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Hello, I am new to the forum! My name is Nate, and I am a college student trying to find as much time to fish as I can! Hopefully I can provide some reports and tips for some lakes that I know well, if anyone asks! Unfortunately I am asking for some tips first, instead of earning my stripes helping others before asking for help. Here goes nothing! I recently fished Navajo Lake from my pontoon, with no luck. I feel like I was fishing in the wrong spot though, mostly in incredibly mossy areas with little time to move around the lake. Splake was my targeted fish, knowing that they stay deeper I tried to find some deep areas in the lake. I also figured out that the lake is very shallow, but I could not locate it's deepest parts. I am headed up for round 2 this Thursday, so any help before then would be GREATLY appreciated!
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There are no deep spots on Navajo Lake. The entire lake is shallow.
I would recommend finding some rocky points, or even along the dike -- just find a good spot with no weeds. If you want splake, then use some cut bait (dead chubs).
post pictures of the trophy when you catch it.
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How would I rig up the dead chubs? I have absolutely no experience using cut bait, but I would assume you would put it on like you're fishing a nightcrawler?
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Welcome to BFT! As PBH stated use some cut bait. Drag it on an unweighted hook and on a second rod drag a fly like a bugger.
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assuming you have no dead chubs or suckers at home, I would recommend looking around on the shoreline to see if you can see any dead chubs. This time of year you may still be able to find a few dead chubs washed up on the shore. Cut one or two of those in half (or thirds).
Tie a bait hook on the end of your line.
push the hook through a piece of the chub you just cut up.
Cast the bait into the water.
Wait for a bite.
Alternatives:
A. if you are getting snagged on the bottom, you can use a red and white bobber to float the bait off the bottom.
B. if you need to cast further, add a couple split-shot for weight -- or, use a bigger piece of chub.
From your toon -- I think I'd just sit and drift with nothing more than a hook and the bait (no sinker, etc.). If you have a fly rod with you, cast a bugger and strip it in while you drift with the bait rod. But, be careful -- if one of those bigger splake grabs your rod it might just disappear if you don't have hold of it.
seriously -- post a picture of your trophy after you catch it.
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Thank you so much for your help! I will definitely find a chub or two to use! I'll make sure to secure the pole with the bait on it, i've actually lost a pole to a big fish when I was younger.
I'll definitely post a picture if I catch anything, once again thanks for your help!
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I would assume a lighter bugger, to try and replicate the chub color?
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A woolly bugger can come in many colors. You could try a light color then go dark. They usually imitate a leech.
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I'll go get two different colors then! I'll let you know how I do! Thank you so much!
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Good colors to try would be
Olive
Black
Brown
Also check out crystal, white, etc..
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Alright, so here is the deal with Navajo shh its a secret. BIG splake live there!!!I wouldn't give out this info but being a former student at suu I feel your pain.[  ] There are a few places to target. All focus around the dike. South East corner can be great. Also keep in mind a few years back the dike ruptured. The water running into the sink hole scoured a pretty sizeable hole. I would launch out of the boat ramp head east about casting distance from the shore ( this will get you into about max lake depth) which isn't much maybe 10-15 max. Troll/paddle/drift from there east on the shoreline and along the dike. But for me use a whole chub! 3-6 inches, keep the babies away. You will catch less fish but the reward can be awesome. On a second pole cast/strip/ troll anything that mimics another fish especially a chub or planter bow. Remember that's what splake do, they eat other fish. Good luck hope this helps post pics.
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Toonman -- don't make this out to be too hard. You don't need to be specific. Bugger, streamer, hopper....just start pulling what you've got and see what happens.
Take some nightcrawlers with you -- try them.
If necessary, put on a small fly and catch a chub, then use it for bait.
This time of year, you will most likely do better with bait. Keep in mind that Navajo typically has a lot of rainbow trout winter kill -- which means that the splake are cruising around scavenging dead fish.
while fishing the dike area can be good, it certainly is not the only place to fish. Lot's of other spots too. Just start fishing. (I like the area right in front of the campground)
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JLTD, where did you get your chubs? Thank you for the great information, when I went up the first time I fished right in front of the campground and I didn't get a nibble. All this about posting pictures is making me really excited about catching a monster.. I can't get my hopes up too much!
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At one time you could get them at ace hardware there in cedar but I am not sure if they still have them. If not sportsman's in st George should have them but I would call first. Or like said before catch them you should be able to get a few in the shallows at Navajo with a worm or minerville is loaded both them but artificial only.
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One can always buy them before they leave Slc area too from sportsmans And cabelas
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[quote JLTD]... or minersville is loaded both them [chubs] ...[/quote]
Not any more....
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Lots of big Splake in that beautiful lake. caught this one on a piece of cutt bait in the shallows, a couple years ago.
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Nice splake man did you get a weight on that toad?
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Well, I threw everything I had at them. Worms, buggers, jigs, chubs, lures, flies, EVERYTHING. I fished everywhere from the dam to the campground, down the middle and towards the bank. Not even a nibble. I guess Navajo just has my number..
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