09-01-2010, 07:39 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Between weather and "projects" I have had a tough time getting on the water since my trip to starvation last week. Only had a half day today so I figured I'd jump in someplace closer. I wanted to "beta test" some new gadgets and gizmos on my tube. Also wanted to pick up a few kitties for the smoker. Utah Lake seemed to be the best choice...and Lincoln Beach the best spot according to the wind direction forecast. I launched off the end of the south dike. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Air temp was a cool 45 at my 6:45 launch. Light breeze made it feel cooler. Put on my "fish rash" gloves for warmth. Water temp was 65. Coolin' right down. Probably my last waderless trip for this year. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The water was also kinda murky from recent winds. Did not look promising for much action on lures with the poor visibility. Oh well, maybe the kitties would bite my bait. Oh yeah! That they did.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My first beta test was on my new PVC extension control handle for my electric motor. I rigged up a "knuckle joint" from PVC to allow me to steer and control speed from any angle. The only time I used it all day was moving away from launch and out into about six feet of water. Worked great but I did not need it for the rest of the morning.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Started with two bait rods...one minnow and one with carp meat. Just got the second one out and began slowly kicking toward the mouth of Benjamin Slough when the first rod twitched then bounced and the line popped free from the new bait clip arrangement. Beta test number two successful. The new rod holder and line clip worked.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I set the hook in a feisty kitty and had several turns of line back on the reel when rod number two jumped and the line popped free on that one. I adjusted the drag a bit looser on the first rod, set it back in the rod holder to play the fish by itself and set the hook on the second kitty. It was bigger so I left the first smaller one to fight against the flex of the rod as I kicked around to maintain tension. I finally got both fish in. I netted the second one first and held the net on my rigid apron while I finished subduing the first fish. Finally scooped it on top of the other one. Two in the net. Yeee hawww. What a way to start a trip.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I thought it was gonna be gangbusters. Well, it was, but it took a brief break in the action. After putting the first two fish in the basket I continued toward Benjamin Slough. The first fish had come from about 5.5 feet of water and I got shallower and shallower as I moved toward the south shoreline. No more bites until I passed the 4 foot depth and headed toward 3'. Then it got crazy. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There must have been a huge school of fish right off the mouth of Benjamin Slough. I could not fish with two bait rods at one time. Within seconds after I lobbed out a baited hook the line would twitch and then the fish would boogie until I stopped them short with a hookset. I even had one hook itself on the tandem jig rig I had hanging off the back of my tube after quickly flopping it there when I got a bite on my bait rod. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My goal was to score about six or seven cookie cutter kitties for the smoker. I had that many in my basket less than an hour after starting. I continued to use up the remaining minnows and carp meat and released all the other kitties I caught. I'm guessing I probably brought in over 20. Only missed one hookset all morning and I think that was a white bass.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When the meat was gone I started throwing plastics with crawler tipping them. The kitties loved them too. Also got a few white bass and one feisty carp that hit a 4" red/chartreuse plastic I was pitching for walleye. It took me about an hour or so to get back to my vehicle...what with all the rude interruptions. I had wanted to be home by about noon and I eventually had to just quit fishing and get out of the water. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I had my gear stowed back in my car just after 10, had the fish filleted a half hour later and was home before noon.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also was happy with the way my new high density foam pad worked on my seat. And I also like my new installation of the on/off switch on my right side. My only problem is that I sometimes lean on the switch and take a quick ride backwards if I am not paying attention.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The new rear view mirror also works great. It is a convex wide angle mirror that I found laying in the street in front of my house a couple of weeks ago. It is high impact plastic...not glass...so I was able to bolt it to a piece of PVC (what else) and make an easily adjustable swivel mount on my tool rack.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Only a couple of other boaters on the water before I left but more were arriving as I drove out. I am guessing it will be busy over the holiday weekend. But, if anybody is still looking for some kitty action there should be plenty for a while at Lincoln Beach.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Air temp was a cool 45 at my 6:45 launch. Light breeze made it feel cooler. Put on my "fish rash" gloves for warmth. Water temp was 65. Coolin' right down. Probably my last waderless trip for this year. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The water was also kinda murky from recent winds. Did not look promising for much action on lures with the poor visibility. Oh well, maybe the kitties would bite my bait. Oh yeah! That they did.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My first beta test was on my new PVC extension control handle for my electric motor. I rigged up a "knuckle joint" from PVC to allow me to steer and control speed from any angle. The only time I used it all day was moving away from launch and out into about six feet of water. Worked great but I did not need it for the rest of the morning.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Started with two bait rods...one minnow and one with carp meat. Just got the second one out and began slowly kicking toward the mouth of Benjamin Slough when the first rod twitched then bounced and the line popped free from the new bait clip arrangement. Beta test number two successful. The new rod holder and line clip worked.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I set the hook in a feisty kitty and had several turns of line back on the reel when rod number two jumped and the line popped free on that one. I adjusted the drag a bit looser on the first rod, set it back in the rod holder to play the fish by itself and set the hook on the second kitty. It was bigger so I left the first smaller one to fight against the flex of the rod as I kicked around to maintain tension. I finally got both fish in. I netted the second one first and held the net on my rigid apron while I finished subduing the first fish. Finally scooped it on top of the other one. Two in the net. Yeee hawww. What a way to start a trip.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I thought it was gonna be gangbusters. Well, it was, but it took a brief break in the action. After putting the first two fish in the basket I continued toward Benjamin Slough. The first fish had come from about 5.5 feet of water and I got shallower and shallower as I moved toward the south shoreline. No more bites until I passed the 4 foot depth and headed toward 3'. Then it got crazy. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There must have been a huge school of fish right off the mouth of Benjamin Slough. I could not fish with two bait rods at one time. Within seconds after I lobbed out a baited hook the line would twitch and then the fish would boogie until I stopped them short with a hookset. I even had one hook itself on the tandem jig rig I had hanging off the back of my tube after quickly flopping it there when I got a bite on my bait rod. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My goal was to score about six or seven cookie cutter kitties for the smoker. I had that many in my basket less than an hour after starting. I continued to use up the remaining minnows and carp meat and released all the other kitties I caught. I'm guessing I probably brought in over 20. Only missed one hookset all morning and I think that was a white bass.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When the meat was gone I started throwing plastics with crawler tipping them. The kitties loved them too. Also got a few white bass and one feisty carp that hit a 4" red/chartreuse plastic I was pitching for walleye. It took me about an hour or so to get back to my vehicle...what with all the rude interruptions. I had wanted to be home by about noon and I eventually had to just quit fishing and get out of the water. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I had my gear stowed back in my car just after 10, had the fish filleted a half hour later and was home before noon.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also was happy with the way my new high density foam pad worked on my seat. And I also like my new installation of the on/off switch on my right side. My only problem is that I sometimes lean on the switch and take a quick ride backwards if I am not paying attention.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The new rear view mirror also works great. It is a convex wide angle mirror that I found laying in the street in front of my house a couple of weeks ago. It is high impact plastic...not glass...so I was able to bolt it to a piece of PVC (what else) and make an easily adjustable swivel mount on my tool rack.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Only a couple of other boaters on the water before I left but more were arriving as I drove out. I am guessing it will be busy over the holiday weekend. But, if anybody is still looking for some kitty action there should be plenty for a while at Lincoln Beach.[/#0000ff]
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