Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir 9-18-07

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Okay, boys and girls. This is the third and last report on the Idaho fishing marathon.[/#0000ff]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Day 4 of the great Idaho caper. Enjoyed the complimentary breakfast at the Twin Falls Best Western and headed south to Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir before daylight. Looking good. As an old Idaho boy, it was shameful that I had never before wet a line on this productive pond and I was going to make up for lost time. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We made all of the right turns and hit the right turnoff at Rogerson in good time. We drove up to the waters’ edge about 7 AM and got the tubes off the car top carrier. The water was calm, with only a light ripple on the lake. Looking good.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]But, by the time we got the tubes aired up and the gear ready to go, a stout NW breeze had started blowing wavelets onto the spot we were going to launch. And, it got stronger by the minute. Been there before. Mama Nature can sometimes be a real pain in the tubes. I left TubeBabe with the gear and drove over across the ramp to another potential launch spot, with just a bit of protection from the wind and a quicker shot at getting across the steep rocky channel to the opposite side, out of the wind. It looked possible, so I drove back and loaded up TubeBabe and her gear…and dropped her off first. Then I got my stuff and we both launched.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We shoulda stood in bed. No tube fishing possible from the ramp area of Salmon Falls Creek on Monday. We had to kick like crazy to get across the narrow high walled dam channel to get out of the wind on the other side. Once there, our sonars showed 60 to 80 feet of water right next to the lava rock walls. Still, we threw spinners for a while before realizing it was pointless. No shoreline forage and no fishies.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We kicked out into the strengthening wind and let it blow us toward the spot where we had stopped to launch earlier. We kept casting as we sailed across the water, but no hits for either of us. TubeBabe was the smart one. She just said “To heck with it” and rode the surf into shore. I continued on a ways and got out along a promising looking bit of shoreline to do some bank tangling. I made a few casts and had one nice trout hooked…briefly. But, the wind and waves were building and my casts into the wind came straight back so fast I had to duck (not really). [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I fought my way back out into the wave tossed water and worked my way to where TubeBabe had came ashore. I had to walk from there over to where we had left the vehicle when we launched. No biggie. Been there done that before. Tubers gotta adapt.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Just before we came back in, Idaho Fish and Game backed down a fish tank and dumped a bunch of 4” trout fry at the ramp. That sounded the dinner bell for the seagulls. Out of nowhere it suddenly looked like a scene from that movie “The Birds”. I don’t know how many of the new transplants made it past the first hour…or the first day…but I do know that a lot of them went into the local bird ecology. I suspect that the walleyes dined well that day too. TubeBabe saved one that was washed up in the surf and we took a quick picture before carrying it out a ways for re-release.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]One of our goals for the day was to do some driving and to locate as many possible tubing launch sites around the lake as possible. We did find a few, but many required a steep hike down to the water, with questionable fishing potential along steep banks. Most of our best tube fishing is in areas with shallow slopes with alternating structure (rocks) coming down into the water. We finally found something like that late in the afternoon at a place toward the south end of the lake called Big Sand Bay. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Just like its name, this spot was a wide stretch of sand, bordered on both sides by rock and rubble coming down into the water. The bottom was a gradual shelf going out to the deeper part of the lake. It looked very promising for tubing…EXCEPT FOR ALL THE #@&%$ waves being piled on shore by the ever strengthening north wind.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I fished almost a hundred times last year, and am on track to do about the same this year. I have not been skunked in over two years and it was looking like my success streak was coming to an end. NO WAY. I told TubeBabe to grab her favorite rod and some tackle and we were gonna catch something…even if it was just a bad windburn. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]After working a hundred yards of shoreline without a tap for either of us, we were just about ready to admit defeat. TubeBabe actually made the comment that we were “Barking up the wrong tree”. But, as I looked up ahead, I noticed an area where the sand turned to rocky rubble. That often spells fish in my book. So, I said I would make a couple more casts and we would go. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I got a chunky perch about the second cast. Then a couple of pikeminnows (formerly known as squawfish). I also lost a big trout/. I called TubeBabe over to join me. Within a couple of casts she had also scored a pikeminnow…and then a nice smallmouth…and then several small walleyes. We both had quite a few hits and managed to bring in several fish of several species. But, the wind got so strong that we could not fish our light stuff any more and left.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]On the way back to the hotel in Twin Falls, we changed our plans for the following day. Originally we had planned to drive to American Falls Reservoir, just to check it out. But, because of poor reports and extremely low water there too, we decided that if the weather forecast for Tuesday was decent that we would return to Big Sand Bay on Salmon Falls Creek…for a shot in our tubes.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The forecast was for calm early. We hit the water just after daybreak at Big Sand Bay and it was game on. I was first in the water and had hits immediately. Felt like small perch, except for one major munch that felt big trouty. Then I moved over near the rocky area and began hanging smallmouths on almost every cast. They weren’t big…10”-14”…but they fought like smallmouths. They bent my stick and stretched the string on my light gear.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe announced on the walkie talkie that she had brought in a couple of nice perch from 12 feet of water. I moved out deeper and started bouncing a variety of jigs along the bottom. Whammity wham! Big perch and small walleyes wouldn’t leave me alone. Fun, fun.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]A couple of pickups drove into our private bay and unloaded a bunch of bank tanglers. They quickly began to rassle in some decent sized trout. TubeBabe observed that some of them were fishing bait under a bobber. So, she rigged a bobber and worm combo and got busy with wome troutskis. Her biggest was a feisty 20 incher that abused her badly before she let out a whoop and lifted it in her net. She later caught another, on one of my little “Ultra Minnow” jigs that was almost as big, but fought harder than any trout she had ever caught before.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I was having too much fun with the “spiny rays”, so I did not mess with the trout. But, a few of them messed with me. They did not realize that I was fishing for perch, walleyes and smallmouth and several trout invited themselves to play too. My biggest was about 18” and I had several between 16 and 18. There were also a lot of fish about 12 to 13 inches that were jumping…and jumping on our hooks from time to time. Pesky troutskis.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Caught a bunch of walleyes. Most were under 14”, but I kept 3 between 16 to 18 inches. Lost a real porker wallie right at the tube when it did the old open-mouth head shake and tossed my lure back to me. Mighty nice of her. My biggest smallmouth was about 14”, but I also lost the biggest I had hooked. It looked to be about 16 inches, and really beat me up before getting bored and releasing me unharmed.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The perch were a pleasant surprise. I had heard there were some goodies in that lake, but the average size was impressive. Most were at least 8 or 9 inches, with plenty of 10 plus. My biggest was slightly over 12 inches and very chunky. It weighed 1.2 pounds. I would settle for those perch anywhere, any time.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]In addition to more pikeminnows, I also caught some crappies. They were only about 8” to 10”, but like all the other fish in the lake, they were very healthy. That is a very fertile lake.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe’s troutskis slowed down about noon so she borrowed some my hot new Ultra Minnow jigs and some perch meat I cut up for her. Then she went to town on the perch too. She did not score any decent sized walleyes but did catch quite a few smaller ones. She also caught every species I did except for the crappies. They seemed to be concentrated way out on an outside point and she stayed inside, playing with the slimers.[/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The water temps were about 60 degrees most of the day, and there were only light and variable breezes until about 1 PM. Then, some dark clouds started building and a fairly stout west breeze kicked up. I figured I had had enough enjoys for the day. My hands were all chewed up from “fish rash”…from handling a bazillion perch, smallies, wallies and crappies…all spiny suckers and some with nasty sharp head gear. So, I rode the breeze back to the vehicle, continuing to catch large perch as soon as my jig got near the bottom on “the troll”. [/font][/size]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe reluctantly put up her fishing gear and joined me on shore. We had everything packed up and headed back toward Salt Lake by 2:30. Great trip.[/font][/size]
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[swedishfish]

