South Marina Tri-tilla 5-12-11

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Albinotrout and Madfisher were boiling over with suppressed "fish-tosterone" and just hadda get in the water with some fishies. They had planned to hit Starvation but conditions there didn't look worthy of the drive and gas money for an exploratory. Might should have gone there anyhooters.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]We hit the south marina at Willard about 7ish. Inlet still pouring in cold chocolate with lots of floaties. Water temp inside only 47 at launch...51 on the outside...warming to 55 by 1 PM departure.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Dragged minnows, pitched plastics and cranked cranks. Nada, zip, zilch for over an hour. A couple of "sideswiper" carp that arranged their own early departure. Yay! Lots of carp-slurpers on the calm surface early.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Had a few tentative pecks on plastics and a couple of pop and drops on the minnow. Couldn't get a hook in anything but my knuckle. Ouch. Not past the barb so no big drama.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Finally put a cookie cutter kittie in the basket about 8:30. Skunk-be-gone. Over an hour before the next one and then a couple fairly close together right about noon. Had quite a few short runners but they were inexperienced and did not know how to hang on long enough for a lip piercing.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]A beautiful day on the water. Nothing more than a light breeze at any time. Plenty of sunshine and no skeeters or power squadron idjits. The midges are starting to come out now so that will be a good breakfast supplement for early anglers starting in a week or so.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Felt badly for Madfisher. He's mostly a troutaholic and was semi sorta outta his element on Willard. Tried to coach him into some action but I was having enough trouble finding any of my own. Albinotrout also smelled a bit skunkish as the two guys loaded up their toons on Kevins cool new trailer for the trip home. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]But we all agreed that fishing on a nice day like today was better than...almost anything else. ALMOST.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]With a couple more warm days the water temps will jump up and the fish should get playful. I am guessing that anybody who goes up later today or tomorrow will do better than this mornings schlubs.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[albinotrout]

Yeah shoulda gone to Starvation or DC. Anyone know if strawberry is opening up yet? I am thinking it might be a good year for me to return. Haven't fished the berry since 2001.

Yeah Willard is a bit slow today. Had someone come down from the north marina and talk with us. Said it was really slow up there as well.
[signature]

[flygoddess]

What???? I thought you hated Strawberry! I got off work early today (like 7:30) And really thought of seeing if the Dude was at Willard,but I would have gone to No. beach.
[signature]

[lavaman]

Nice ....well done TD. Love the pics.

Let's hope we get a nice string of warmer days and the fishing will pick up most everywhere.
[signature]

[albinotrout]

No don't hate strawberry, just grew out of favor. It has actually been 11 years. So I am looking to go back for another go. There are just so many places to go..[laugh]
[signature]

[flygoddess]

YUP!!![cool]
[signature]

[hookngrinin]

I have heard the ice is starting to pull away from the shore in some areas. It's still not fishable though.
[signature]

[albinotrout]

Yeah it's going to be a couple of weeks or more before I can get back to Indian creek bay. But soon though. [cool]
[signature]

[Flycasting]

Hey my friend! Long time no chat.

Nice to see you got into a few. I took the kiddos to the N Marina in the evening and we got into a few crappie. A few really nice slabs too.

Hope you are well! [cool]
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, where you been hiding? No excuses about work or kids. Fishing is more important than that silly stuff. [/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Flycasting]

Well, you took the excuses right outta my mouth!

Been around here and there... fishing when I can.

Need to get some tubes for the twins! [:p]
[signature]

[BigEZ]

I think the Tube Dude flotilla took all the fish at the Knolls, because they wanted anything to do with my simple worm and bobber. []

The water was nice and warm though. Still better than a day at work.
[signature]

[wagdog]

While white bass will hit just about anything, my experience suggests that they like something they can chase. A small inline spinner or a curly tail grub seems to work better for me than trying to hang bait under a bobber for them. The colors that TD mentioned in his post (especially the RC killer) always seems to be a good choice for Utah Lake.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Glad you were able to go afloat. Sorry you did not get up close and personal with the fishies. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As with all fishing, it is tough to just drive up to a spot the first time and expect a "happy harvest". The Knolls is one of those places that it really pays to have some "history". Those who are most successful...most often...have fished it through all seasons over several years and have learned the best spots and techniques for the different species under a wide range of conditions.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Reading reports on BFT is a dual edged sword. A good report can whet your appetite and spike your enthusiasm. Having a bad trip the following day can really be a downer but it is no reason to tear up your fishing license or jump off your tackle box. I have had both good and bad days on the same water only one day apart. The fish play by THEIR rules...not ours.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]What is helpful is to gradually learn the different spots and how to fish them...under different conditions. Then, learn the individual species and their patterns and cycles throughout the year. Know how they are affected by variations in water temps, weather patterns, water levels, etc. Then try to make more good guesses than bad ones.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I love to be able to post barn-burner reports. But I have also put up some pretty meager ones. Not often I get skunked but I sometimes have to keep changing up strategies, spots and presentations a lot. Might have to get all the way to Plan S or T before getting a bite sometimes. And I have been known to "Z" out.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]A big part of the enjoyment of fishing...for me...is the constant learning process. I can honestly say that I learn something on every trip. At my age that is sometimes a "relearning" thing...like being able to hide my own Easter eggs.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You got some good input. A worm and bobber will catch almost any species in Utah Lake. But the aggressive whities will usually respond better to something that is active and/or colorful. [/#0000ff]
[signature]