Knice at Da Knolls 8-17-17

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]The Knolls was closed to public access in the fall of 2013. Been working with DWR, the landowners and Utah County Commissioners to get it reopened. It has been informally reopened, pending the final signing of a new angler-friendly agreement. But with the low water the past couple of years I have not wanted to launch my tube. The last time I launched I had to slog about 2 hundred yards out through sticky mud just to get deep enough to sit down in my tube. Still caught a lot of fish, but it was a real workout going out and coming back in.

Met up with Pa this morning to check it out under the higher water conditions of this year. I have never been skunked at the Knolls. Today was no different. The kitties came to play...and some white bass too.

Powered out from shore to about 4' deep water and pitched out a chub minnow. Barely got the rod in the holder when the line popped loose from the plastic snap and went streaming out through the guides. Yee haw. First cast...first fish...a chunky cookie cutter...about 22 inches.

Then it got better. Lee and I both got badly abused by aggressive kitties. The 22 inch size was about average...with a fair number of 2-footers. My biggest was about 25 inches and my smallest right at 20 inches. They all hit hard and pulled hard. Love to have nasty old catfish zing the string off the drag.

Used both chub minnows and some leftover baby white bass. Cats didn't discriminate. Could use more non-discrimination in this world.

When I wasn't pitching plastic on my second rod I fished two bait rods...one with bait on the bottom and the other with bait on a bobberhead jig under a bobber. Again, the cats were very accommodating and voted for both. Problem is they sometimes voted for both at the same time. Landed three sets of doubles. Fun or frantic? Works for me.

One poor daddy cat came in with a wad of sticks wrapped up in some old line hanging out his mouth. Man, that was an ugly rig...with two half ounce sliding sinkers, a big snap swivel and a snelled hook down inside his jaws. After removing my hook (that he took even with all that other stuff in his face) I clipped off his other line and garbage. Ungrateful wretch didn't even thank me as I released him less cluttered.

Beautiful weather today. 62 degree air temp and 71 degree water temp at launch...warming to 73 by midday departure. Clear and mostly calm, with only a little bump early...laying down to glass for the rest of the morning.


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[FatBiker]

TD, great job. I get excited when I see these words in a report.

AND THEN IT GOT BETTER!!
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[fish_fear_me2]

Sounds like a great day. Glad to see you made it out to the knolls again. How far are they from a solid agreement and do you have the particulars? Great report and pics as always.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I stay in touch with Chris Crockett...DWR. He has been in charge of that project since John retired. His plate is full. But he assures me that the agreement in principal is done...just a lot of land owners, attorneys and commissioners to get together for a signing.

No draft of a game plan but I have seen rough drawings that included a small craft launch site, bermed off parking area, garbage containers, rest rooms and the whole shootin' match.

Just wonder how long it will last before it is trashed again. Couldn't believe all the Modelo beer bottles and other trash down there today. I have been told that sheriffs will patrol it more often and more thoroughly to reduce the problem.
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[TubeDude]

[quote FatBiker]TD, great job. I get excited when I see these words in a report.

AND THEN IT GOT BETTER!![/quote]

[#0000FF]Me too...especially when it's my report.[/#0000FF]
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[fish_fear_me2]

It has always been a story with the trash there, hopefully they can get a handle on it. I guess I didnt realize they were talking boat launch and restrooms etc. Maybe a fee area will make it easier to keep clean.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]A fee was my suggestion too. Seems like the trashers tend to gather at the freebie places and don't like to pay to get in anywhere.

But, from what I understand, it is likely to come under the auspices of Utah County...like Lincoln Beach. If that is the case there is likely to be no day use or launching fees. If they patrol it as well as they do Lincoln Beach that will help a lot. At Lincoln Beach they have restrictions on alcohol. Another reduction in trashing if you eliminate the beer cans and bottles.
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[ice_sled]

Fished at Lincoln Beach this afternoon. Catching kitties was easy pickings. Only problem was size. 15 caught in 3 hours. All 20"-25" cookie cutters. Can't catch a bump up cat to save my life. All seemed to be healthy and hit with authority. Still snacking on Scofield Chub. Might try Monday during the solar disruption. Might be the magical formula for a monster kitty!
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Glad you had a good day too. Sounds like Utah Lake was cat-friendly yesterday for those who fished it.

I also wanted to try to bump up my score on the kitty kontest yesterday. Even using big cat baits and tactics didn't produce size...only numbers. But tugs is tugs and fun is fun. Heck, I even got a small white bass on the tattered remnants of baby white bass already savaged by a catfish.

Here's hoping the bigger fish are just waiting on the sidelines for us to rassle with later.

Good luck with the eclipse thing. Be sure to wear your special glasses. But take them off when you are driving home.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Pat nice report, sounds like a great day on the pond. Thanks for sharing it with us. Later J
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[Boatloadakids]

I've fished Lincoln every day this week and it is always more of the same old same old... fat cats, all in the mid-20s in size and eager to bite. I swear I have caught some of them several times and I have caught a few that have given me that "Oh, it's you again" look as they are hoisted onboard. I'll probably start naming some of them so we can continue on a first-name basis. Still, it is fun.

Where are the big ones? or, better still, do they even exist? Maybe they all died off last year with the algae and low water?? It is very embarrassing to not have even one 30 inch fish from the south (head hung in shame).

Oh well, maybe tonight.

BLK, or maybe blk
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Sorry, my friend. Cain't hep ya. If I knowed where all those bigguns was I would be bumpin' up my score.

I gotta believe there are some over 30s in the lake somewhere. But it is a cycle thing. Every few years conditions are right for a good spawn and for a few years there are lots of the survivors showing up...each year fewer of them but they keep getting bigger. By the time they grow much past 30 inches there aren't many left...and they have probably had a few tussles with humans. Some get released or arrange their own release. Unfortunately, some folks always gotta keep the big fish they catch...to take home and show off before they dump them in the trash.

Bottom line is that the big ones don't act and eat like the smaller ones. So you aren't likely to get one if you fish the same place the same way all the time. And even if you gear up for "sharks" and use big meat every trip you are still bucking the odds. The big fish don't eat often but they eat big. Once they have a whole dead waterfowl or a large fish in their innards they probably won't be hungry again for a while. And when they get hungry it is more likely to be after dark than during wimpy anglers' daytime fishing schedule.

There can be exceptions. But almost every truly big cat I have ever caught from Utah Lake...or any that I know of...were caught after dark while geared up right and fishing for big fish.

I have caught quite a few between 30 - 33 inches over the years...fishing daylight hours. But my biggest (37" and 24#) was caught at night...over 30 years ago.

As the water cools down in early fall, there will be more of the larger fish feeding during the day. But there just aren't enough of them around to hope for multi-fish days of 30 plus inch fish. And it's hard to keep the smaller ones away long enough for the big ones to find and eat your bait.

But it's always fun to try. And even if the bigguns don't show up you can have some enjoys with the smaller fish while you wait.
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