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[cool][#0000ff]TubeBabe wanted to hit Willard Bay. Road drove his truck with our tubes in it and we hit the north marina about six. Fishfinder pulled in right behind us and Petty4Life was not far behind. We had us the makin's of a floatilla.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Cloudy conditions with a light breeze at launch. About 75 degree air temp and 76 degree water temp. A good three feet at the ramp and over six feet going out in the channel. There is a 2.5 foot bump to go over at the mouth of the channel, and then the depth drops quickly to 8 or 9 feet...as long as you go straight west for a few hundred yards. To the north and south there are exposed rock piles and gravel bars.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We were all on the water just after 6:30 and everybody started scoring small catfish quickly. Those babies are thick and they are hungry. Before the day was over we would all have all we wanted of those pesky but tasty little morsels. We also had enough of the carp. Bajillions of them working the surface with open mouths, slurping up the newly forming algae blooms.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]At 7:15 I heard a loud whoopin' and hollerin', which set off rockslides on the mountains to the east. TubeBabe had hooked up with a wiper and it was whuppin' her good. 19" and just over 3 pounds. The onliest one we got all day. Way to go Babe.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We all had and lost fish we suspected (hoped) were wipers, but no others landed. No walleyes either. it will be a couple of weeks at least before the falling water temps start bringing them in better.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Plenty of action for everybody. We all went through a lot of bait and had a great time. There was a pesky north breeze for about an hour and a half. Just when it looked like it might pick up and get serious it suddenly died off and the water was glass from about 10 AM on. Lovely day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As we were hitting the ramp to go home, after noon, the water temp was up to almost 84 inside the marina. Two large boats launched without problems as we were packing up. As long as you load and unload from the steep bank to the west of the ramp you can do it. And, you need to stay to the north edge of the channel for the best depth...and use your sonar.[/#0000ff]
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As always great tubin with you guys, too bad Petty4life had to leave so early, o'well more for us [  ]. I think next time I might bring a bow for all those carp I dont think ive ever seen so many.
FF462
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Very cool! I wanted to take a drive over to see you guys today, but couldn't get away. I'm going to try to make it to the next Willard trip when hopefully the Wipers and 'Eyes will be in a frenzy.
That is a nice Wiper that TB caught...I can't wait to add one to my resume. Pat, do you catch the kitties on your jigs quite a bit? Or more so with just sucker meat on a hook?
I noticed that you don't attach your jigs directly to a swivel. Are there any times that you would do that, or do you always tie it straight on your line? (Yes, I'm still a learnin')
Love the pics...glad the wind died down for you guys.
Derek
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[cool][#0000ff]I use swivels only when rigging spinner setups for trolling or extended bottom bouncing...never with jigs. I need to get maximum feel and action without adding anything unnatural to the LOOK. Good question though. There are times and situations when you should definitely include a swivel in your rigging.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We catch grundles of cats on all kinds of lures. When they are active you do not need to tip them with bait, but it can help. They hit all kinds of plastics, spinners and hardbaits. Today road was fishing with a spinner-rigged walleye setup for walleyes and wipers and could not keep the cats away. He was using a double hook rigged crawler harness and went through two dozen worms very fast. No walleyes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Last year, when the water was higher and all the predators were boiling on shad, a small pearl colored shad plastic caught lots of wipers, catfish, smallmouths and other species. I never tip those shad lures with anything, although I may squirt on some shad oil. Believe me, the cats smack them.[/#0000ff]
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Sorry i had to bail on you guys so soon, back was killing me and it had been to long since id been in a tube and got leg cramps, i had my fill of kitties anyway i caught about 15 and had 5 in the basket most 14-16in with one that went 19in. thanks for great time guys and t-babe.
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Hey, I told you had a free tow[cool]. Sorry about the back, anytime your ready for another round let me know[cool].
FF462
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id like to do it again next week but well have to see.
thats ok about the tow. as i was about to the ramp i got a call from BLM and we had an appointment to make some mack jigs, so i went to cache valley for the rest of the day
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Looks like a great day in the water. Now you have gone and done it TD. I am re-thinking my plans to go to Willard or to Lake X on sunday morning.... MMMMM this is going to be a tough one.