I enjoyed the Trilogy! I can't believe how low the lakes (if you can still call them that) in the 1st and 2nd post are. I thought some of the lakes/reservoirs around here were low.

For a minute there, I thought maybe you were human like the rest of us and actually got skunked once in awhile. Congrats on keeping the streak alive.
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[swedishfish]

I didn't notice it the first time through the pics, but is that the new ultra minnow in the mouth of "porky perch"? A new and improved "plunger", eh?
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[macfly55]

...you definately saved the best for last... []

MacFly [cool]
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[zonker]

Bravo! Great report!

z~
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Yes, eagle-eyes. The biggun was sporting some of the new perch bling. I got that mold a few weeks ago and made up some in both fire tiger and pale perch. Like the "plungers", the Ultra Minnow rides absolutely horizontally when vertical jigging. Unlike the spearpoint mold, from which I make the plungers, the Ultra Minnow can be made in smaller 1/8 oz. sizes as well as the heavier 1/4 oz. That can make a difference on finicky fish in shallower water. We seemed to do much better on the smaller ones yesterday. Even the trout liked them better.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]See attached pic of a 1/8 oz.[/#0000ff]
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[idahopanfish]

Sorry I missed you, since I am right here in twin falls. Glad you did well at Salmon sounds like a great day!
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[fishfinder462]

Sounds like you guys had a great trip, you cant beat spending some time with the family and great fishing.

FF462
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[tubeN2]

Nice job again. I'm about ready to pack my tube and hang glider and go over to visit you guys.

