Posts: 284
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
I have been reading a lot of reports about the Lindon boat harbor at Utah Lake - So I thought I would go up and see what all the hype was about (Yes I guess that makes me guilty of "hotspoting").
After getting a late start, and then not being able to find the place, we fianally started fishing around 10am. After two hours of nothing, I was starting to get discouraged. Maybe today was an off day because of the little storm yesterday. We fisherman always seem to have lame excuses that we use to hide that fact that - today the fish were smarter than us.
Many people left and I saw very few fish caught (aside from a big fat carp!). I considered putting my tail between my legs and surrendering to the skunk that follows me around - but decided I might as well stay out and enjoy the crisp clean brown air that ferments all winter in Utah Valley.
Then some late-comers came out on to the ice. They shared a secret with us: (in wispers) "you have to go and find the fish."
We took their advice and went hunting. I think I drilled more holes today than I did all last year (I'm glad the ice was only 4"). Actively searching out the fish proved to be lots more effective than sitting in one place with my fingers crossed hopping some fish would wander my dirrection.
Finding the fish was the key. It seemed like it did not matter what bait/jig you used or how you presented it. You just had to keep trying new holes until you found one with fish in it.
Never before have I experienced icefishing where one hole could keep two people busy unhooking fish. Despite the slow start, it was a blast!
If we saw any of you up there, we were the two brothers in cheap, fake-fur hats.
[signature]
Posts: 1,699
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2002
Reputation:
0
I fished LBH today also. Arrived at 8:30am and picked a few quick ones then it died, caught a total of 7. At 11:00am I decided to got up to the berry. I bet that big fat carp you seen was FishingPro's it weight 8.5 lbs.
[signature]
Posts: 3,336
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2005
Reputation:
0
[black][size 3]Hey Hashbaz,[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]That was me with the big fat carp on the ice. I remember your fur hat. You came up to me - I was wearing the green coat with the coyote fur collar. I caught some white bass as well. But it was kind of slow as compared with the last few days. Nice to kind of meet you. Right after you left, another BFTer showed up too. Glad you got into some fish finally.[/size][/black]
[signature]
Posts: 352
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2006
Reputation:
0
I was at LBH yesterday and I found out the same thing... I got skunked for the first forty five minutes. The guy next to me was killing them.. he was averaging a fish every 30 seconds, and had some big white bass... he finally told me move around until you find the fish... we did and it finally worked... the other suggestion, and I know some of the guys are going to be upset that we are giving away all the secrets but UTah lake is a great place for the kids, the other suggestion is use "Heddon" sonar flash jigs.. he was using those jigs and was not tipping it with anything and he took home a bucketfull of big white bass... he said the best thing to do is get the chartruese and paint them pink or red... it seemed to make a huge difference..I found the jigs today at sportsmans, they are 2 bucks a peice... and I will try them tomorrow and let you know...
The other thing this guy told me is that LBH is getting crowded and so he headed out to AF Harbor and said that is usually just as good... Good luck guys...
and from a Cougar,, GO UTES... 19 to 13 utah
[signature]
Posts: 20
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2006
Reputation:
0
hey i tell you what it was definately alot slower today then it has been in the past few days that is for sure and (i guess alot of bfters are mad at me) cause i heard a couple complaining about me posting it yesterday but it took me 2 hrs to find the fish tonight but i went back to my trusty holes and found them but they were at different depths and would not move till i was at their depths then the action got good there was only 2 others fishng and one guys wife even witnessed the action i ended up getting into(it wasnt great but stayed non-stop for 45 min.... but that is correct find the fish and it is a blast.... yesterday taking my kids got them addicted as well as for all of you that are mad cause i posted well i guess i am kinda sorry but isnt fishing about getting into em when they are there and letting others and kids share the fun as well???? I know 2 bfters are mad at me and i am sorry but there is alot of others and kids and i know there are plenty of fish to share so sorry and merry x-mas everyone.....
[signature]
Posts: 1,699
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2002
Reputation:
0
I'm not mad. Thanks for sharing. [  ].
[signature]
Posts: 284
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2003
Reputation:
0
Fishound, not that it really matters, but that was my brother that went over to you. That stinks about the shoulder, but I'm glad you could still make it out icefishing.
Jkanamu, you can't please everyone all the time. If you post success, some people will be mad that you gave away their favorite fishing hole (which is understandable), but others will love you for sharing helpful information. Then if you don't post about your successes others will complain that you are only taking and not giving. You can't please everyone.
