Salem Pond Report (4/22/06)

[cat_man]

I just realized I forgot to post my report after last Sat. trip to [url "http://www.utahfishinginfo.com/utahlakes/urbanponds.php#salempond"]Salem Pond[/url].

I got there around 11:00 am and tried casting a 4" white sparkle senko on the south end. There was a few guys over there that had been there all morning with little luck. I didn't have any luck either after about half an hour.

I then moved to the north end and fished off the grassy area where the water drops off a bit deeper. I toss a spinner for awhile with no luck.

The family then showed up to have a picnic, so I tossed a crawler out below a plastic bubble half full of water and let it sit while we ate. The bobber slides, so it allows the line (and worm) to slowly slide down through the bubble and to the bottom, but not get sunk into the mud at the bottom.

About 10 minutes later, I had to run for my pole before I lost it! I set the hook and reeled in this nice little 15 or 16 inch [url "http://www.utahfishinginfo.com/utahfish/channelcatfish.php"]channel catfish[/url]. Since he was bleeding when I brought him up, I nicknamed him "dinner" and put him on the stringer.



After casting back out, some moron guys in pontoons (one towing around a kid in a raft) decided they had no respect for anyone else and paddled in right next to my bobber. So I reeled in and casted the other direction. What did they do? Of course they drifed/kicked over to where I had now casted!!! I would have gave them some good instructions on where to shove their fishing pole, but my wife convinced me not to. So I just reeled in and decided fishing was over for that day.

The dest thing is what that kid was learning about respect for others (or lack of it).

After, we tested out my father-in-law's new canoe. Here's a pic of us on the maiden voyage. We trolled a spinner around for awhile, but no luck.



That catfish sure was a tasty dinner Sunday night! I baked it in the oven with a nice breading mixture with special spices.

Here's some ducklings that were swimming around:

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[Out4Trout]

[cool]Wow, what a beautiful little pond that is! If I lived in that area, I'd most definitely fish it once in a while too. However, If I'm driving that far South from where I live, you can bet I'm heading for the big cats at Lincoln Beach. That pond is not quite the ghetto that Willow Pond is, and a lot less people too, eh? Nice report, catman. Too bad for the morons with no respect for others that you had to deal with.
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[cat_man]

Actually Salem Pond can be EXTREMELEY crowded at times (and on Sat. it was crowded. We just managed to find a great spot with no people. Our first choice spot, on the south end, had several people in it, and all around the pond there were dozens of fishermen, swimmers (brrrrr) and picnicers.

It IS a beautiful pond though, and 10 minutes from my house. It's a really nice place if the wife and/or kids want to come along. It as a park, public restrooms, playground, grassy areas, benches, etc.
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[ocean]

Do you know if they have stocked salem pond yet?I know right before the fishing classes they usually do.I was there last week and it was slow.
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[trollboy8]

Yes they have. If you go there at dusk (as I did on Friday) there are planters jumping and surfacing all OVER the place. A small BWO dry on a fly rod or behind a casting bubble works really well. I am sure there are plenty of other methods as well. Don't go tonight between 5 and 7 as they have the fishing clinic going on and there will be about 80 kids--and my dad.
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[cat_man]

Yes, I believe it has been stocked with small trout twice this year already. Those small trout were even jumping in the middle of the day around 1 or 2 when we were canoeing around. They were mostly only 6 or 7 inches long.
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[trollboy8]

Where do the LMB hang out on Salem Pond? I tried on the east side where there were some reeds, but it was late and dark. I did see the reeds getting pushed around a bit my something, not sure what--I imagine it was probably a carp. What I don't know is whether there are common carp in there or just the belgian grass carp or both. Do you know? Mostly, though, I want to know where I can target LMB
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[cat_man]

I have only seen the grass carp in there - never any of the 'regular' kind. That doesn't mean they aren't there though.

I saw pleny of (very small) largemouth in the little cove at the far south end a couple weeks ago. They were all sunning near the surface. I caught one little 7 incher. There were lots of bluegill with them too.

I don't know if they are still in that area or not, but there are some submerged trees and good structure to fish around so it looks 'bassy'.
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[trollboy8]

Do you ever target bluegill? What do you to, just bobber and a waxworm, something like that? What size hook?
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[cat_man]

Bluegill will take small flies, tiny jigs such as tube jigs (tipped with a tiny piece of worm sure doesn't hurt) or just a tiny piece of worm below a bobber.

You need to use a very small hook because they have tiny little mouths. Catching them on light tackle is tons of fun.

Size of hook? I don't know for sure, but I think a 12 or 14 ought to do it (or smaller).
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