Too bad about the early wind but it looks like the wait paid off after all.[cool]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Sorry we did not get a chance to "hook up" my brother. We had originally planned to go up into Island Park and fish some other waters on the eastern side of Idaho. But, because of some last minute reports of poor fishing and even low water fish kills, we changed our plans to fish Magic and Salmon Falls Creek. And, we usually keep our plans open to take advantage of good fishing or to bail out if the fishing is not good. That is what happened for our second day on SFC.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can bet that we will be hitting the area again...probably next spring and summer. When we plan a trip we will let you know in advance and we can share some water. At least we can meet up for a while somewhere.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Wind is always a factor in much of Idaho. Sometimes it blows early and then lays down later. At other times it is calm early and blows later. But the only thing you can rely on is that if you get up and the wind is not blowing...it will be soon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In float tubing the wind is my single biggest aggravation. I can handle rain and even snow, but wind kills my style of finesse fishing with light tackle. Once the wind keeps blowing my tube out of position...and putting a bow in my line...I just can't make good presentations or feel the strikes. I might as well not be fishing. So, when the wind comes up...I not fish no more.[/#0000ff]
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[tubeN2]

I remeber several trips with Grandpa out there. There was usually wind, or rain or both at times. It never mad much difference when we were chucking out nightcrawlers with weights on them.

I know that would be much different from casting out the lighter jigs that you make. I guess that you could get just the right cast at just the right time in the perfect wind and end up with some undesirable face piercings.[shocked]
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[idahopanfish]

I am so glad you proved there still biting there in SF. I haven't been able to go lately but my buddies have an haven't done well there. I have only heard about the crappie never seen one caught. Now I see the proof. You had a great day[cool]

Please do let me know when your coming this way, I love to fish with you & Tubebabe and even do one of those floatilla's and shore lunch deals.

Had hoped to make a trip down to fish Willard but time is short it seems.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]We talked with some of the "locals" who were bank fishing, and one boater who fishes the area a lot. They said that the trout fishing has been poor, but just turned on. They also said they have been catching lots of crappies and small walleyes on the rocky shorelines and outside points. As the water keeps cooling through the fall, I am sure the fish "menu" will change too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I got into a huge school of crappies. My sonar screen was black with fish. I could not get my jigs to the bottom, to fish for the walleyes I was after without having them intercept it. I had doubles a couple of times. But, I was not after crappies so I moved back to an area they were not holding so I could keep fishing for other species.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We will definitely let you know when we plan a return trip. Right now it looks like some time in May or definitely by June. That will be the post spawn feeding frenzy for walleyes and the other species should all be active too.[/#0000ff]
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[PrinceFisher]

What a wonderful trifecta of reports. Your detailed logs of fishing conditions, tackle, and species caught is far more enjoyable and instructional than anything Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, or Sports Afield churns out.

Though I've done it many times already over the years, let me say thanks again for all that you provide us BFT readers.

And, if I could ask for your advice, oh Sensei Dude of the Tube, would you please comment on my tube-versus-toon-versus-small boat dilemma that I will post shortly on the Float Tube board.

Thanks,

Shawn
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks for the soft fuzzy strokes, my friend. Glad you like the efforts.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Of course I will chime in with my opinions. But, it is good to get opinions from several sources and to weigh the input against your own specific wants/needs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You have "experienced" tubing...and own a boat. Now you have to get some downloads from toon fans and see where you go from there.[/#0000ff]
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[Out4Trout]

[cool]Man, oh man, what an awesome day at the salmon that must have been! Sounds like you two had a blast that day (the 2nd one), Pat! I've got an old college buddy that lives in Rupert and he fishes and has a tube. I think he fishes mostly for slimers, but I'm gonna have to talk to him about going up there together and seeing if we can't get into a few fishies.

You two knocked 'em dead! Good job, and great report and pics. Thanx for sharing with the rest of us!

Regarding that "ultimate minnow" lure, did you get the mold at Barlows? That thing looks awesome and since I don't have a garage nor many tools at the moment to customize the plunger jig, I think the ultimate minnow would be a great jig or me for softwater fishing and ice fishing for perch. I'm gonna have to look into that... Do you have a write up over on the lure making board on this? Guess I've got some research to do here...
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I have not done any kind of report or pictorial on the Ultra Minnow yet. But, I am right in the middle of making up some more, in different colors. I will definitely do something on the lure making board soon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I did get my mold from Barlows. You can use it to pour a few heads if you wanna save a few bucks right now. Same for the plunger head mold.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Did you ever get your lead melter fixed? If not, bring it over.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Also...bad news on your reel. One broken part inside and another loose small part that I cannot figure out where it goes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Too bad we can't trade Idaho one of our reservoirs for Salmon Falls Creek. That is one of the most fish producing bodies of water I have fished in a long time. And, the fish are ALL fat and healthy...every species.[/#0000ff]
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[Majja]

All in all sounds like it has been a pretty fun trip TD. Thanks for the reports and Pics. I would sure love to have this body of water down here in Utah. Maybe we can trade them Utah Lake and the entire june sucker issue for Salmon Falls Creek.

Majja
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Now what do you have against Idaho? They would sure get the worst of it in a trade like that.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After fishing SFC Reservoir I am definitely spoiled for fishing any of our local lakes for awhile. It was kinda like combining all of the best from all of our best...in one lake. And, only a few bank tanglers and no power squadron.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Yep. Definitely spoiled.[/#0000ff]
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