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[#0000FF]Checked the Lakeview Cam for Lindon a while ago and saw what looked to be open water in the harbor...and outside. Saw a couple of guys fishing off the docks. THEN...saw a boat cruising across the harbor and out into the open lake.
Before Feb. 1. Been a while since that has happened.
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So do you like to fish the early open water? Last year it took me a while before I could get much return on my early trips... Is that a personal problem or is it usually slow for warm water ponds to take a while to get going? How do you change up for an ice off approach?
Think I left specific notes to do my taxes and get my farm work done while the fishing is slow and then when it starts to get good I'll have my work done so I can go fishing... I hated it last April, May when Willard was on fire and I was having to get my farming done instead of catching eyes and wipers.... Well glad to see it's rousting you out of hibernation... Later J
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[#0000FF]Every water is different and every year seems to be different too. It's a best guess and whenever you can get out kinda thing. A lot of early trips are more for the angler to get on the water than to extract any finny things from the water.
Willard is a good example. A couple of the past five years it has produced well on early cats, walleyes and even a couple of early wipers. And a couple of the other years my early trips on Willard were my only skunks of the year.
Better to have fished and skunked than not to have fished at all.
My knee is not complaining as much about the pain as the rest of me is complaining about fishing deprivation. Still, I will likely give it at least another week or two for the ice to clear a bit more and temps to rise a couple of degrees. Although last year my first trip on Utah Lake was dodging chunks of ice in 36 degree water and I still caught a couple of nice cats.
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Hope that knee will get better soon, that was clear back to Bear Lake whitefish time when you hurt it. Will be watching for your reports. Hope the cats will be playful.
BTW I tried your chowder recipe last weekend and I totally loved it. Only problem was I gained 3 lbs that day. Thanks for sharing that one. J
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[#0000FF]Yeah, I saw your post on making the chowder...but not in time to tell you that leaving out the mushrooms is okay. About the only thing you can't leave out are the fish and the bacon...and the soup stuff. Otherwise it is completely open to doctoring up however you like.
I tell everyone it is like Sara Lee...nobody don't like it.
Definitely not on the approved Weight Watchers recipe list. About all you can do after eating the last two helpings is just go sit down and listen to your arteries harden.
I have begrudgingly settled in to a more health conscious lifestyle and only make that stuff up a couple of times a year...when threatened to do so by hungry family members. I limit myself to one big bowl and then send leftovers (if any) home with everybody else.
Glad you liked it. Next time get some more fish. I usually start freezing up some packages of perch and/or white bass as time approaches for our late summer family fish fry and chowder glut...and for Christmas season gatherings. Fortunately, I usually have plenty of fish fixins to make up my big stock pot full. Burp.
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[quote TubeDude][#0000FF]
A lot of early trips are more for the angler to get on the water than to extract any finny things from the water.
Better to have fished and skunked than not to have fished at all.
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Been reading your reports and other tid-bits here since about 2003... those are some of the wisest words you've blessed us with.
The first float-tube trip of the year will put a big ol' grin on your face... fish or not. My feet usually freeze within about 2-3 hours and I blame the skunk on quitting early. But it is as fun as any fishing trip - makes you feel like you are pushing back on mother nature a little... "You can't stop me from doing this".
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[#0000FF]Thanks.
And you're right. Fishin' is always good...even when the catchin' ain't.
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I decided to use canned mushrooms and since I didn't have cayenne pepper, I used a can of diced chilis and man it worked great. Thanks J
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