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[font "Calibri"]Fished from 7am to about 11am scored on some nice big BlueG about 20 lmb ranging from about 1/2 lb to my biggest to date at 3lb and even bigger ones that kept running away and of course 5 tilapias. Weather was nice and cool and that early in the morning not so many divers. Here Is the question of the day I remember someone that mention hooking up to a fish that look like a peacock bass well guys I fished most of the lake and was fishing a stream that leaves the main lake I walk the stream for about ½ mile just catching some big bass (see pics) and spotter a huge and I mean huge bass that was in black and yellow stripe don’t know what kind of fish it was but It was fast didn’t even give me a chance to set my pole that thing took off fast and kept going down stream kind of looked like a huge perch to me but who knows now we have a second sighting. Saw some huge tilapias there as well does anyone know where that stream leads to didn’t feel like going all the way. It’s on the east side of the main lake. By the way the Skytters are still on steroids![/font]
[inline earlymorning.JPG] LEAVING CAMP THE NUGGET HOTEL
[inline P8230024.JPG]
MAIN ENTRANCE
[inline "tilapia pond.JPG"]
TILAPIA POND ONLY GOT 5 THOUG
[inline Blueg.JPG]
BLUEG
[inline lmgoingbig.JPG]
LITTLE GUY WAS HUNGRY[inline Lm1.JPG]
GOT HER ALMOST AT THE SAME SPOT [inline goodlm2.JPG]
GOT ABOUT 5 THIS BIG
[inline lostoflitletilapias.JPG]
This place is right next to the stream don't know if you can see all the tilapia babys but boy the bass where just waiting for them. Good Honeyhole scored on about 5 lmb in this spot.
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Nice report and good catching.
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If people release the bigger bass they will control the Tilapias and get very very big, bass that feed on the Tilapias in Mexico will get very big....
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[cool][#0000ff]Great report and pics. Hope you didn't lose too much weight to the hungry bugs. They can be fearsome in that mini swamp.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have heard several reports of peacock bass in Blue Lake. Divers seem to enjoy dumping aquarium fish in there for there viewing enjoyment. Probably no harm in it. It is a "closed system" and the exotics have no shot at escaping and getting into any other waters. Even if they did, they could not survive in colder water. For the present they offer an interesting opportunity to catch something unique...even if they are in competition with the poor largies for the minimum food supply. DWR is interested in what is going on there, but seems to have no plans to manage it for any particular kind of fishery. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is good to hear that the bass are turning the tables on the tilapia and munching THEIR young too. Tilapia are notorious nest raiders and have been seen wiping out bass and bluegill nests, as well as slurping up the exposed and vulnerable fry after hatching.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The canal that leaves Blue Lake on the east goes for quite a ways out into the desert and into a couple of other shallow ponds. Eventually all the water either seeps back into the ground or evaporates. It does not empty into any other lakes or streams. You can get a good picture of it by looking it up on Google Earth.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, that canal is an important contributor to the food chain for Blue Lake. There are lots of invertebrates that serve as food for both the young and older fish too. Lots of fish leave the main lake and cruise the canal for groceries. The main lake is not very rich in nutrients or aquatic life and if the fish did not get lots of Cheese Whiz and other snacks from the divers they probably would not be as plentiful or as healthy.[/#0000ff]
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[quote lov2fish][font "Calibri"]Does anyone know where that stream leads to didn’t feel like going all the way. It’s on the east side of the main lake.[/font][/quote]
[size 4][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I AM NOT trying to be a wet blanket here, but there used to be some white signs out there at the east side of the main lake that said "KEEP OUT." Everything to the east of those signs is part of Dugway Proving Grounds and/or Utah Test & Training Range. They even used to patrol the area and invite folks to head west immediately.[/#800000][/font][/size]
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[size 4][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]The Wendover locals used to duck hunt those ponds way out to the east until the Army ran them off.[/#800000][/font][/size]
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[size 4][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Maybe the signs have been removed by whomever or the Army really doesn't care anymore. It's been at least 4 years since I've been there.[/#800000][/font][/size]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 4]Just thought you should know. If anybody has better (more recent) information, I'd love to hear it.[/size][/#800000][/font]
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Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 82 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
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Too bad to hear that the peacocks are taking off. I figured it'd happen though. Water chemistry is just too good for them in there. Plus they have a heck of a food source with the Tilapia. I hooked mine in one of the first holes down, maybe 50 yards down. I don't dare go much farther than about 100 to 150 yards. They can and do drop bombs on that creek. I've seen the scortch marks directly on it. Pretty dang scary if you ask me. No bass is worth getting killed over.
My biggest question is if the Moba Frontosa's lived or not. That'd be a nice little bonus taking a couple of those bad boys out. They'll do extremely well in that lake. Mouth brooders definately have the upper hand over nest builders.
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I will get with the biologist here on Dugway today and find out anything I can about those signs you say were there. I will write you back with the info i get.... I need to go out there and fish blue lake, sounds like it could be fun..
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No more sings i can tell you that for sure there was one that seem like it was use for target practice there is no way you can read what left on the sing. Thanks for the info now i know not to go too far out on the that stream but man does it hold some big fish. It wouldn't surprise me if there is a record LMB in that lake. One thing i did notice on the tilapia ponds is all the dead worms that people either feed them or try to use them to catch them, so I'm taking meal worms next time. Happy to tell you all my LMB where all release to take care of them good eating Tilapias.
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This pasted winter the signs was still there in plain sight....
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Why is it to bad if the Peacocks are doing good out there????
In other states (only two) that have them they get along with bass and other fish just great, and after all trout can't live out there any way.....
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The signs that can be seen north of the lake will always be there. Nobody wants to go that way. The others are shot up or gone.
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Nathan stays the same, and they just had a fishing show on TV that a Florida fish an game was saying how good they do get a long, as for me I like the chance of getting one with only a trip to blue lake...
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i will 2nd that i wouldn't mind getting some exotics there and it's not like they can go anywhere i think my dream now is to get one of them peacock.
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I feel the same way...[fishin]
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[quote Mc_Lennon] No bass is worth getting killed over.
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i beg to differ haha!!
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for me to see, personally. I've fished that lake for going on 20 years now(my entire life.) It's not the same lake it was, that's for sure, and it'll never be the same again.