It was very crowded there today until about 12:00. By the time I left, the whole place looked like swiss cheese. I would have to assume that the crowds throw off the fishing. I don't know if this is always the case, but the fishing only picked up today after a good chunk of people left. Indeed, crowds are one result of sharing information. But being a very social person, I do not mind crowds.
The subject of hotspotting seems to come up quite often, and we have all heard all the arguements before, so I hope this post does not degrade to an boring, old, worn-out arguement. Peace, my fine fishing friends.
[signature]
Posts: 370
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2006
Reputation:
0
[left]Hey I fished Lindon on Thursday night and Friday morning, and had the same luck. Once I moved around a little I could find the fish. And it didn't matter what was on the end of the line as long as it had a hook. [/left] [left] [/left] [left]I pulled out some good size bass on Friday, but soon got bored. So we headed over to AF. Same thing there. Moved around a little then when I found them it was fish on. Ice was thicker in AF also, I felt more comfortable there then I did in Lindon. Also had all big bass. Biggest one being 14in.[/left]
Posts: 144
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2004
Reputation:
0
Hey thanks for posting your earlier reports.
If the Utah lake White bass population can't take a little "hotspoting" then the dwr needs to change the no limit on them and no one should ever report any successful fishing trips anywhere...I don't think so...
Sorry, my little morning rant.
Thanks again for the reports, keep it up and to everyone on the boards and their families and friends, I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.
Bigpapafish
[signature]
Posts: 763
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2003
Reputation:
0
I remember seing you guys, The first holes you were at were the first holes I drilled that morning, we moved over to the North east about 30yrds it was probably my carp you saw flopping on the ice. well I have enough catfish bait for a while.
[signature]
Posts: 36,187
Threads: 309
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
62
[cool][#0000ff]Here's my personal input. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]First, ice fishing is a "social" thing...a lot more than fishing along a small mountain stream with a population of native trout. A big part of the appeal of ice fishing is being able to gather in a group and have a good time, with everybody catching fish. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]White bass, perch and other species are good for that and are seldom overfished. They do go through cycles, but it is usually for reasons other than overfishing...drought cycles, periodic dieoffs, etc.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The white bass in Utah Lake did suffer a big hit as a combination of drought conditions and "market harvesting" by a group of anglers who took a big toll on the large spawning fish during a down cycle, when they were concentrated and vulnerable. Thankfully, the higher water years have made it more difficult to murder the whities and have also provided better spawns with more cover for the young. "Recruitment" has been good for the last couple of years and the whities are back.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One of the changes I am going to lobby for, at the May RAC meetings, is a limit of 20 white bass. Nobody really needs more than 20 fish for a couple of good meals, and that would help curtail the heavy harvest for illegal sale. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Furthermore, the white bass are a staple in the diet of both walleyes and large catfish. When the white bass were unable to pull off a good spawn, and there were few small ones for the walleyes to eat, the wallie population almost crashed too. The fish that were caught were all skinny. Many died during the winter when they did not have enough body mass or available food to carry them through. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Like the white bass, walleye populations dropped way down. And, along with the white bass, the walleyes are coming back, but they will be slower. The good news is that there will soon be some big ones again.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]This past summer saw hordes of "young of the year" white bass all over Utah Lake. There were thousands of the 4 inchers in some areas and you couldn't get a jig in the water without getting pestered by them. That will translate to a bunch of 10 inchers by next fall, and plenty of 12 to 14 inchers the year after. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]White bass are great family fish. Everybody loves to catch them and they can keep you busy. Even better, they are great on the table and easy to fillet and cook, almost any way you want to prepare them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]So, with the numbers that the average angler is able to pull from beneath the ice, don't sweat the overfishing issue. No way that will deplete them ever again. We just need to take steps to keep non-sport fishermen from raping them when they are most at risk. [/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 767
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2004
Reputation:
0
I was down yesterday as well. I was in the green eskimo ice tent with the little girl in the purple coat. We had a ball even though the fishing wasn't as fast as I had hoped for her sake. We ended up with a half dozen or so in about 2 hours, just enough to keep her interrested. When she got cold I put the tent up and that kept us from moving aound and chasing the fish as much as I would have liked, but the trip was about her and we caught enough for dinner. I did see the checker flag plaza truck in the parking lot when I left and remembered from other posts that it belonged to a fellow BFTer, but it was already time for McDonalds so I didn't come back onto the ice to say high.
We did drive over to AF harbor there were only about 5 groups on the ice, but I didn't see any piles of fish next to any of them. I didn't go down and talk to them either.
[signature]
|
