renegade area, and done well. I believe the Meadows is right by there as well, and there's been good reports coming from there lately. Another great place that usually doesn't let me down (and is my favorite place to ice fish) is Chicken Creek East (also known as Jakes Bay). This area is a little shallow, but you don't need to be out that deep to be into 'em. Especially right now. I'd say fish in about 10-25 ft of water, using black wooley buggers, black, brown, or olive zonkers, or some of those krystal killers with your sinking line. You should do very well. I'd recommend getting there EARLY, or a few hours before dark for best success. Good luck, and I'm looking forward to hearing your report!
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Welcome to the board! My advice is to get up early so you can arrive about 6:45. It has been best first thing in the morning before the fog burns off. Expect thick fog. From a tube or toon I would try Jakes bay or Haws point and head toward the meadows. Renegade would be a good bet too. Black wooly buggers fished on a slow/intermediate sink line will do the trick. We did better on tuesday trolling black buggers over a little deeper water 30-50 feet than we did over the shallower areas. But the fish are all in the top 5-6 feet of water. A fast retrieve seems to be better than slow right now. Good luck!
Bigcat
[signature]
Posts: 812
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2003
Reputation:
0
Just get out there. I've only been twice and both times I have caught at least one 20+ from my tube. I was using tubes and various spoons. I did try a white Woolybugger and bubble combo for a few casts with no luck. I wasn't persistent enough I guess but it's tough to stick with a new bait when you know the others work. Good Luck and get some pics.[url "javascript: top.editor_iframe.addTag('laugh')"][laugh][/url]
[signature]
Posts: 435
Threads: 6
Joined: Aug 2004
Reputation:
1
Thanks for your replies everyone. I should have watched the weather before I typed the first post. The wind was forecasted to be 10-20 mph so I thought my wife would have a hard time casting and kicking against the wind. Given that I didn't make it out to Strawberry. I never did hear if the wind was bad there but it was pretty windy in Cache Valley. Maybe this coming weekend if the weather will co-operate a little better. Out4trout, I did go out for an hour or so Friday before the wind kicked up, although it wasn't for trout. I was targeting carp on a dry fly. If you would like a further report email me. [url "mailto:cje04@hotmail.com"]cje04@hotmail.com[/url]
[signature]
Posts: 245
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2003
Reputation:
0
I was out on Friday 10-8 from 12.30-3.00. I found the fish anywhere from 1-10 ft depending on what area of the lake I was on. I fished mud creek, in the depper water I found them a little deeper, 5-10 ft. In more shallow water I found them int the 1-5 ft. range.
The stipping method was also different depending on which area. Deeper water I was catching them trolling nice and slow. They would typically bump the fly, once they bumped it I would begin to strip and that did them in. In the shallow water a faster retrieve was the trick. Vary those methods up until you find the right one.
I caught all on a brown bugger with a yellow bead, it was all I needed!
I think I may be headed up again this weekend!!!
[signature]
Posts: 529
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation:
0
The only way i fish the berry is from a tube so I know a few tricks. My favorite area to fish is Sage Creek and jakes bay. I like Jakes for numbers and Sage for quality. I fish a type three full sink line anine foot 4x. My most productive color this year has been a white zonker but wooly and crystal buggers in yellow, green, brown and white all work great. Check out this Hog Rainbow my uncle caught at the Berry at Sage Creek with a white zonker. Good Luck!
[signature]
Posts: 2,775
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2002
Reputation:
0
Sweet Fish !! I caught a bow there this year but not that nice . Just a heck of a walk for a float tuber .
[signature]
Posts: 184
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2004
Reputation:
0
[shocked] Hi Everet..
Nice reply with a couple of good suggestions... however, I just wanted to point out that your rainbow picture is actually a "strawberry" Cutt and in the slot- but a nice catch.
Just thought I'd clear up some confusion...PB
[signature]
Posts: 164
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2003
Reputation:
0
I don't know what makes you think that fish is not a rainbow, sure looks like a rainbow to me.
[signature]
Posts: 172
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
0
It looks like a cuttbow to me. Notice the scattered large black spots on the back, rainbows have lots of small spots. Sure is a pretty fish
Posts: 172
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
0
cje04
Take her out to one of the major mossbeds, fish the edges and the pockets, or right on top of the submerged weeds. The rainbows like to hang out there feeding on shrimp, snails, etc.
I have a friend that targets rainbows only at the berry and does very good for lots of big rainbows. He is very consistant with fish over 10 pounds and he never leaves the moss beds. He also releases all the fish.
Fish early or late, the closer it gets to ice up, the bigger the fish will be. Dress her up warm so she won't get cold. She shouldn't have any problem getting a 20+ incher. Good luck!
Posts: 184
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2004
Reputation:
0
hi prov17-
It's a Cutt ... there are many distinguishing markings here-
note the long pointed snout - the deep cut jaw line- the dark coloring on the gill plate and I assure you that when you turn the fish over you'll see red color on the under side of the jaw.
now we see why there is such a high number of citations issued at this lake- and why the current regulations are in doubt for coming years.
Too many cuts are leaving the lake in coolers- PB
ps-here's a rainbow photo from file-
Posts: 164
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2003
Reputation:
0
Thanks for your response PapaBaruu, The fish definitely has all of the attributes that you mentioned. However they are not all that unique to the cutthroat. For instance most rainbows possess the coloring on the gill plate and there are several strawberry cutts that don't have any coloring under the jaw at all.
The fish in the picture has many characteristics that are more unique to the rainbow such as the silver sides, the irregular shaped spotting instead of large round spots, the football shaped profile and perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of all, the pink anal and pectoral fins with white tips. I have never seen a cutthroat with anything but orange colored fins.
This fish could possibly be a cross or maybe I'm completely off the mark and it is a cutt. Either way it still looks like a rainbow to me.
[signature]
Posts: 164
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2003
Reputation:
0
I meant to say pelvic fins not pectoral.
[signature]
Posts: 1,596
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2002
Reputation:
0
that is a cuttbow. if it has cutt markings under its throat its a cuttbow. looking at it without seeing its throat i would say its a cuttbow.
[signature]
Posts: 529
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation:
0
You guys I promise it was a bow and it was not in the slot unless the regs have changed 23 inch.
[signature]
Posts: 529
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation:
0
I dont think Cutts have white tipped fins like the picture clearly shows
[signature]
Posts: 583
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2002
Reputation:
0
Everet,
I have to admit it looks over the slot to me and a very good looking fish. It does most likely have some Cutt in it. The fish is most likely majority Rainbow and part Cutt. The white on the fins like that definitely mean it has some Rainbow. One thing to know is even some of the planted Bows straight from the hatchery are anything but pure Bows.
Just ask any DWR individual what strain of Bows we plant in Utah and you will find out they are mix of blood lines from all over the place. As far as fight there isn't much to compare to the Cutt/Bows. They are indeed a hybrid but boy are they fun. I am glad it was released and it makes it a mute point anyway. Thanks for the advice and Tightlines.
[signature]
