Starvation

[panfisher]

Was going to head to Bunny Gulch on Friday any one have a recent report for there?
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Haven't heard since but they had a tournament over there two weekends ago. Mostly small bass but lots of decent sized walleyes and some good perch. At that time the walleyes were between 20-25 feet but with the recent storms and cooling they may be a bit deeper now.

There were reports finding isolated schools of perch in large stacks. That is the way they have been acting the last three years in the fall...schooling all the way up the water column in deeper water. I found some last year at 12 to 15 feet over 35 feet depth. And they also schooled up and suspended like that around the bridge pilings in about 40 feet. A good sonar can help you find them.

As expected, the rainbows are turning on in the cooling water. Lots of mid teen inchers. Not as many of the big Starvation steelheads. But there will be by next spring. Waiting to see what happens to the rainbow plantings in Starvation with the proposed Jones Hole hatchery closing. That's where those fish come from.

Also, of the fish being caught some contain baby perch and many contain small crawdads. They are eating well.

I was codgertatin' about making a run this week too but have another commitment. Let us know how you do.
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[panfisher]

I will report back, last trip a month ago I found a few walleyes and a couple perch, was nice weather and a good outing, hoping for the same.

Thanks
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I'm especially interested in water temps. Gotta know when to upgrade from breathable waders to neoprenes. Us tuber types are sensitive to that stuff, ya know?[/#0000FF]
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[ifishutah]

On Sept 20 the lake was pretty active. There were a lot of perch chasing our baits in 10ft of water and along the dam there were huge schools of trout that followed our baits too. If you're after the perch I'd find a good flat that has weeds and grass and then work the "holes" in the grass.

Just my 2 cents.
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[panfisher]

Ok I'll take a reading, I'll be on my toon, so I hope I will be warm in my shorts.
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[panfisher]

I fished some grassy area's last trip and only got a few keepers, lots of little ones. My favorite holes did not produce will try them again.
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[SBennett]

Cool report, thanks.
Any size to the perch?
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]This is a transition time...from warmer to colder water. And with the water levels dropping almost every trip takes some work to find the fish.

And if you are only wearing shorts I hope you look good in blue.

Good luck.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Hey Shane, you ready to gang up on them again?

Got more new trinkets to try.
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[ifishutah]

Yeah, the perch were hitting full size bass jigs and dropshot rigs I believe we caught 4 or 5 10" or bigger. Not many but we were targeting bass exclusively. Sorry no pics, during a tournament I don't photograph anything but absolutely huge fish.

Most of the fish that would follow our rattlebaits were smaller. We couldn't throw the rattlebaits out across the grassy stuff without having schools of 10-30 perch follow them in.
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[SBennett]

Yes, I can't wait.
Hopefully this is the return of some jumbos.
Those submerged weed beds are critical for the health of Starvys perch population.
Wished DC had some weed beds like Fish Lake !
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Have your people contact my people and we can put together an expedition...or two.

Yes, DC would be a lot more productive if it could sustain some permanent vegetation. But it is drawn down even more drastically than Starvy every year. Still, if the same weeds that are in Starvy got a toe hold in DC they might make it. Large areas of the weedy shallows at Starvy dry out each year but the weeds grow back as soon as they get wet again.

Those weeds in Starvy really help provide spawning vegetation for perch and cover for the young of all species. Good habitat for crawdads and other nutritious invertebrates too.

Of course Fish Lake is a mostly natural lake with little annual fluctuation of water levels. An old natural lake with stable water levels is a better pond for weeds...and the perch that love weeds.
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[SBennett]

Let me get a couple limits of Canada geese under my belt and then we can talk.
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[TubeDude]

[quote SBennett]Let me get a couple limits of Canada geese under my belt and then we can talk.[/quote]

[#0000FF]Not sure I'd wanna be talkin' to some dude wearing geese under his belt. Besides looking funny it would probably be uncomfortable.


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[JLW]

Hey TD, the state park current conditions says water temp is 62 and if they are updating it, she has been holding around 76% full for awhile which is pretty good. Going to try and make it up there too before putting the boat up... Good luck. Fishon
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Thanks.

I'm guessing that the weather this past week has helped raise the level a bit and has probably put a bit of color in the water as well.

This time of year every week is a new week.
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