American Fork Mini-Floatilla 9-21-12

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Met up with fishfearme2 (Brent) and Ice Princess this morning at AFBH. Brent wanted to get back in his float tube after completing radiation but wasn't sure how long he could hold up. Turned out to be a moot point since his tube wouldn't hold air. So he did some bank tanglin' with the Princess. They got some decent white bass and some mudders. Nice day for it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Air temp was 49 and water temp 63 inside the harbor at 7 am. Little whities all over the surface. After scratching up a few for bait I motored outside the harbor to look for whatever. Depth inside the harbor was 4-5 feet except for less than 4 feet at the channel mouth.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Worked over to an area off the mouth of the American Fork River...pitching plastics on one rod while dragging a chub minnow on the other. Not much action on either. Got some half-footer whities on plastic but no love on bait. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Worked steadily back out to deeper water...moving from a shallow 3 feet out to about 5 feet. Took off the chub minnow and rigged up one of the whitie tykes. Deeper water and the bait du jour did the trick. That and the water temp starting to warm a bit...up to almost 65 by 9:30. Zing. Bendo. First kitty to the net. Cookie cutter 20 incher.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Kept working slowly straight out from shore into water between 5.5 and 6 feet. Fish were scattered but I was getting enough inquiries to keep me entertained. Lost a couple of fish when the whole small white bass got wadded up in their mouths and covered the hook. Bad juju. Also missed a few hits by striking too soon. The cooling water had the fish biting more tentatively and not gulping the bait as quickly as in previous weeks of warmer conditions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Got tired of messing with the dink whities and put up the plastic rod. Rigged two bait rods and got serious about cattin'. Had an order for a batch of smokitty so I commenced to prepare to start to get ready to catch some more cats.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Put on my catfish thinking cap and figgered out that maybe cutting the small fish in half might work better than feeding them the whole thing. When they are active...no problem. But when their metabolism slows down ya gotta sometimes downsize the offerings. Good move. More hits and more hookups. Some took the head and some took the tail end. Didn't seem to show a preference.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lost one biggun at the tube...about 27-28 inches and maybe 8-9 pounds. She was one of the ones that had wadded up the whole bait in a ball and the hook just couldn't get a good bite. Smallest to net was at least 19 inches and biggest maybe 22". All just right for smoking.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Finished up my smoking collection just as I used up my last half white bass for bait. I love it when everything comes together so nicely. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Slowed down on the way back in to trade pics with Brent and the Princess. Good to see them again but too bad about the hissy tube. Hate it when that happens...even to someone else.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water temp was up to 66 as I neared the ramp for departure. Not even noon yet. Lovely.[/#0000ff]
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[a_bow_nut]

Good times.

There is nothing quite like some good head and tail action to put me in a good mood.

I have been wondering if a set up like the use for sturgeon fishing would help with the lighter bites. Run the hook through the trailing end of the bait and throw a couple of half hitches around the bait to keep it in line?

Hope to get a couple of more cat trips in before it gets to cold.

Thanks for the report.
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[fish_fear_me2]

TD thanks for the invite, and even though I didnt get out too long before experiencing technical difficulties I enjoyed seeing your fabulous floating machine again. As usual the Master found the fish and out thunk em. I will find the problem with the tube and hope for another trip, I am posting a pic or two of you in your tube. Usually all we see is a big hand with a big fish in it. Thanks for the new goodies look like they might be fun. A trip to the tackletorium is always an experience. I appreciate that you were willing to fill my smoker with kitties (after the proper paperwork of course) I am looking forward to catching fish on the new tle jigs.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I have tried a lot of rigs, including double hook rigs like they use for rigging sardines in the salt. They work but sometimes not as well as using a smaller hook with the point exposed...and hoping that the fish doesn't ball up the bait and ruin the hookset. Catfish are not considered to be picky but some days they will pop and drop any bait not rigged right. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Yeah. Good old head and tail action. [/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Yeah. Bummer about the air leak. Wish you could have joined me out in kitty land.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope your smoke batch turns out well. I'm sure Donna will be the judge of that. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If we get to Deer Creek next week I might put you in the extra motorized tube...just so you can see how it works. And that will save me having to tow your skinny butt out to the fishing spot.[/#0000ff]
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[fish_fear_me2]

I was out long enough to realize the bait rigger I set up on my tube needs some mods. Thanks again Pat. I will definitely see if I can get the tube in working order by friday. Me being in a motorized tube? Sheesh we would have to race[laugh]. I appreciate everything more than you know Besides my mommy told me never argue with a guy that out weighs ya by 100 lbs and is a foot taller
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