Utah Lake South Side

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Haven't fished Lincoln Beach in like forever. Planning a tubers get together there at the end of August so I though I better check things out. Originally planned a trip to Willard, with Wildcat94, but forecast for high winds changed that.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Winds were supposed to be out of the south. So, I figured I would hit the south side of Utah Lake and if the winds got too strong to fish I would be outta there. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Stopped at the Spanish Fork River area on the way to Lincoln Beach. Took a dirt road a hundred yards to the east of the river mouth and found a nice sandy launch area for my tube. Just getting light and a white bass boil developed right in front of my tube before I could launch. Grundles of whities were swirling on some bitty bites of some kind...probably bluegill or crappie fry. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I thought I would try a couple of casts from shore before launching. Heck, I could have stood in one place and filled a tub with white bass. Doubles on every cast with my tandem rig. No biggies...8 to 10 inchers mostly. But, eager and aggressive. Not what I came fer.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]As I kicked out into deeper water, I occasionally dipped my jigs into the water beside the tube. Each time I did...one white bass would take the bottom jig and pull it down so that another could double up on the second jig. What a challenge.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Once I reached about 4 feet of water, the whities thinned out. I suspected there might be a walleye or two cruising the edges and picking off unwary whities. I began casting a new shad grub I had just got from Barlows. About the third cast THUMP. Hookset, headshake, GAME ON. After some careful rod work I coaxed the chunky wallie into my net. Yee hawwww. 24" of lovely good eatin'. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Had a couple more hefty hits on the plastic but did not hook anything else besides a few more whities. Picked up a rod with a pale perch crankbait on it and began catching whities on that too. Man, they were hitting everything I offered them. Then, THUMP...Hookset, headshake, long battle and then a "conservation release" just before reaching the net. Okay. I would have had to release it anyway since I already had my wallie over 24". But, it would have been nice to get it to for a picture before being released.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]That was it on walleyes for the morning. A big full moon setting as I drove up might have had them feeding at night. The only one I got was EARLY. But, I kept throwing an assortment of plastics and cranks. The whities hit it all, but even they slowed down after about 8 am.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]So, I kicked back into shore and headed for Lincoln Beach. Launched off the shallow shoreline in front of the "facilities". Threw small plastics to see if there were any willing whities in the shallow channel. Nope. Changed to my red and chartreuse shad grub and quickly nailed a few more white bass. Then I got something that felt different. It was different. A silly crappie way out away from any structure. Took it's picture and send him back.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Decided to drag one of the small minnows I had brought to tip jigs or fish under a bobber. Action on the whities had been fast enough without minnows that I had not used any yet. The whities liked the minnows too...too well. I was going through them fast. Then I crossed into the "kitty zone". For a half hour I got smacked by a cookie cutter kitty as soon as I could rebait and sail out a new minnow. Kept 3 for a meal. Then I hooked one that was definitely not a cookie. Much fun on the light rod and 6# line. Finally netted the 24 incher and took it's picture before sending it back. Healthy fish. Fought much better, for longer, than the same size walleye I had caught earlier.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]It had been calm, in spite of the forecast for building SW winds. And then...a NE breeze started coming up...and up...and up. As usual, whenever the north breezes blow into Lincoln Beach my fishing just shuts down. The N breeze started about 11 and I did not have another bite before leaving the water about 12.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Not too bad. Not really "blown" off the lake. Rather nice all morning really. And, by catching 4 different species I had managed a "grand slime". [/#0000ff]
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[pkred]

Looks like a great day Pat. Congrats on the walleye.
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[catfish-logic]

You said you saw a "white bass boil" when you arrived at the Spanish Fork River area........hmmmmmm.....
are you refering to an underwater volcanic spring that boils white bass? Thats strange cause I thought white bass were smart enough not to get cooked by a hot spring at Utah Lake.

Glad that walleye you caught was smart enough though.
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[catfish-logic]

On a serious note I find it fascinating how white bass find schools of fish in shallow water. And I'm serious. I one of those folks thats fascinated with animals. White bass being one of them, I miss catching them.

You arrive and you find white bass in water as shallow as 3 feet and there they are—a whole school of whitties feeding on small fry.

