Lower Provo River (near UL) 5/30/2006

[cat_man]

Hit the Provo for about 45 minutes or so yesterday at lunch time. I wanted to check and see if the white bass were up there spawning yet. The river was flowing fairly high, but not extremely high and it wasn't really very murky.

I tossed a 2" white Maniac Minnow in Holographic White Pearl:



with a pink jighead. Didn't have any luck finding any stray browns (this section does not have a large number of trout, due to it getting EXTREMELY low flows during late summer, and also during winter). Also didn't see any spawning white bass.

They might still need another week or so, or they might be spawning in a different spot this year, I don't know for sure.

I took a few pics of the river though. Here they are:






This is the spot where I catch them most years during the spawn, right where the DWR June Sucker egg-taking station is. The flows are higher than I'd like to see for spawn time, though, however. Usually, the water is lower and a bit clearer and you can see the white bass schools in the shallow water.

It was nice to get out fishing and away from the office for awhile, even if the catching wasn't very good.
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[Out4Trout]

[cool]That's a nice report, catman, but I thought the whitebass spawn was about over by now this year. I heard some reports on this board and others in the past 3 weeks or so saying the white bass fishing was great right where the A.F. River and Provo River dumps into the lake. I assumed that meant that the whities were in full spawn at that time, but I could be off on that one. I've always thought that late April til about late May was when they spawn.[crazy] Perhaps T.D. could shed some light on this subject?
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[cat_man]

I don't know about this year but in all the years I've ever fished the spawn (all through the 90s, + a couple of times in the last few years, but not last year), they have always been running up the provo river the VERY last week of May they start, and get into full swing the first week of June.

Every year I used to wait for the last day of school, then go down there (which was usually the last couple days in May) and catch dozens of them at that spot. The last few years though, the numbers have been WAY down due to the drought. From my experience, in April and early May they usually stage near the inlets and marinas, full of eggs, getting ready to spawn.

That being said, each year with its different temperature and water conditions, drought and no drought, can be a bit different.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]As you note, the spawn is regulated by water temps, not calendar. I have caught spawning whites anytime from mid April on. Mid May is a center point, and the whites were "dripping" two weeks ago. There are likely still some delayed spawners, but I think the main push has already happened.[/#0000ff]
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[cat_man]

Thanks for the clarification. At least I got a few good pics, and got out fishing. Trying to decide about later this week - maybe its time to catch some carp at my secret carp pond.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Would you be referring to the Novell carpatorium?[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Whenever you can spring free, I got plenty of carp meat and minnows. Just need you to put your life on hold for a morning. Those catfish are not getting any smaller and you are not getting any younger. If you keep procrastinating I will have to take Jacob out with me. He will probably be old enough before you get a ROUND TUIT.[/#0000ff]
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[cat_man]

I might just be referring to that. I also gots myself a white bass in the freezer right now, but I'm not sure if I should risk my life trying to get it out from underneath the chicken, hamburger, etc. that is piled on top of it! [crazy][laugh]

Now minnows I do not have, and would like to have. I went down along the airport dike after hitting the river, and saw lots of mosquitofish in among the reeds, but they seem much too small to use for bait for anythhing except perhaps perch or gills.

Let me see what I can arrange for a tube run to LB. Jake will have to stay home. He's a scardy cat with boats - at least he was last summer. Maybe the tube wouldn't be as scary. Maybe I'll rig him up in one of those backpacks to carry kids in, lol and since he'd be higher up, he could spot cruising fish for me. [cool]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]There are a lot of walleye fry all around the lake in the shallows right now. They are only an inch or two long. In another month to six weeks there will be bunches of small carp minnows. They are good.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have plenty of chub minnows, from 3" to about 6". You arrange the venue and I will bring the bait.[/#0000ff]
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