fishing in utah lake

[sandrastevens]

[font "Century Gothic"][#000000][size 3]hello I have a question about my rod and what line to use for walleye and cat fish at Utah lake. I have an ugly stick with an 10 lb line max should I use basic line monofilament or braided 10lbs test.[:/][/size][/#000000][/font]
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[albinotrout]

Either wil work.
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[sandrastevens]

thanks because I tried 20lbs line and can't get it on my reel[unimpressed]
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[albinotrout]

I usually use 12 on my baitcasters. 10 is also a good all around line. Also welcome to BFT![cool]
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[sandrastevens]

Thank you. next year I plan to buy a bigger rod reel combo but for this year i'll just use my ugly stick since my hubby already bought me a trailer to take us to all the places I want to fish.
we were at green river 2 weeks ago and I caught 6 baby cats on my regular line what the rod came with but could feel a lot of tension and was scared at one point the line would break.
I have stink bait and chicken livers as lure any other tips thank you and nice to meet you[]
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[Kent]

Be sure to set the drag on the reel so that the fish can run and pull line off of your reel without breaking. This will greatly decrease the strain on your line.

Cut bait (can't fish them alive) white bass is a good bait for catfish. Shrimp (a little expensive) is also a good bait. Good old night crawlers will also work, but the bullhead catfish often eat them so fast that the channel catfish don't have a chance to bite.
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[sandrastevens]

Thank you for the tips and nice to meet you
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[cpierce]

Braid is a little harder to tie knots in, but it will last a lot longer than mono. I have friends that swear by braid.

Most that use braid, use mono as a leader. Look up knots for braid.

Monofiliment line ages quickly from UV light and should be changed out frequently.

As has been said, adjust the drag on your reel too.

If you can, spend some time searching and reading on this forum. It is the best for good advise, tips, and encouragement.

good luck
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[sandrastevens]

thank you for all your tips []
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[sandrastevens]

Ok I am ready I spun 20 llb braided line on my reel much easier than the mono, I have a ft and 1/2 mono lead and ad sinker in between got chicken livers shrimp and dough leaving tomorrow hopefully get a great picture to show you guys thanks for all the help.[fishin]
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[sandrastevens]

[mad] Yesterday morning I woke up at 3 so decided might as well gives it one last try I had gotten some worms from the gas station and so went to a dock I had not fished from tied up the dog used a regular bobber and my dog looked on amazed at seeing the bobber starting to move on its own I finally managed to catch some mud cats. I took me only 3 day's to do it but triumph in the end.
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[albinotrout]

Hey way to go, a fish is a fish.[cool]
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[cpierce]

Congratulations on a successful trip. One thing that I love about fishing is that no matter how long you do it there are always more new things to learn and do.
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[sandrastevens]

[]here is the full story which is actually really funny don't take your hunting dog fishing.
Sandra's fishing adventures. this first night I was just getting used to the place I had my dog with me for protecting since catfish eat at night. so I had bought a lighted bobber and I had my chicken liver and stink bait. the only thing I caught the first 2 nights was my dog who happily jumped in the water after my bobber and brought the glowing ball back.
Yesterday morning I woke up at 3 so decided might as well gives it one last try I had gotten some worms from the gas station and so went to a dock I had not fished from tied up the dog used a regular bobber and my dog looked on amazed at seeing the bobber starting to move on its own I finally managed to catch some mud cats. I took me only 3 day's to do it but triumph in the end.
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[sandrastevens]

indeed there was a more experienced fisher men fishing the same area. in no time he a caught a white bass which he then used to haul in 2 channel cats over 25 inches he offered me one but my pride would not let me so next time catch white bass use white bass to catch bigger cat fish. to bad I would have to get up at 1 am to get to Utah lake by 4 am.
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[Tin-Can]

Sandra,
As well as night crawlers, white bass cut bait, sometimes stink baits, and shrimp, I have had fair luck with Carp meat at both Utah Lake and Willard Bay.
My experience with Catfish was mostly in the South (Georgia / Florida) where the water is always warmer. The past 14 years I have been in Utah I have had many new fishing experiences, and one of them was quite a surprise to me. Willard Bay is the only place I have ever fished that I have caught a Cat on a Lure being trolled.
But my best fall back bait for Cats almost anywhere is something that is usually natural to whatever water habitat they are in. I have caught more fish of every species over the past 50 years on good old worms. Here in Utah you can buy a tub of worms at almost every gas station or C-Store. But IMO if you can find someone near you that has their own worm beds, or if you can and have the space, get a Frabil Worm Farm and raise your own. Local worms (right out of my back yard) have done extremely well . As far as for Carp, I catch a Carp once in awhile, cut the last few inches off the tail, then cut that meat in about 1/2 to 1 inch chunks. Freeze it in a zip lock bag awhile, then get it out and let it sit to thaw. After a good day in the June or July Utah sun, it's pretty ripe. But every time I use that smelly stuff, I catch a limit or more of Cats. It may be smellier that commercial catfish stink baits, but it's a lot cheaper, and IMHO, more effective. Photos are of just a few Cats caught on Carp meat.
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[SkunkedAgain]

I don't really like all that stinky bait stuff for the cats, I catch quite a few on plastic curly tail jigs fished off the bottom and dragging a minnow around... It's much cleaner and to me more fun and the fish are almost as big... I got several between 25 to 28" this summer so I was happy with them and I didn't stink when I went home so that's a bonus too... And I caught a whole bunch of these cats trolling on Cutler, so it's not just Willard where you can catch cats trolling... I'm sure Utah Lake will be the same way... Good luck and have fun... Later J
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