My curiousity is this: do you think they have some sort of "sensory" in thier lateral lines. Or I could guess its even temperature that "tells" the fish there may be other fish to eat in the vicinity. Sound interesting? It does to me to speculate on just how fish find thier food. Especially under certain conditions. Walleye and thier European cousins the Zander especially have sophisticated vibration sensory in thier lateral lines along the side of the fish.

However I think channel cats come first—great smelling abilty and impecable vibration "hearing" I think is better than any walleye or zander that swims.

Your report got me interested in learning how and excactly fish find food. I think though they have that "imbedded" instinct, temperature of course, vibration sensitivity and smell.

Maybe I should try farting underwater to get more catfish.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I did not belabor the point in an already wordy report, but I did reflect that I had witnessed the whole food chain at work. The tiny frylets are no doubt in the shallows (less than 1 foot) snarfing up zooplankton and mud dwelling microorganisms. The small white bass are accustomed (instinct vs experience) to looking for them there and can find them very well through a combination of superior nocturnal vision and a sensitive lateral line.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The larger walleyes...large enough to include white bass in their diet...respond to the vibrations of feeding whities and sneak in to pick off those that are not wary enough to avoid predators. Even the catfish are both nocturnal and diurnal feeders and often strike lures being fished for other species.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I was kicking back in to change venues this morning, I noticed a large black object swimming in those same shallows near where I had launched. Thinking it might be a beaver, I approached quietly and then observed that it was unlike any beaver I had ever watched before. Only when I got within a few feet did I recognize it for what it was...A HUGE CATFISH...CRUISING WITH ITS HEAD PARTIALLY OUT OF WATER. I have seen tiger muskies do that but never catfish. As soon as it realized I was in the area and watching it it became bashful and boogied.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In spite of being overrun by carp, Utah Lake is very healthy and full of food for all species. I filleted white bass, walleyes and catfish today. All had full bellies and abundant internal fat. Even though the lake can get "stained", the predator species all have good night hunting abilities to forage in the dark or in murky water. They don't need no steenking FLIR.[/#0000ff]
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[Weekend_Warrior]

Very nice!!! I think you were being conservative with that Kitty though... I would say 25 or maybe a little more!! Nice work Mr. Dude!
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[TubeDude]

[quote Weekend_Warrior]Very nice!!! I think you were being conservative with that Kitty though... I would say 25 or maybe a little more!! Nice work Mr. Dude![/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Bro.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I would rather err on the side of conservative than to run afoul of the picture police. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, I hold the camera further away just so they don't look too big.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Yeah, right.[/#0000ff]
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[mactuna]

Nice catch and report, Pat
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Jim[/#0000ff]
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[fatkidfishin]

Nice report TD[cool] and once again way to prove that technique is just as important as lure selection. You always have an array of lures that all seem to catch fish, no matter what color you tie on.[fishin] If you keep up the "Grand Slime" you just might get voted "BFT MVP" []
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[TubeDude]

[quote fatkidfishin]Nice report TD[cool] and once again way to prove that technique is just as important as lure selection. You always have an array of lures that all seem to catch fish, no matter what color you tie on.[fishin] If you keep up the "Grand Slime" you just might get voted "BFT MVP" [][/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks for the kindly comments.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You have touched upon something that I truly believe. That is that proper presentation is often more important than lure size or color. I have been heard to say "A good fisherman can usually catch fish...even on the WRONG lure. A poor fishermen may not be able to catch fish even on the RIGHT lure."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That being said, when it comes to walleyes...and some other species...it can sometimes be very important to have the right colors. They have sensitive eyes capable of night vision so their perception of colors and contrasts during daytime fishing conditions is much more accute than most other species. Like most walleye fans I have had days when the fish were responding only to one specific color or combo of colors...and even a slight variation would not get bit.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Yeah, I plead guilty to carrying a large arsenal of lures on most trips. Sometimes I could get by with only one or two of the compartments in the five or six "trip boxes" I load in my tube. But, like they say about raincoats..."Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."[/#0000ff]
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[LloydE]

Great fishing experience and report. I love to fish Utah Lake when you find those fishing conditions. From my experience that doesn't always occur. I always enjoy your pictures because of the story they tell, and I always enjoy your reports because of the important details you provide for the reader. Great job--as usual!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Lloyd. Did your weekend camping plans get "weathered"?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You up for Starvation next Tuesday?[/#0000ff]
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[LloydE]

Our camping plans were upset by a schedule conflict, but the weather would have changed them anyway.

