Popcorn & Mariah on Lake X

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I hate wind. Won't go tubing with wind in the forecast, but BFTer road and I had made plans for sunrise Easter services on Lake X. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It was windy when TubeBabe and I got to Hailstone at 6:45. Poor kids in the camping area were having to chase their Easter eggs uphill the wind was blowing so hard. (joke).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We had planned to launch on the PWC ramp, but the south winds ruled that out. Drove over to the main ramp. Good news...the ramp is plowed. No snow. Ice is iffy. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, got to meet BFTer Lettsfish at the ramp. Hope he did better than we did.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The wind was still blowing, but not too much to launch and stay close to the south shore. Problem is, there were no fish there either. Couldn't find anything on sonar.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Road showed up as we were launching. He had stopped to help a stranded motorist on the way. Nice guy. They were out of gas. Self-inflicted stupidity. Didn't make much difference. The lost time didn't cost him any fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Road, TubeBabe and my own self worked from shallow to deep and then some. Used all kinds of jigs, spinners, spoons and bait. I had two quick whacks on a jigged spoon at mid depth in 30 feet of water. Then zip.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Road let the breeze blow him across the big bay to the north of the launch ramp. He started getting hits on the far side, along the steep bank, and lost a nice rainbow from shallow water. I used the (still) manageable breeze to power over to his shoreline. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]He got no other bites, and I had only a couple of light taps. The zephyr suddenly turned more serious. Road headed for a protected cove. I stayed in the "zone", all for naught.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Within minutes the wind really got going. My mama didn't raise no fools (well, only one) so I started kicking hard to make it back across the big bay before the wind got worse. It got worse and I was in trouble. Road had oars on his toon and was having a tough time making headway. My fins were all but throwing a rooster tail and I was barely moving either.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Forget the kick by kick report. Road and TubeBabe (who stayed behind) made it to the ramp while I was still only about half way across. The name Katrina kept popping into my head. I have powerful legs, well trained in tubology and using big fins, but that was the toughest trip I ever had to endure. After over a half hour of sustained power kicking, I still had about two hundred yards to reach the protected shoreline and about two hundred more to get to the ramp.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That's when road intercepted a boat coming to the docks and threatened great bodily harm to the occupants if they did not go back out and drag my sorry self back in to the ramp. It worked. They eased up, tossed a rope, I put it over my shoulder and they towed me the remaining distance back to the launch area. Of course I only complied because road had invested the energy into persuading them to come get me. I coulda made it myself...in about a week.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A funny? I left my sonar running while being towed back in. At one point I looked down and saw a large group of fish in 35 feet of water. I thought the boaters would think I was ungrateful if I let go of the rope or asked them to stop while I made a few casts. So, I just made a mark on the side of my tube so I can find that spot next time.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Another funny? The name of the boat that rescued me was MARIAH. Remember the song "They called the wind Mariah"? Well, I got another name for it. Several names, actually, none suitable for a family site.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Score...0-0-0. Three Easter eggs. Now I have another tune running through my head..."Three skunks (coins) in the fountain".[/#0000ff]
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[scottieb]

Hey Dude! Is there ever a time the wind doesn't blow at lake-x? I like fishing it but hate the wind.
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[Hellsangler69]

Brave soles is all I can say . You should of went to Rockcliff at least the wind would blow you back to the launch area . Water is warmer 48* but off color in Rockcliff . I seen a few tubes and yaks out on the water yesterday . Most of my 20 bows I caught were close to steep banks on the south but I did motor over to the inlet area and they were stacked there too . Most of my fish were small and nothing over 16" but were close to shore . I used tube jigs white and chartreuse . Casting rapalas worked great too . I tried the mojo rig with success but felt like I was bait fishing so I went back to casting jigs .
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[Hellsangler69]

Well I'm not the Dub , but I will reply . Most of the time the morning can be good with out wind . Just don't go with a approaching low pressure unless you want to get air on the waves .[]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Another tune..."It was just one of those things". I would normally not have even gone up there with the wind in the forecast as it was. But, I already have the reputation as a fair weather angler and a bit of a wimp among some BFTers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Road and I PMed back and forth about canceling the jaunt but being both brave and foolish we went for it. By the way, the water temp in the main lake was only 40 degrees today.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We looked up the channel towards Rock Cliffs as we left and it looked like the water was almost calm in that direction. My next trip on Lake X will likely be there, but I have some other venues on my list before I taunt the wind gods of that pond again.[/#0000ff]
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[road]

TD I took a cruise over to RC. That clam water you saw was a mirage. You must of been suffering from low oxygen levels from kicking so long and hard. It was a blowin up that way like there was no tomorrow. Funny what high sides can do to a little wind LOL. Nice to see your post, but I missed the part where you were stuck on the bouy. Just kiddin I know ya was restin and waitin for th wind to die down. Man that was ruff kickin today. Me thinks a trollin motor is on the next to get list now.
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[bassrods]

We hit Jordanelle Montanaman and I. We headed up the rock cliff arm...
We thought we saw a couple of tubers out there but shook it off as seeing things...cause the wind was so bad, couldn't believe anyone would be out there bobbing up and down between the white caps. Thought it was just a couple of bouys.

