Knoll Lie...Whities are in

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Was supposed to get a newbie tuber checked out in his new tube this morning. Planned to head to Lincoln Beach. He couldn't make it so I did a "Plan B" at the Knolls. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Glassy calm at 7 AM launch. Air temp 43 and water temp already 60. Green water. Looking good...except for the early skeeters.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Kicked out about 20 feet from shore and made my first cast, with a tandem tube jig rig. Bang. First whitie of the day. Then got several more in quick succession. Then it got to be pretty fast and furious. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those little whities were plentiful and playful. Too bad they weren't just a bit bigger. Most were about 9 or 10 inches, with a few 11s. The spawn must be on. My "sushi board" apron got well creamed.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After about the first hundred, I kicked out into deeper water and tried dragging a minnow. Lots of snags in that area and I had to keep kicking back to undo them when my rig pulled tight under a rock. One rock moved...a lot. Turned out to be my first and smallest kitty...about 24 inches.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Several groups of "locals" showed up and began wading and casting for the whities. Looks like the "network" is working. They were all catching (and keeping) a grundle of white bass. They also parked all around my vehicle and took over my launch spot so that had to get out someplace else later.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I played around with the whities some more. I kept trying to find something they would not hit. If there was something that wouldn't work, I couldn't find it in my tackle supply today. I caught white bass on maybe 20 different lures...plastics, hardbaits, spinners, etc. No finesse required.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was sitting in about 5 feet of water and casting back into two or three feet of water...and catching fish. The other guys were wading out to about 2 feet deep and casting out to 4 or 5 feet deep...and catching fish. Seemed to be a pattern. NOT.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Still couldn't find any larger whities so I decided to keep a few to fillet for the scampi pan. Kept a small percenage of the next hundred. Ended up with about 30 for the fillet board.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I was kicking around the local group, I tossed out some white bass meat on my "bead bling" rig. Pow, zing, bendo. My rod had some serious arc to it and the locals were hollering up a storm. Got them excited anyway. I kept hearing "walleye, walleye". Wrongo. It was a 27" kitty that weighed right on the nose at 8#. Heard a lot more noise when I released it with a big show.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The lake stayed quite calm all morning. Just a few clouds and a light ripple a couple of times. Not bad. Water temp had warmed up to 65 by the time I beached the tube and headed home.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Anybody who wants to catch a lot of fish can do it on the whities right now. Small jigs a couple of feet under a bobber or almost any spinner will get 'er done.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Didn't see any carp rolling in the shallows today, but did see MANY clumps of prespawners in their "dating game" get togethers. They should be all over the shoreline by the weekend. [/#0000ff]
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[onehun]

Nice catching looks like a fun day them cats had to have stirred you up in the middle of all the whites. You did it again. I really need to try that lake. looks fun!!!
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[BigBassaholic]

Nice fishing, not many days you can get 100 or more fish at Utah lake. See you on the water...
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[Kent]

That sounds like a fun trip. It appears that the whities haven't been totally depleted from Utah Lake.
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[TubeDude]

[quote kentofnsl]That sounds like a fun trip. It appears that the whities haven't been totally depleted from Utah Lake.[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Nope. The whities and most other species (except carp) all took a hit during the last drought. But, they have had several years of high water and good spawning. THEY ARE BACK.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The fish I kept were all pretty healthy too. If all species have a good spawn, and there is plenty of forage (baby June suckers) those 10 inchers will be 12" to 14" by fall. Bring 'em on.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That might make a good late afternoon trip some day next week. Simple to wade and cast. [/#0000ff]
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[lavaman]

Fantastic! Not many days like that, gotta enjoy it.

Great pics like always- I liked that 'partly cloudy' jpeg the best.
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[MisterCompletely]

I did the same thing at the Knolls last Monday but in my boat. I was hoping for more whiskerfish action but couldn't find very many in any particular spot or depth, on the finder or the hook, so I finally moved in close to shore and caught a bunch of the whities until I got bored with that. I brought home about 20 for dinner and bait for next time. I was wishing I had been in my tube instead, it would've been more fun. I launched by myself at Provo Harbor and went across the lake to the Knolls, and didn't try anywhere else. Yes, there is definitely non-stop action for whities right in next to the reeds.
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[Weekend_Warrior]

Nice work dude!! I need to come over and make some jigs soon!! The rocks have been mean to my tandem rigs lately []

