Thursday 2 June Lincoln Beach

[Mr. J]

Made an usual launch at Lincoln this morning and made a run for the Island again, this time fishing a different area with the near same view. We chucked cut bait below a bobber to several spots within casting range picking up a few for the table. 

Still in the morning hours I hooked into a well defined mussel builder. He flexed his mussels on more than one occasion before I was able to get him to the net. 30" for another bumper. 

The highlight of the trip was either Lynn's 36 incher or a D9 Cat. That thing made 2 power runs then stopped and dug in. I put every thing on him I could to no avail, he or she had a mind and strength that I have only felt once before and they both beat me up.

Lynn if you read this you know what I mean. We both know there is at least one honker out there.

10# 11oz


rj

[wiperhunter2]

Made an usual launch at Lincoln this morning and made a run for the Island again, this time fishing a different area with the near same view. We chucked cut bait below a bobber to several spots within casting range picking up a few for the table. 

Still in the morning hours I hooked into a well defined mussel builder. He flexed his mussels on more than one occasion before I was able to get him to the net. 30" for another bumper. 

The highlight of the trip was either Lynn's 36 incher or a D9 Cat. That thing made 2 power runs then stopped and dug in. I put every thing on him I could to no avail, he or she had a mind and strength that I have only felt once before and they both beat me up.

Lynn if you read this you know what I mean. We both know there is at least one honker out there.

rj

Wow Richard, that one is a toad, makes me wonder just how big the other one was that got away. Did your line break or did the hook come out?

[Mr. J]

Made an usual launch at Lincoln this morning and made a run for the Island again, this time fishing a different area with the near same view. We chucked cut bait below a bobber to several spots within casting range picking up a few for the table. 

Still in the morning hours I hooked into a well defined mussel builder. He flexed his mussels on more than one occasion before I was able to get him to the net. 30" for another bumper. 

The highlight of the trip was either Lynn's 36 incher or a D9 Cat. That thing made 2 power runs then stopped and dug in. I put every thing on him I could to no avail, he or she had a mind and strength that I have only felt once before and they both beat me up.

Lynn if you read this you know what I mean. We both know there is at least one honker out there.

rj

Wow Richard, that one is a toad, makes me wonder just how big the other one was that got away. Did your line break or did the hook come out?

I broke the line. I have been laying hear this morning replaying the event in my mind.  I thought why didn't I stop the spot lock and try to follow the line and try to get over the fish. I don't know, that area is notorious for its rocks and you never know where they are.  Thats one of the reasons I have been going out there is to try and learn it. Oh well, we all have one or two fish that get away. It does bug me to break off, that seldom happens.

[TubeDude]

A couple of thoughts here, Richard.  One "Fish don't break lines...fishermen do."  And big fish don't get big by being stupid.  They learn how to deal with silly anglers that don't know about all of the rocks and snags in the area.  And that area around the island has a whole lot of potential hangups.

That was a nice fish you brought to net.  Sorry about the other one.  The upside is that maybe it will grow even bigger for your next go-round and hopefully you can outfox it.  I can guarantee you that there are still some 3 footers in Utah Lake.  They just usually don't feed as often...or fall for the silly little offerings most anglers use.  They eat less often but they eat big...big white bass...or crappies...or small carp or walleyes.   I caught and kept one once with a full gut.  And when I opened it up there was a whole small chicken inside.  I was guessing that some farmer upstream tossed a dead one into the river and it found its way downstream to the lair of the catfish. 

I have fished cats all over the country and you would be amazed at some of the baits...and the sizes...that some cataholics use to catch the bigguns.  Back in the late 70s I fished with a couple of Utah Lake cat specialists.  They always used whole white bass or small carp.  They sometimes didn't get a bite in several hours of fishing.  But when they did it was usually something of size.  That's how I got my biggest cat...back about 1980.  It was just under 36 inches and weighed right at 24#.  Ate a 12 inch white bass with a double hook setup.  Oh yeah, it was also on the west side of Bird Island.  And we lost several big fish just as you did...getting "rocked".  That volcanic stuff is sharp around the edges.

[wiperhunter2]

I think we all have had that happen at one time or the other. We all look back and try and figure out if we had done this or take, maybe the outcome would have been different. Truth is, maybe it would have been the same. I have had nicks in my line that have broken right as I netted the fish, especially cats, because of the way the roll, it is easy for them to cut the line with their fins.

[Tin-Can]

Hey Richard, nice catch. That big fella is in full on spawn color and bulk.     

[Boatloadakids]

Yup, that was probably the biggun I have been chasing for the past 20 years. Nice of you to exercise him/her a bit. I hope to be out there tomorrow to resume the chase. Maybe it will be the day I converge with that 36er. I have hooked and lost a couple of cats that I sure wish I could have gotten a look at before I could get them close enough to see. A few years ago I was fishing with a bobber on the south side of the island, casting to within a few feet of the shore when my bobber dipped. I set the hook and it looked like an explosion in the shallow water before he made a run to and under my boat. I never even had time to take up slack line before it headed for deeper water. I have had a few others that make a short run and then go deep and just refuse to allow any line gain. Time and a good drag will usually prevail if hooked good. Love it, and that's what keeps me going back.  I agree with TD, there are a few 36+ cats still roaming around out there. Maybe tomorrow....

[Piscophilic]

Wow! Another great cat, you are having a great year and lots of fun. Thanks for sharing.