Willard again...at last

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I figured a couple of warm days might get something moving on Willard. It did. Catfish, midges and terns...eating midges.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Tried my new baby stroller cart design to trudge my tubin' goodies to the water in the NE corner, after parking in the campground. Worked great, fully loaded, coming and going across weeds, rocks, loose sand and mud.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Parked about 6. Air temp 43. Dead flat calm. The lake was a sheet of glass. Only a few carpkind broke the surface. Hit the water about 6:45. Hiked all the way around to the edge of a gravel bar. Water temp in close 44. Quickly climbed to 47 away from shore. Lookin' better.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Worked plastics and cranks as I moved out into deeper water. When I reached about 8 feet, I tossed out a minnow to drag behind the tube while I continued to play with plastic. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Within seconds of the minnow reaching bottom the line popped from my catch and line streamed from the reel. Heavy fish. Hoped it was a wiper but it turned out to be my first and biggest kitty of the day. Just over 23 inches...and a fatty.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That was the beginning of a real catfest. From 8 to 10 feet of water I was bit as fast as I could sail out a bait. Went through over 2 dozen minnows and only missed about 1 or 2 "inquiries". Also caught a few on crawlers and a couple on jigs...when I had time to throw them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I could have had a limit within a half hour, but tossed most of them back. I did keep a couple of 18 and 19 inchers and a couple of 16/17s. I quit putting any in the basket when I had 7, thinking I could always fill out on the way back in. NOT.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I put up the bait and started working hard for wipers. Finally had a BANG/ZING on a blue and silver holo crankbait. I was just a spectator for about 10 yards of line and then the inexperienced fish let go of the lure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Got a lot of exercise for the next hour or so, but never had another nudge on any kind of artificial. The breeze began to pick up from the west and I was just about overfunned anyway. So, I let the breeze blow me straight back to my intended take out spot. Sweet. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I dragged bait on the way back in but the kitties had decided that I was no fun to play with anymore. Amazing that I could not get even a pop and drop for the last half hour, fishing the same area that had been nonstop cat action earlier.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My heart started pumping as I watched some terns diving over the water between me and shore. I watched for the splashes of feeding wipers, but did not see anything. Some terns were sitting idly on shore. If there was a REAL boil, they would be all over it. The terns that were diving and weaving were snarfing up a new hatch of midges. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh joy, it's that time of year again. I ate enough midges while trudging back to my vehicle that I didn't need to stop for lunch. Did take a couple of Pepsi's to wash them down though.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water temp had climbed to 55 as I neared my exit spot. Won't be long now.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I decided to put my new little stroller cart to the test. In addition to all the gear I brought down, I added the basket with 7 catfish to the load for the return. The cart held up better than I did. I'm gettin' too old for that stuff. NOT.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Stopped by the fish cleaning station for a catfish weight loss program. Bummer. Still not open.[/#0000ff]
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[swedishfish]

Sounds like you had a great time.

I have a question about the bigger catfish... I know the cookie cutters taste great. But the 23" incher is definitely out of the "cookie cutter" range. How did/do they taste?

By the way, I've got my new guides; so I need to make my way over to the tackletorium sometime.
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[zonker]

Great report.

Could we get a glimpse of that stroller tube hauler without the load on it? Always looking for new ideas.

z~
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You mean those two rods you "abandoned"? They have been whimpering and whining about going fishing. They will be glad to get fully dressed and to go out on the water. Have your people contact my people and we will git 'er done.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]All the cats from Willard are superb eating. A 23 incher is still well within the GOOD range. On Utah Lake, I usually keep fish over about 5 pounds only for the smoker. They are still good eating, but the smaller ones are better.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, Z, you know me. I got lots of purty pitchers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I first came up with the concept of using baby stroller wheels about 3 years ago. About 2 years ago I got a baby stroller cheap...at a yard sale (where else). As you can see in the "Stroller Wheels" pic, my first edition simply used the wheel assembly cut off from the stroller. It worked but it was unstable.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Last year, toward the end of the season, I started messin' with some PVC (who...me?) to make a stable frame that would hold the wheels. I had to completely remove the stroller wheel assembly, to get the wheels and their axel/shaft arrangement. Then, I ran that shaft through the PVC as shown. I did take the arrangement out for a stroll around the block. As usual, all the neighbors brought in the kids and pulled the shades as the wacky old neighbor paraded down the street with another of his wierd contraptions. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My trip yesterday was the first time I actually put the cart to the test. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it pulled and how stable it was. Even top heavy with rods and overloaded with ALL of my gear and a basket of fish, it performed well. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]However, I do have some mods in mind. As you can see in a couple of the pics, I did not glue the two center supports. It is "modular". But, after trying it yesterday, I will probably glue the final version. I like the way it rode across the back of the tube. It even provided extra support for the back rest on the tube.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The last picture (Locked and Loaded) was not included in my report, but shows how I bungeed down the cart on the back of the tube for fishing. It takes no useable space and it really did help with the back support.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I plan to compose a complete "how to" report, with components and steps after I get the final edition completed. Hope this helps in the interim.[/#0000ff]
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[zonker]

Thanks TD. Thats really cool. I'll be looking forward to the complete report. In the meantime, please (pretty please?) be sure to include a pic or two of your current model in some of your fishing reports. You can bet I'll be watching. You're breaking new ground.

z~
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Z.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just about finished with the "ULTIMATE" tube cart. Got a set of cheapie pneumatic tires...10" size...for only $3.99 each...and a bar of aluminum for an axel for another $3.50. Got it put together but need to tweak the fastening system and take it for a test pull. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here's some tantalizer pics.[/#0000ff]
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