I may have to go shoot bait there on Sat!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I know a guy that makes those jigs. I get them at a discount.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I might be up for some carp-perforatin' my own self. Not that I need the bait...or the exercise. Just that Utah Lake needs fewer carp and I am glad to help where I can.[/#0000ff]
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[Weekend_Warrior]

PM sent.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]It is a lot easier going across the lake in a boat, but it is more fun to fish in a tube.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I did not fish much for cats today, but I did try soaking some white bass meat under a bobber to try for some in close to the reeds. Nothin' but cannibalistic whities munched it. But, they wouldn't leave it alone long enough for the kitties to get to it anyway. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a couple of slots out off the one area that almost always hold a few cats. I think if I had fished them longer I could have scored a few more.[/#0000ff]
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[catfish-logic]

[#0000ff] They also parked all around my vehicle and took over my launch spot so that had to get out someplace else later.[/#0000ff]

I know I go to Willard Bay and leave my cooler full of ice and soda pop at the shore. Of course the fishtards at the bank don't seem to notice. So you have to find a "blank spot" to land your boat or tube.

In other words you get to leave your cooler at the shore, assuming the fishing-idiot-apparatus can clearly see your cooler as an indicator that someone must be fishing there! Duh! Nope sorry we want to fish right where your cooler is. Dumb __________________________ (fill in the blank with whatever somes to your mind.)

It always happends at Willard.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]What are you complaining about? They haven't taken your cooler or your goodies yet, have they?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]What torques me is that when I start to move toward my takeout spot everybody starts hollering and casting at me. Doesn't matter who was there first. It's who holds the spot...and how many of them there are.[/#0000ff]
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[catfish-logic]

I leave my cooler on shore so other fisher____(please fill in any word) will not set up and fish so I can take my inflatable boat back to shore. I don't really worry about them stealing anything.

Usually though I take my cooler with me. But still I take 2 coolers and leave 1 at the shore. But at Willard especially at the southwest corner you can count on the bank tangling retards to be fishing right next to my cooler......oh well.

I'm 3 days into quiting smoking. So by the time I get to Willard my smoking habit will be gone(I hope) so I won't strangle any of the ______ ______ ______!!!!!!(please fill in with whatever words you please).
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[Fishhound]

[quote TubeDude][#0000ff] Doesn't matter who was there first. [/#0000ff][/quote]

[#008000]Oh contrar my friend ... Nobody ever trespassed on my fishing spot. When 200 pounds of hound claimed the territory, I never had any disputes or people trying to cast over my line.[/#008000]
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[quote TubeDude][#0000ff]It's who holds the spot...and how many of them there are.[/#0000ff][/quote]

[#008000]Truer words have seldom been spoken ... 400 pounds of hound have a way of holding a spot unmolested and the tranquility of my camp fire was always preserved.[/#008000]

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[135guy]

Looks like a good time with some fast action. I have been to the knolls only a few times. I have a few days off next week seems like I need to get down there and have some fun. As always great post TD.
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[BigFatty]

Tube Dude
How would someone find the knolls
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[TubeDude]

[quote BigFatty]Tube Dude
How would someone find the knolls[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]The Knolls is #5 on the attached map of Utah Lake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]To reach it from the north, you can drive all the way on Redwood Rd (Hwy 68). Better to go south on I-15 to Bangerter Rd. and then west to Redwood Rd. Warning: Redwood Rd is all torn up (orange cone project) from Bangerter Rd to Saratoga Springs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]To reach it from the south, take Lehi exit 273 (I think) to Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain. Go west to the intersection of 68 in Saratoga Springs. The Smiths will be on the left.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]From Saratoga Springs, go south...at 45 mph...past Pelican Poing and then bend west between the lake and the hills. Watch for the "knolls" down on the lake. Take the dirt road down at mile marker 19. Most of the road is "doable" gravel but there are some DEEP ruts. A family car will make it (even lowriders) but high clearance is better. Once at the road along the lake there are plenty of places to park and there are lots of whities along miles of shoreline. Lots of campers on the weekends and lots of HUGE spiders in the late summer.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]C'mon, admit it. You secretly HOPE that someone will test your "place holders". Probably cuts down on their food bill when they "forage" on their own.[/#0000ff]
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[BigCountryUT]

I have never fished UL before does anyone know where the best place to launch a boat wold be to get over to the knolls? I am coming from the north. Thanks.
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