I am always ready for Starvation.
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[waljustia]

Great report of a great day of fishing. That walleye is... well.. was[cool] amazing. Thanks for posting. People just cant understand how thick the white bass can be when you find a good school You have to experience it. LOTS of fun.
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[Like2Fish]

Thanks for the great recap (as always).

I'm looking for some experienced wisdom--as opposed to the inexperienced kind.

As the water in Utah Lake continues to warm, is there much difference in the eating quality of the fish you catch?

I've heard "people" say the flesh gets kind of mushy and tastes "fishier".

What has been your experience?

Thanks
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]The issues of taste and flesh quality are highly subjective...subject to personal opinions and based upon personal experiences and preferences. One person's opinion may not be shared by others.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have fished all over the country, and I have eaten just about all species from all kinds of waters. My personal opinion is that most species are better eating when taken from cold clean waters. But, that does not mean that they degrade to the point of inedibility during warm summer months. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Again, my personal opinion, I think that fish which ends up on the table in poor condition during warmer months is more the fault of the angler than of the fish. Even fish known as "warm water" species have optimum temperature ranges and when the water climbs above that point the fish seem to lose energy and are more easily stressed. That causes a buildup of lactic acid in the tissues and makes it mushier and less palatable. That is why during the summer it is best to kill your fish quickly, bleed them out and then place them on ice until you get them home. Don't let the fishes' own chemistry cause them to create poor table fare. And in warmer temperatures even the best fish will "go south" much faster if they are not kept cool.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Right now the water temps in Utah Lake range between 70 to 80 degrees. Ideal for catfish but not so good for crappies, walleyes and even white bass. They like it under 70. But, it is rare that Utah Lake climbs above the 80 degree mark. And, even if it did for short periods it would not cause fish dieoffs or ruin the fish for eating. The main difference would be that the fish change their feeding habits...becoming more active at night and eating less and moving around less. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I eat fish from Utah Lake all year. Other than crappie, which turn a bit softer during the summer no matter where you find them, I notice no real difference in the firmness or flavor of any species. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By the way, that walleye was absolutely "wallicious". No bad way to fix walleye, but the simpler the better. No need for exotic recipes or fancy sauces. I cut the fillets into chunks, sauteed them on both sides in garlic butter, added some salt, pepper and lemon and destroyed the evidence. Just like freshwater halibut.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Whenever I hear someone complain of a "fishy" taste in fish, I assume it is for one of two main reasons. First, "long time no sea". If the fish has been kept too long between catching and eating it will get "fishy". Second, "freezer burn". Fish that is frozen in such a way that there is air in contact with the flesh will turn white and dry. That is freezer burn. And, wherever it happens the oils in the fish start to turn rancid. Yuck. Fishy taste big time.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When I keep fish, I keep them alive in a fish basket until I am ready to get out of the water. Then, they go right on ice. If there is a fillet station available, I fillet the fish and drop the freshly cut fillets directly into an ice water bath to begin chilling them. Then it's back on the ice. This simple procedure makes a world of difference in how fast you cool the fish down from summer temperatures to refrigerated temperatures.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Any fish that I do not plan to eat within 2 or 3 days is frozen...in water, to eliminate any air bubbles that can cause freezer burn spots. And I have a system of labeling and organizing that prevents me from accumulating fish in the freezer. Part of that is regular family fish fries. If I have fish, and do not plan to have any on the menu for a while, I do not keep them...unless my sister in law is making cookies and I need to bribe some out of her.[/#0000ff]
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[Weekend_Warrior]

Lots o good info!! I need to make a system of labeling my freezer goodies. Lol
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[Like2Fish]

Thanks, oh great one, for your insight and wisdom.

Now I'm going to do a side-by-side test keeping part of the catch cool and the other part cooled down.

Darn! I guess I'll have to go fishing--and I better go several times to make the test valid.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]That is one of the great things about making fishing a lifetime study. The classroom can get kinda boring but the lab work and research is great. And, no matter how much you think you know there is always more to learn.[/#0000ff]
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