Posts: 36,033
Threads: 297
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
57
[cool][#0000ff]Hooked up with Doglover (Not Fishhound) this morning for some drillin and chillin at Rock Cliffs. We were wondering about getting the wheeler on the ice, with the recent downer reports and the warming weather. There was open water to the north of the ramp and along the old road going down into the lake (see pics). But, as long as you stay near shore on the north, until you get past open water, there is plenty of ice...12"-14".[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Temperature about 20 when we hit the ice at 8:30. Ice in the guides and holes until about 10, and then it turned tropical. 40 degrees, ditch the heavy coats and palm trees. Well, maybe no palm trees, but some sunken brush anyway.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Temperatures were hotter than the fishing. Worked hard in several spots, with DL cruising all over the outer part of Rock Cliffs and fishing along both shorelines. Very few fish on sonar and few through the holes. Of course two fine anglers such as ourselves would never get skunked, but most of what we caught were dinkeroos. We did manage a few 8-10 inch perch for the fryer and I iced a pretty 16" brown. Lost another about halfway up and had one grab a deadstick rig and run sideways around a tree. No rainbows for us. Did not see many fish cruising through at mid depth.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I caught just about all my fish on a 1/4 oz. glow fire tiger jigging spoon. I got hit on waxies, crawlers and perch meat. Caught the biggest perch and the browns on crawler tipped lures. Best fishing was at about 57 feet. Couldn't buy a hit shallower and anything deeper was just the bitty perchettes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Glad I brought (and used) sunscreen. Beautiful day and good company. An "E-ticket" ride on the back of DL's wheeler box too. My back was fine and I even caught some fish. Oh yeah, you can beat the scenery on a nice day.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 1,640
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation:
0
Nice pics Pat, glad to see you got out!! Nice colors on the brown.M.H.
[signature]
Posts: 1,337
Threads: 2
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
awesome report and pictures Pat. nice to hear and see your back is getting better. thanks for sharing [cool]
[signature]
Posts: 6,353
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2006
Reputation:
0
Very perty brownie!
[signature]
Posts: 2,396
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2006
Reputation:
0
We fished Jordanelle Rock Cliff side today also 02/07 We fished about 20 to 30 feet from the buoys caught about a dozen bows between the 3 of us I think I saw you guys since you were one only ones with a wheeler up there.
Side note got a citation for not paying the park entrance fee nobody was at the gate so I didnt think any thing of it came back to the car with a citation on my winsheild [  ]
[signature]
Posts: 36,033
Threads: 297
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
57
[cool][#0000ff]Bummer about the citation. There were a couple of other guys arriving about the same time we did that asked about that. I told them..."Pay now or pay later". You don't get much in the way of facilities during the winter...except open doors on the toilets. But, the rangers do check the parking areas and love to write tickets.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Glad you got a few troutskis for your troubles. The bows usually are more active in the waters closer to the inlet. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Did you get any of any size or were they the typical last of season planters? They grow fast, they're pretty and they definitely help to keep the skunk away.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 2,562
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2005
Reputation:
0
[  ] Nice report Pat. Glad you were able to get into a few.
[signature]
Posts: 2,396
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2006
Reputation:
0
All were the planters except 2 The 2 of which we kept were about 14 to 16 inches
[signature]
Posts: 6,126
Threads: 3
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
1
That picture of the table tree shows how much the water has dropped sense the ice up....
And if the snow fall doesn't get any better the fish will have to have a canteen....
[#ff0000]and tennis shoes.[/#ff0000]
.
[signature]
Posts: 106
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2006
Reputation:
0
Thanks for the report(and the many others!). It sure helps while being stuck inside. Reading about fishing is LOTS better than nothing.
l2f
[signature]
Posts: 3,669
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2003
Reputation:
0
[cool]Nice report and pics, Pat. Glad you were able to get out again. How many perch would you say you caught yesterday (if you had to guess)? I only landed 8 two weeks ago, but 7 of them were about 10-11 inches and fat, and fought like heck. I was fishing with slayerace, NETO, flyanddrive, and Randy's brother Larry. I fished for only 3.5 hours or so. I'm debating about wether to go back there or to a location at Pineview that is doing well (report from a BFT source) on Saturday...decisions decisions, but at least whatever happens, I'll be out on the harddeck getting therapy and relaxation...
Here perchy-perchy-perchy!!!
[signature]
Posts: 36,033
Threads: 297
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
57
[cool][#0000ff]I don't think we caught more than about a dozen apiece, and most of those were small. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you have a "honey hole" at Rock Cliff, it might be worth a return visit...or not. The lake is dropping and the fish are moving around. Conditions can change quickly. You have to find the fish first, and finding them is no guarantee of action. Most of us have had days of "seeing a lot more than we caught" on sonar. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One thing that might be contributing to a slowdown is the approaching spawn. The few fish that I filleted last night were all FULL of eggs...and nothing else. They had not been eating anything. I think their lite bite on my glow lures were more of a reaction bite than a feeding thing. When big perch are actively feeding, there is nothing gentle about the way they attack their food.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Whatever you decide, I hope Mama Nature is kind to you and that you find a few willing fishies.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 3,669
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2003
Reputation:
0
[cool]Thanks, Pat. Good luck to you on your next outing. Speaking of which, you excited for ice-off yet so you can get out on the tube? Which lake do you think will thaw first? This year, even Utah lake has about a foot of ice on it. Willard?? I plan on busting the tube out next month somewhere...
[signature]
Posts: 36,033
Threads: 297
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
57
[cool][#0000ff]I'd like to get in a couple more hard deck trips but my tube is whimpering in my storage shed. It is ready when the water softens.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Utah Lake or Willard are the two most likely first assaults after iceout. And, a foot of ice does not mean much on either of those lakes. Once there is any opening and a big blow comes up those lakes can be completely ice free in a couple of days. I have been down to Lincoln Beach after several inches of ice broke up in a heavy north wind and stacked up on shore. It looks like a giant iceberg ran aground. Pretty impressive.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I especially want to hit Willard early. I have caught some big cats in Willard before the end of February and both wipers and walleyes hit well after iceoff too. This year there is not likely to be much competition from boaters...until and unless there is a heck of a lot of runoff. Doesn't look too promising at this point. [/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 2,284
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2006
Reputation:
0
I agree on the run off TD, I was looking at the mountains on my drive in to work and it looks like mid to late March instead of mid Feb. Uhhg where is all of our snow!!!
[signature]
Posts: 2,396
Threads: 5
Joined: Jan 2006
Reputation:
0
Pat the photographer!! Those are neat pics and I especially like that colorful Brownie!
It's tubin'/pontoon season here shortly, at the rate of this 'thaw'.
[signature]
Posts: 2,816
Threads: 5
Joined: Jun 2003
Reputation:
0
Pat as always nice report and photos. Your the man!
[signature]
Posts: 36,033
Threads: 297
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
57
[cool][#0000ff]Thanks. But, I think that topic is being discussed on Lightfoot's thread about getting more fishing time.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 2,816
Threads: 5
Joined: Jun 2003
Reputation:
0
|
