Salem Pond Blues

[Carp_Punisher]

[#505000]No I'm not talking about the elusive Utah Blue Catfish!!! [] So elusive in fact it doesn't grace the pages of the proclamation.[/#505000]
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[#505000]What I am talking about is another crummy trip to Salem Pond. I believe this is my fourth Salem pod trip and my 4th Salem Pond skunking. We tried worms, minnows, and plastics. I could see the cats in the water, but I couldn't get em to bite. Although that didn't seem to be a big issue for the people across from use who I watched catch about 5 in 2 hours.[/#505000]
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[#505000]Ok you Salem ponders.... what's the secret???[/#505000]
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[cat_man]

You sure you weren't seeing the giant sterile grass carp that the city plants in there to keep the weeds down?

I've only been there once, but I spent most my time trying to entice one of those monstrous carp to bite (don't harm them the regs say to release them since they cost the city money and are not your average carp, so don't punish them!). I did manage to catch a few small green sunfish in the small pond to the south of the main pond (the one fille with muck that you'd never guess was CHUCK FULL of sunfish!!! Most of them are tiny, but they were still fun to catch. Here's a pick of one of them. My 1 year old son sure like it!!



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[Carp_Punisher]

[#505000]I thought they may be carp at fist but one swam by about 6 feet from shore and I would bet my life savings (currently a piece of pocket lint and a button) it was a cat. You couldn't miss that nice fat head that narrows right down into a skinny tail. Ahh the fine wedge shaped profile of a cat!![/#505000]
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[kidsnme]

I am right along with you on the Salem Pond Skunker. I have fished it maybe 5-6 times this year and I have came home with a Skunk everytime. I have also tried Worms, Minnow, Plastics, and my kids have even tried Powerbiat for Trout. My kids even fished the Pond Catman talked about and still zippo..

I also need to find a remediy for the Salem Pond Skunk Curse.
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[PDS]

I know that this will sound weird, but try hot dogs for bait. I fish the community ponds in Roy and Clearfield, Meadow Creek and Maybey, where they plant cats usually the same time they plant Salem. I have tried using worms, cut bait, power bait, shrimp and chicken livers trying to catch these cats, and I've caught a few. But my catches increased dramatically when I started using a chunk of hot dog. I've lost count of how many people have come up to me and asked what my sons and I were using for bait because we were catching fish when no one else was. It always amuses me when I tell them and see the startled and pessimistic looks that are thrown my way afterward. But showing them the hot dogs usually cures them. Kids start begging their parents for a piece of hot dog to use. I usually bring enough to share. It is hard to keep the pieces on your hook though, and have caught some cats with numerous pieces in their stomachs. My sons always ask me if I brought the hot dogs along when we go to these locations. No need to buy the expensive ones either. My wife will pick up the cheapest ones at the store and put them in the fridge just so I can use them for bait. These cats all come from the same hatchery, I don't see why the dogs won't work down there. Good Luck!
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[PrinceFisher]

I have had a lot, and I do mean a lot, of success at Salem Pond this year catching big cats. I always put a piece of shrimp and a half worm on a big Gamagatsu hook, cast it out, and hold on.

But THE KEY to fishing Salem Pond, in my humble opinion, is FINDING WHERE THE FISH ARE. Try fishing spots that don't receive a lot of fishing pressure from other anglers, and if you haven't gotten a bite within a few minutes of trying the shrimp/worm combo, then MOVE UNTIL YOU FIND SUCCESS.

I found my favorite honey hole on SP while fishing for largemouth from my 14-foot aluminum boat. I was paddling around various shorelines, being very mobile and covering a lot of ground, when I started getting a lot of hits on my Senkos, but the hits weren't from largies, they were from cats. On my next trip, I returned with bait, and my kids and I have had great times in that same spot ever since.

I know that being very mobile may be hard for some folks who don't own a floating craft, but I've seen some fortunate anglers land a few big cats from different spots from shore.

Also, try fishing different distances and different depths from shore. Try short casts in only a few feet of water only a few yards out from shore, and if that doesn't work, challenge yourself by seeing how far you can fling a hunk of shrimp and worm into the depths.

Again, keep trying distances and depths in various locations until you hook up, for hook up you will in SP with how willing the cats always are for me, and trust me, I ain't no great fisherman. I just happen to have done my homework on SP.
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[ocean]

Heres a bit of info since i used to teach fishing classes there.The bottom is extremly mossy. Make sure your bait doesnt sit on the bottom.And that will improve your chances.
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[Marshall_Law]

I have fished SP many times. If you recall some of the posts I made I have always pulled something out.

I have to agree with PrinceFisher. Find the fish.
Many times I have gone to spots that were hot, then the next day nothing. I usually fish the south by south east side just from the shores. also towards evening is the best time for the kitties there. During the day you mainly get the planter Bow's and if you fish close to the shore I mean maybe 3 to 5 feet out you can get the sun fish and even some smallies. Here is the cat I got out there.
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