04-30-2003, 03:20 PM
[size 2]I went up to Kolob yesterday and it was a bite or a fish on with almost every cast. The fish have adjusted to the illegal bait fishing and so they bite like most fish that are in a heavily bait fished area. [/size][size 2]I showed up at the Kolob around 3 and it took me a couple of hours to figure out what they wanted. I basically thought about what worked good before and when down the list hairs ears, princes, woolly buggers and finally I pulled out some of the big buggers I'd tied for Minersville. The first fish I caught was on a woolly worm and that fish fought better than that bass I caught in New castle. [/size]
[size 2]Once I casted out it grabbed it almost as soon as it hit the water. I set the hook and it ran out about 50 feet. I wasn't ready and scrambled to give it some line but the fish didn't stop. It gave it's all unlike most fish I've caught they usually give a nice run jump and then they are done. I thought is this one of the huge fish we couldn't get through the ice early this year maybe it was one of those 20 plus inch monsters that everybody dreams off. After about 3 minutes I thought it was defeated but I was wrong it shot out like a ragen bull but I was ready this time and quickly gave it line. Three, four maybe five minutes more and I had it in close to shore it was ready to give up. It splashed around, jumped a couple of times and with it's last bit of strength made for the other side of the shore. I knew the fish didn't have enough strength for another long run so I held fast and turned it with in seconds. With the head raised up I dragged it into shore to give a quick release and guessing on the size and weight. It wasn't the 20 plus monster I thought it was before it was around 4 pounds and 19 inches with the most beautiful spawning colors I'd ever seen at Kolob. Every fish had the same beautiful markings and brilliant colors. The fish haven't begun to spawn yet and I made every release in the water. In fact the females were so fat and fully of eggs I thought they looked deformed with the egg sacks making large bumps on their sides. The fish have definitely eat well during the winter months. This trip brought back some fond memories of fishing Lee's Ferry during late December and the bitter cold and constantly breaking of ice from the loops and line. Well if not for the sun I'd say it was almost like that beautiful scenery, big fish and the constant harassment of ducks and the occasional hawk flying over head. What a perfect day. [/size]
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[size 2]Once I casted out it grabbed it almost as soon as it hit the water. I set the hook and it ran out about 50 feet. I wasn't ready and scrambled to give it some line but the fish didn't stop. It gave it's all unlike most fish I've caught they usually give a nice run jump and then they are done. I thought is this one of the huge fish we couldn't get through the ice early this year maybe it was one of those 20 plus inch monsters that everybody dreams off. After about 3 minutes I thought it was defeated but I was wrong it shot out like a ragen bull but I was ready this time and quickly gave it line. Three, four maybe five minutes more and I had it in close to shore it was ready to give up. It splashed around, jumped a couple of times and with it's last bit of strength made for the other side of the shore. I knew the fish didn't have enough strength for another long run so I held fast and turned it with in seconds. With the head raised up I dragged it into shore to give a quick release and guessing on the size and weight. It wasn't the 20 plus monster I thought it was before it was around 4 pounds and 19 inches with the most beautiful spawning colors I'd ever seen at Kolob. Every fish had the same beautiful markings and brilliant colors. The fish haven't begun to spawn yet and I made every release in the water. In fact the females were so fat and fully of eggs I thought they looked deformed with the egg sacks making large bumps on their sides. The fish have definitely eat well during the winter months. This trip brought back some fond memories of fishing Lee's Ferry during late December and the bitter cold and constantly breaking of ice from the loops and line. Well if not for the sun I'd say it was almost like that beautiful scenery, big fish and the constant harassment of ducks and the occasional hawk flying over head. What a perfect day. [/size]
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