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My brother and myself want to hook into some LM or white bass at UL. Or a fat cat. But mostly bass. AFH seems like a good place for shore anglin.(no boat or float tubes) Primarily to the east at the AF outlet.thanks to tubedude for the maps! very helpful. We are coming from Davis county (me) and salt lake (bro). AFH seems the best place on the northern part of the lake.
Without divulging secret spots or tactics, any advice or knowledge that anyone might share to keep us from the skunk on our first UL excursion. Post or PM.
Thanks in advance
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[cool][#0000ff]There is no water flowing into Utah Lake from the American Fork River right now so it is not a draw to the fishes. Water depth at the inlet is too shallow to attract and hold fish. I worked it last Friday from 2' deep out to 6 feet deep...over 200 yards from shore. Only a few small white bass from 4' on...and the cats were in the deepest areas.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There was some early morning action for shore anglers right in the channel mouth for white bass and bullheads (mud cats). But the water is only about 3.5 feet deep there.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water depth around the docks on the west side of the harbor was about 5 feet and there were fish showing on my sonar screen as I moved through that area on the way back to the ramp. This time of year the white bass, crappies and bluegills start moving in under the docks and thefishing can be good. But I did not see anybody else fishing it last Friday so the word has not got out to the locals yet if the fish are there.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fishing in and around the harbor usually gets very good when it gets colder and the fish move inside the harbor more. That might be at least a month or so away. And it might be affected by the lower water levels this year. In the meantime there is always the chance of nice catfish, walleye and the occasional largemouth. Fish out in the deeper parts of the main channel for the first two species. Pitch plastics along the shoreline or docks for largemouth. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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As TD stated a few white bass were willing to bite early in the day but they were hitting minnows and white bass chunks. I couldnt get them to respond to jigs or spinners. The mudders were hitting night crawlers. No secret spot we were fishing just outside where the two harbor dikes come close together in the harbor channel. Good luck
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very, very tough fishing Utah Lake for largemouth right now. Not only are they hard to find, but there is so much for them to eat, getting them to bite is a chore even if you do find them.
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Thank you for the detailed info TubeDude. That doesn't sound too encouraging. Perhaps there are better areas around UL, or would we find these same conditions no matter the location?
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[cool][#0000ff]Utah Lake is much lower than the previous years right now. Plus, it is in the beginning of a transitional phase...where the water is cooling down very quickly. Toss in some unsettled weather and you have conditions that have the fish moving around looking for more favorable areas.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After a couple of days of nice weather it is possible to find active fish in a variety of areas. But unless you know the lake and are prepared to move from one spot to the other to try to find fish you might be in for a disappointing trip. Going to one spot and waiting for the fish to find you is not often a good plan. Even anglers who go out in boats or float tubes usually have to cover a lot of water before they get into any fish...if at all.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If your fishing is going to be limited to casting from shore it will be really iffy. The catfish have moved out of the harbors into the main lake and the white bass have not really moved inside yet. About the only thing biting in most harbors are the tiny young white bass from this year's spawn. They are easy to catch and make great bait for larger fish...but you usually have to get out into deeper water to find those bigger fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If I were to bet on a good spot to try it would be off the end of the dikes at Lincoln Beach...and sometimes even inside the boat channel. There have been some decent catches of white bass there because there are a couple of deep holes within easy casting range of the end of the dikes. Even some catfish still hanging out there. It is a longer drive but possibly worth it. I am going to start hitting that area hard next week because the walleyes typically put on the feedbag around the rocky shelves down there this time of year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sadly, these same conditions of low water and dropping water temps are to be found in most lakes right now. Hopefully things will stabilize soon. But even when they do it will be harder to find fish within easy casting range of shore. The main exception will be trout. They like the cooling temperatures and get more active.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can mostly forget about bass for the rest of the year. Still a few small largies and smallies around the steep banks on some lakes. But the bigger ones are moving out into deeper water and will not return until May or June.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck. Watch the reports and be ready to rumble if we get some decent weather and a couple of encouraging reports.[/#0000ff]
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LOL @ The Asians.
You know that "halibut" you got at that China Chef's the other night...? I hear some of those back-door deals are decent, and a bucket of white bass will get you a decent days wage.
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[cool][#0000ff]Glad you got into some fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sorry you had such a poor reception by the locals. When the "happy harvesters" get out the word through their most effective inner communication system that there are fish to be caught, other folks can count on making a lot of new friends. And they are the kind of fishing friends we can do without. Many are strictly subsistence anglers and they care nothing of sportsmanship or ethics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]White bass in Utah Lake are a good news and bad news situation. There is no limit on them because they are so prolific. They do need to be heavily harvested to keep their numbers in check. The bad news is that encourages the meat fishermen who are there merely to fill their coolers...or pickups. They do rely heavily on fish in their diets but they DO also sell the fish to family, friends and even some restaurants and markets. THAT is illegal. Not like it hurts the fishery but those who are fishing for dollars are likely to be more aggressive and obnoxious to the casual or first time visitor to their own private fish market.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of the reasons I seldom fish American Fork is because of the aggressive harvesting contingent that shows up when the white bass do. I have had cases where I was catching white bass well away from the crowded docks and suddenly I am being bombarded by heavy sinkers splashing down all around me. These guys tie sinkers on the lines with their small jigs and lob them out over and around the silly float tuber. I actually have to cut lines with my knife to keep from being snagged by them. And then they yell at ME. You should hear them when they see me actually releasing fish when they can't catch any.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It isn't always that way. And there are plenty of other places around the lake where you can find both fish and solitude. Better luck next time and hope you can get a big kitty to come play with you.[/#0000ff]
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If you didn't enjoy the reception don't ever fish the north dike at Willard during the wiper run. I was fishing the dike at lindon one brisk April afternoon and caught two nice wallies. One hour later there were fifty fisherman within casting distance. I don't blame the "happy harvesters" I blame technology. Dang cell phones.
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I am sure somehow this will get me in trouble? I don't take anything home, but enjoy the hell out of getting most anything in the boat. A lot of times I will go to UL and get literally hundreds of WB (throwing all of them back in). Would it be better to take them back to the harbor and see if anyone wants them??? (OF COURSE, for free). Or is handing them out illegal or better yet offensive? Crap I don't know, but it seems like getting them out of the lake is the best form a conservation/improvement standpoint?
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If one of them had asked I would've given them what i caught. There wasn't much meat on those WB, but they were fun. I feel bad for whoever has to fillet a bucket of those everyday.
The fishing crowd was unexpected, but they certainly didn't put a damper on the fun. It was amusing in a way. It reminded me of going out on day trips in southern California with my dad when i was a kid. Except mackerel were the prized catch instead of WB, there were canvas bags on a hook with assigned numbers where you kept your fish while fishing. There were a few occasions when our lovely mackerel went missing!
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