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I stayed up too late last night, that's why I'm getting to bed at a reasonable time tonight.
Was promised to be warm and sunny today, and seeing the impending forecast of doom and gloom, I had to take a break today, got my Jazzday nuggest, and off I went. Gotta burn my vacation sometime, so nowsagoodasany day.
Booked off to sample some honey holes. Made a landing at a likely spot, and sure as shooting - it was sunny, and um - windy. Bit nippery for the forecast (weathermen!@)
Pitched my shrimpies, and wasn't long till playtime commenced. Pestered by a few fat yellow bellies, but met up with this hunky 22 inch kitty.
[inline "Todays Toad.jpg"]
Then my bobber took a stop, and I reeled down - ugh, some reel wait there.[crazy] I pulled, I tugged - it moved, moved some more, and I hauled in this awesome 80inch green meanie! Almost as big as the rod I caught it on!
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Seems some folks have been doing their duty of carp-eradication, but must think it's good plan to dogpile their catchings shoreside. Bonehead Boneyard I call it. The little furry critters think it's loads of fun. Wonder how they'd fare wriggling on the end of a line? All my luck, I'd hook up a carp - paybacks are . . . what they are.
[inline "Bonehead Boneyard.jpg"]
Still beats an afternoon at work.
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Nice job Yote, glad you got ya a kitty snack. That's my favorite size to eat. So can ya salvage the rod or reel or are they too far gone? Looks like a great day to be out. I sure had spring fever at work. Too bad about the trashy behavior, was talking to some land owners the other day that were really disgusted with the trash fishermen they called it. I think we need to put up trail cams and start prosecuting these dang junky jerks that keep leaving all their crap all over. There's no good reason for it and I can see why the private lands keep getting closed off. I need to take a couple buckets over to your crappie spot and haul beer bottles and bait containers to the trash. Hard to believe how much crap has piled up there. Might be a good spot for the first trail cam so we can get rid of the trashy competition. Ok I'll get off my soap box. Nice report. Later J
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Sweet fish! Good job finding them. I went out Saturday for a few hours and only got 2- carp and some fathead minnows to use for bait later. I'm going out this afternoon though to try for a contest fish while the sun is still out.
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Think I told ya - spoke with your momma one time fishing near their property. Mentioned I was trying to catch carp, she just asked that I don't toss em on the bank. NO no- I sez, looking for catfish bait I wuz!
There are quite a few bloated winter kills floating around, but this pile was clearly an intentional collection spot. Bet if smelled pretty "fragrant" before it became dem bonz.
Floors me - where they've got a trash can RIGHT THERE, yet folks gotta toss their cans, worm tins and all willy nilly. And of course you know the hard hit areas like the bridges get junked bad.
You know C.A. who likes that spot, but has a tendency to bring chips, and let them fall where they may. Caps, butts, and bottles too. Some of us have suggested he pack it out. Nice guy to fish and chat with, but different ethics I guess. I'm bringing a spare bag next time I go, but how long with it last, hard to know.
gmwahl - hope you find good weather and good fish. I woulda enjoyed a bit more adn bigger action, but still nice to get out. Gotta rig up the float, and get OUT there. Maybe this weekend I'll get on with it. Need to take my "exam".
Oh Jeff - that rod looks like the creature from the Black Lagoon - moss covered like you don't know. Think it'll be a good chance to try out the powerwasher, see what that can do for me. I can just imagine the carp that pulled that rod off the stick-holder, and took a run. Sure it's not the first.
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looks familiar
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[#0000FF]Nice outing. No matter how short or how poor the fishing a trip to the water beats staying at home (or work).
Since I do a lot of bottom bouncing with jigs, from my tube, I have "harvested" a lot of rods and reels off the bottom of many waters over the years. Some have been virtually new...with no real damage to the reels or rods. A cleanup and some new reel lube and they are good to go. Others are pretty much trashed...as far as the reels go...and the rods sometimes need new handles and maybe new wraps. But I have salvaged a few good blanks that I was able to rework into some favorite rods.
Any good heavy duty cleaner degreaser should get rid of the algae and water deposits on the rods. If not, get some bathtub and shower cleaner. If the handle is cork, it is probably ruined. If it is foam you may be able to restore it okay. Check the wraps for water penetration and thread decay. A good wrap job with heavy epoxy coating will keep the windings okay...if the guides are not rusted or corroded.
Give it a good cleanup and then check the overall condition. If it is still "catfish-worthy" then you have a new-to-you rod.
Them carp was all "good" carp...as in the only good carp is a ______ carp. Maybe you can get creative and start a new online business...carp bone jewelry.
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Are you bank tangling or in the boat today? Just curious how deep are the cats your finding? Wondering if they are spreading out to the shallows yet? Thanks J
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Think things will start picking up soon, but I still haven't caught my first cat this year. Hope that's not a sign of things to come. Had a great year last year, but so far this year no big numbers for anything. Need to get that changed soon. Got my toon ready need to give it a real try soon. Later J
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I'm bank tangling. I'm just fishing for a couple of hours on my way bak from Ogden. I've caught 3- channel cats so far, but nothing decent. I'm just using worms because that's all I have today. Oh, and the mud cars are being pesky. The fish have been in 3-4' so far(using a bobber to estimate). I'll post a report when I'm done, I'm replying from the shore line with my phone 
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hey Jeff don't feel bad buddy...I've only caught one channel that measured 19". (Made two trips this spring thus far) Not even contest worthy in my book.
