04-29-2013, 09:15 PM
[#0000FF][cool]TubeBabe loves her kitties. While watching "Wicked Tuna" on TV last night she commented "I'd rather catch a big catfish". So this morning we put her afloat on Utah Lake with that goal in mind.
This was to be the Babe's first tubing trip this year. She's been busy as the "Galloping Grammy"...flying all over the country visiting grandkids and other family. But, as the smart one in the family, she waited until the water started to warm a bit before donning her waders and going afloat.
Air temp was right at 50 at 6:30 launch time. Water was 55 in the harbor and 56 outside in the main lake. Good color and clarity despite some recent winds. I boogied for the bubbleup to see if maybe some whities and/or wallies might have taken up residence. Nay. Not so.
Worked along a pretty long stretch of the pipeline. Saw little on sonar and only a couple of dink whities on my line. And just as I was moving back in on my usual hot spot some guy in a tin boat rockets in and drops his anchor right on top of my fave spot. Just pretended I wasn't there. But I'm getting used to him and a couple of others of the same ilk. Even a tin boat trumps a float tube.
Finally gave up on finding either size or quantity on light colored fishies. Decided to go for some tugs with the everlovin' kitties. Rigged a couple of bait rods...one with chub minnow and the other with a small whole white bass.
TubeBabe had been fishing baits continuously since we left the harbor. She had a couple of "inquiries" but the fish were inexperienced and didn't know how to hang on. She started working in and out at different depths on the north side of the bubbleup buoy line. I worked the flats to the south of it.
My first cookie cutter kitty slurped up a minnow...and I invited it to swim in my basket. The second was a bit bigger and munched the wee whitie. Had a couple of others. One was a good sized one that took my line in a big circle and ran though some sharp objects. Disconnect. Line all chewed up when I reeled in. Must have been some metal. Maybe an old car. I could visualize that smart old cat going inside and slamming the door on my line.
TubeBabe finally scored her first cat on a piece of carp meat. We always bring a buffet table of several kitty treats. I had to catch a couple more on white bass before she switched up.
Her second cat was the fish of the day. Kept her busy for over 15 minutes. She was lamenting that she thought it might be a big carp. I chuckled to myself at the thought of someone being mad at a carp for giving them a good tussle. But the fishing dieties
d upon my child bride and she was clearly more excited when she got to see it for the first time...and that it was a big kitty. Watching her try to get its big ol' head in the net I was reminded of the line from Jaws...with modifications..."You're gonna need a bigger net." But she landed it like a pro and proudly posed for the celebratory pics.
We finished the day by splitting top rod honors. I got the most cats...5...and she got 3. But she got the biggest. It taped out at 29 inches and weighed 10.2 pounds. We usually set a goal and have a contest each year to see who can be the first to get a cat over 10 pounds. Wouldn't cha know it? Her first kitty trip of the year and she nails it. That's my girl.
Water temps were sliding up over 61 degrees by the time we hit the ramp just after noon. But the breezes were coming up and a cold front is on the way. Liable to be a while before temps reach and stay above 65.
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[signature]
This was to be the Babe's first tubing trip this year. She's been busy as the "Galloping Grammy"...flying all over the country visiting grandkids and other family. But, as the smart one in the family, she waited until the water started to warm a bit before donning her waders and going afloat.
Air temp was right at 50 at 6:30 launch time. Water was 55 in the harbor and 56 outside in the main lake. Good color and clarity despite some recent winds. I boogied for the bubbleup to see if maybe some whities and/or wallies might have taken up residence. Nay. Not so.
Worked along a pretty long stretch of the pipeline. Saw little on sonar and only a couple of dink whities on my line. And just as I was moving back in on my usual hot spot some guy in a tin boat rockets in and drops his anchor right on top of my fave spot. Just pretended I wasn't there. But I'm getting used to him and a couple of others of the same ilk. Even a tin boat trumps a float tube.
Finally gave up on finding either size or quantity on light colored fishies. Decided to go for some tugs with the everlovin' kitties. Rigged a couple of bait rods...one with chub minnow and the other with a small whole white bass.
TubeBabe had been fishing baits continuously since we left the harbor. She had a couple of "inquiries" but the fish were inexperienced and didn't know how to hang on. She started working in and out at different depths on the north side of the bubbleup buoy line. I worked the flats to the south of it.
My first cookie cutter kitty slurped up a minnow...and I invited it to swim in my basket. The second was a bit bigger and munched the wee whitie. Had a couple of others. One was a good sized one that took my line in a big circle and ran though some sharp objects. Disconnect. Line all chewed up when I reeled in. Must have been some metal. Maybe an old car. I could visualize that smart old cat going inside and slamming the door on my line.
TubeBabe finally scored her first cat on a piece of carp meat. We always bring a buffet table of several kitty treats. I had to catch a couple more on white bass before she switched up.
Her second cat was the fish of the day. Kept her busy for over 15 minutes. She was lamenting that she thought it might be a big carp. I chuckled to myself at the thought of someone being mad at a carp for giving them a good tussle. But the fishing dieties
d upon my child bride and she was clearly more excited when she got to see it for the first time...and that it was a big kitty. Watching her try to get its big ol' head in the net I was reminded of the line from Jaws...with modifications..."You're gonna need a bigger net." But she landed it like a pro and proudly posed for the celebratory pics.We finished the day by splitting top rod honors. I got the most cats...5...and she got 3. But she got the biggest. It taped out at 29 inches and weighed 10.2 pounds. We usually set a goal and have a contest each year to see who can be the first to get a cat over 10 pounds. Wouldn't cha know it? Her first kitty trip of the year and she nails it. That's my girl.
Water temps were sliding up over 61 degrees by the time we hit the ramp just after noon. But the breezes were coming up and a cold front is on the way. Liable to be a while before temps reach and stay above 65.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