The wind was blowing and swirling and pushing my boat all around as the gentle breezes came out of the canyons. We still managed to catch 6 browns with the biggest about 21 1/2 inches and a total of 15 fish. The others were rainbows. The wind finally got the best of us and we surfed the whitecaps all the way back to the marina actually only getting to fish about 3 1/2 hours.

At one time Tubedude you made mention of putting a 200 hp engine on your float tube. Sounds like you coulda used it today... but seriously you guys need to take signal flares or orange flags or something if you're going to try to ride the wild surf in a hurricane.

We'd have come to your rescue if we'd have known it was you. Actually if we'd have known it was anyone out there having such a brain cramp we've have motored over to help. I have a 50 ft rope attached to my 20 lb anchor. [sly]

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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]From your vantage point, it may have looked like I was stuck on a buoy, but I never came within more than 20 feet of one. There were a few times that the gusts kept me from making any headway and it probably looked like I was connected, but I was afraid to stop kicking for even a few seconds. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Uhhhh...did you mean CALM water? (not clam?)[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It always amazes me how some lakes can seemingly produce their own weather. I firmly believe that some diabolical POWER somewhere has a video screen that shows tubers and tooners. There is a keyboard with buttons and arrows to make the wind blow from the worst direction and with the worst force.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I plan to get an electric for my toon too, but I also plan to be more selective on the days I go afloat. One of my new CAUTION factors is whether or not you will be on the water at the same time.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Reminds me of the joke about the old guy on his deathbed. He is holding his tearful wife's hand and remembering..."You were there when I fell and broke my leg. You were there when I had the ruptured appendix. You were there when the horse kicked me in the head. You were there when I had the heart attack, and now you are here with me as I am dying of cancer. My dear, I have come to the conclusion that you are just plain bad luck."[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks for thinkin' of us...thanks fer nuthin'.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You are right, I violated my own first rule of safe tubing. I virtually never go on the water and/or get very far from shore when there is any chance of wind.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That whole trip should have never happened, and I just got crazy. I would normally have bagged the trip and not cared if somebody didn't like it. I would rather be dissed than doused.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By the way, Cliff, it was not two buoys. It was a buoy and a girl.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Glad you guys found some fish anyway. I didn't really get in any quality fishing time.[/#0000ff]
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[Theekillerbee]

That's the strangest looking popcorn I've ever seen! Doesn't look salty or buttery enough for me to dive in! Sounds like a rough morning Pat, glad you made it back safely.
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[fairwayphilly]

When you talk about a lake having it's own weather system I can attest to that. I spend six days a week within sight of Jordanelle and there is a steady 15-20 MPH breeze that comes up EVERY day. On another note, I'm glad someone came along to drag you in. We all make decisions we regret from time to time. That's how we learn our limitations. The true test is not making the same mistake twice.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks, Phill. I have a pretty good handle on Lake X too, even if I don't observe it as often as you do. I don't think there have been many times I have gone by it in the afternoon when that south "zephyr" is not doing its thing. Even when the lake is glass in the morning, you can usually count on wind later in the day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I said, I knew the wind was supposed to blow in the morning, and I blew it. I assure you that I will not put my poor old body in that situation again. I powered my way across a lot of water, without exhaustion, leg cramps or something terminal, but it could have been worse.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was greatly relieved and appreciative of the tow by the boat. But, I was already getting within the protection from the wind of the high shoreline and I would have reached the bank within another ten minutes or so. After that, I could have hiked my tube along the shore back to the ramp.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Crazy golfers anyway.[/#0000ff]
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[Coldfooter]

Sounds like quite an adventure my friend. Glad you made it back in one piece.
The Provo area didnt prove any more productive yesterday than lake X but its apparent there wasnt as much W.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Were you bankin' or boatin'?[/#0000ff]
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[Coldfooter]

We rode the Gobbin and worked both the north and south of the harbor..
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[road]

Pullin spear from his chest! Nice harpoon TD. LMAO Here I thought it was the other way around LOL. Where ya fish Sat?
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[ocean]

Man that would have been a site to see! [laugh] Glad you are safe .
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Oh no. You tell me first where YOU are going to be Saturday, so I can plan to be somewhere else (joke).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We have kinda been informally batting around the idea of having a first run carpathon on Saturday at Lincoln Beach. I am going to do a checkout on Thursday morning to see if there are any lovesick buglemouths prowling the shores down there. If so, then we will try to get a group of carp-crazed killers together for a slaughter session. You down for dat?[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Wasn't much to see except a foolish old dude flailing the water to a froth, trying to get back to shore.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let that be a lesson to ya.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When are you going to get your new toys wet?[/#0000ff]
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[road]

Was just talking with FB2 about that very thing Sat.
Yeah I think I can handle a little carp slaughter bout now.
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