It's a tad too early yet. It will pick up soon.
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Hey thanks for the info, sounds like you got them going again. Good job. I tried for an hour or so tonight before dark but struck out again. Later J
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I swung and missed again tonight. I tried trolling again even in the shallows, but not a nibble got to go find some trout so I get a tug in that's three skunks in a row I'm starting to doubt my abilities. My nieces are hammering the cats everytime they go and they are 3 and 5 so I don't know what my problem is. Must be because I signed up for the contest and it jinxed me. Well have a good one and I'll catch ya later. J
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Maybe we should get together, and I could bring you luck, or you could bring your skunk.
I haven't had a Kitty-Free Cutler trip yet this year. I just whisper... are you fishing Cutler, or the river? Maybe you need to try different offerings.
I should bring you some sucker, they love that sch-tuff.
I still need to dig down to my minnow box. I could use the freezer space, and missed the "hot time" at the old pond again. Goes quick I guess.
Unfortunately the predicted weather doesn't look so good over the next few days.
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[quote lavaman]hey Jeff don't feel bad buddy...I've only caught one channel that measured 19". (Made two trips this spring thus far) Not even contest worthy in my book.
It's a tad too early yet. It will pick up soon.[/quote]
Don't you mean 17"? [blush][mad][shocked]
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Been fishing a river/slough combo and it looks like it isn't the right spot. Although the slough was loaded with tons of carp as I trolled around. Should have at least picked up a carp. Been using mostly fatheads with some night crawlers and plastics. The same stuff I usually do well with, but maybe I'm too early for fishing it the way I am. Maybe I need to be more patient and sit on the bank and bait fish, but seems like I never have the time to let things soak, I only get an hour to two at best and so I try and force them to take it before its gone and I guess they are just saying no thanks.
Are you fishing Saturday? If so I'll have to wander by and see if I can pick up some of that good luck. My wife tells me its because I haven't got my Home teaching done yet, so maybe I better get that done while its raining and see if my luck will return.
Let me know where and when and I'll see if I can drop in. Think I'll try to take my Dad out to Hyrum Friday and see if we can catch a couple. My park pass and boat license are both about to expire and I haven't got my money back yet so I need to get a couple trips in to try and justify buying it. Somehow with Willard north off line last summer I didn't get my value from the park pass. That and Cutler being so good I didn't want to leave home, but the way it's treating me this year, I'm ready to go elsewhere. Later J
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Jeff, give it two weeks or so. It WILL pick up, trust me.
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[#0000FF]Have you guys checked your Captain Marvel calendar? It ain't even April yet. And the current pattern of a succession of cold fronts moving through doesn't do much to put the cats in a full-on spring fling thing.
The fish that are showing up shallow right now are just following the sun...which warms the shallows first. While they are there they will accept fishy offerings, but not yet in a major feeding mode. Every cat you catch when the water is under 60 degrees is a bonus. The colder it is the tougher it can be.
Still lots of good times ahead. Keep hitting the warm and calmer afternoons to find heat-seeking kitties. But don't jump off your tackle box if you ain't loadin' up yet.
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I sure hope things improve, I looked at my trip log since the first of the year and it made me  . I've been skunked 9 out of 17 trips. 7 of the 9 were Cutler / Bear River. I actually haven't caught a fish on CB this year. Time for me to go to Hyrum and see if I can find some confidence. Thanks for the encouragement. J
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Yes you are correct on the time of year. Last year to this point I had only been out 9 times and had 2 skunks. One was Cutler the other Bear Lake, but all were ice fishing trips not a mix of both like this year. This stretch historically contains most of my skunks so I know things will improve soon. By the way, been using your trip log idea for a couple years now and it sure is fun to look through and compare. Think I'm up to 79 trips in 2.5 years. Guess I am a little addicted. Sure is fun though. Guess I need to catch trout while they are good and come back to cats a little later. Thanks for the perspective. Later J
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[#0000FF]One other factor that you have mentioned...and it is a potential biggie...was the big drawdown. Doesn't seem like it created a significant fish kill but it did force the fish to adapt...moving to deeper water wherever they could find it. Now the water is coming back up but the fish have no memories...just instinct. They are moving into newly flooded areas to find new habitat and food resources.
Glad you are getting some use out of the logs. I find myself consulting mine often...especially during transition periods like spring and fall...when water levels and temps are changing. Surprising the differences you can find from year to year. Amazing that the fish ever know what to do at all. Us silly anglers sure don't.
You may be on target with checking out new waters and new species. A big part of my trip planning is looking at all the venues within my daytrip circle. Then I check out current conditions of water temps, fish activity, recent reports, past log info, etc. to be able to make a better-informed guess. If you decide in advance that you definitely want to target one water...or one species...that narrows your choices. After that you have to plan for what the pattern of the day might be...and have an alternate plan B...or C...or X, Y, Z. That is an area that past logs can help.
One of my favorite sayings...from old Zig Ziglar...is "If you wait 'til all the lights are on green you ain't never gonna leave the house." Better to go fishing...and work to make it work...than to mope around the house whimpering about skunks and stuff.
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