Majja
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[cool][#0000ff]You will probably have "company" anyplace you decide to go on Sunday. But, I suspect that it will be fairly light on Willard. Only a few diehard boaters are still launching there. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The kitties were everywhere we fished...starting right in the channel of the harbor. You hit deeper water from the buoy on and just go straight out to water that is about 7-9 feet deep, for the most consistent action on cats and the best shot at a wiper.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sadly, the cats are not eating well. They are all full of vegetable matter and not the crawdads and fish fry that usually make up their diets in better times. They are suffering in the current low water conditions. They are leaner and do not have the internal body fat of better times. But, they are still lots of fun and great eating.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We caught them on just about everything we fished. They hit bare lures or jigs tipped with crawlers or chub meat. Minnows worked well, as did carp meat and crawlers just dragged on the bottom.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you get there at daybreak, you should have no problem putting a limit in your basket before the power squadron "wakes" up.[/#0000ff]
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[black][size 3]Good report and photos TD.[/size][/black]
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[size 3]Got me really going, made me want to be there more than any of your other reports. It may be getting closer than the winter weather. I did manage to get out of my cage, walk across the street, negotiate several flights of stairs, to help a neighbor with installation of software on their PC.[/size]
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[size 3]If I can repeat this activity, using it for a form of physical therapy, I may be out n 'bout soon.[/size]
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[size 3]I have never been a real fan of eating catfish, but your descriptions and recipes are sounding better with every report.[/size]
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Great report TD.
Ever try those carp with a "shot right up against the bobber" and floating bread crust rig? Maybe with a few "freebies" sprinkled round for encouragement. Could be interesting from the tube.[  ]
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[cool] [#0000ff]Thanks for the kindly comments. Glad you liked the report. And, if I ever get the chance to put some "Kitty Krispies" (my recipe) on your plate, I think you will become a fan of eating catfish. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hang in there and keep working to get back in the  dle. When you are ready, let me know and we will do something, even if it's wrong.[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]Those carp are not difficult to catch. They hit lures and baits meant for other species all the time. And, if someone fishes dough baits or other special carp mixtures, they are pushovers. When they are cruising the surface, slurping in insects or bits of algae, they are great targets for fly fishermen who can place a fly just ahead of a working fish. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I enjoy catching carp. They are tough battlers. But, I am no purist. If I just want to exercise one, or need one to cut up for catfish bait, I have no problems with "force feeding" one of them. I catch a lot of "dorsal diners" and "tail takers" on jigs...both accidentally and on purpose. When they are bunched up on the surface they are easy to snag.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I also shoot many of them each year with arrows, during their spring fling in the shallows. I once strung five carp on one arrow in one shot. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The carp cruising the surface yesterday were a bit skittish though. If you tried casting a jig near them they disappeared in a splashy exit. And, if you bounced a jig off their sides they would often leap into the air in panic.[/#0000ff]
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My applogies for the late reply. As you were aware it was FB2s birthday yesturday. When I arrived home I was handed a list of things to do. BarBQing for Sams party was topping the list.
At anyrate I had a blast as usual. Good company and good fishing, doesn't get much better than that. Nice to see ya again Petty, Fishfinder.
Can't add much toTDs' post except afew more pics. See I can remember the camera once in awhile. Oh yeah before I forget, I caught this one kitty early in the morning. Then around noon or so I caught it again. How do I know it was the same kitty. Check out the picks. It sure looked the same to me.
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Looks like a fun day. Seems that Road was fishing in the "special ed" part of the lake again Kinda to see all those skinny kitties....
Still trying to get used to the pictures of tube dude in the red hot rod after looking at so many pictures of him on the old fat cat.
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I know what ya mean Dusty about TD and his new red suit. It just doesn't seem right does it. He needs to stop shaving and and some jolly red pants to his atire. I wonder if raindeer can be harnessd to pull his tube? Now that would be a sight on the water, and yse I know I would peobably leave the camera at home again.
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[cool][#0000ff]Everybody picks on us old guys...especially if we wear red and go "HO HO HO" everytime we hook up.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Forget the reindeer idea. DWR would bust me for sure. No way I could get tags for enough of them to do the job. Also too expensive for swimming lessons and fins for all of them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Maybe I can train 8 catfish. At least that is a limit. Now, if you will catch one of your deformed ones...one with a bright red nose...we can begin the training.[/#0000ff]
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On our next trip I will do my best to accomodate your request on great red one. Placing a bottle of red dye in the tube pocket. Ya think the red soft plastic dye will work LOL.
You wont need to buy them deer no fins. I'll donate all the ones I tried and didn't like. That should get half the herd finning.
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red suit? that aint a red suit this is a red suit
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[cool][#0000ff]And you fill it out very well too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Ho Ho Ho. We are all jolly elves.[/#0000ff]
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