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Hit the pond on Saturday morning and it was a bit slow. Ended up with 3 cats and one I thought was my ticket to the top five but wasn't to be. That fight was great!!! I was in my toon and it would run under me and pull so hard I thought it would tip me over. After a long battle I finally got it off the bottom and landed it. It ended up only 24.5" and fat as a hog. Very fun fight and well worth the trip but everything else has really slowed down. Kind of a let down from the last month of fun. But the fish are sure bulking up for winter and look good. I forget what great fighting fish those cats are in deep water with current, but that's a fun combination. I decided I needed to get my fishing rods adjusted to handle these cats. I had mismatched rods and reels so they just didn't feel right so I changed them around today and can't wait to get my next cat on, I pulled off the 12lb mono and put some softer line on, I hope that isn't a mistake, but that mono was like casting baling wire and this new line feels great. By the way I'm out of carp chunks and so I used minnows yesterday but they were caught the day before and left outside so they were a little stinky and that might have slowed the cat bite, but later I used some newly frozen minnows and they didn't work much better. So I think it was just an off day for some reason. Anyway that's my report. Later J
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Well it's still a cat!
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Yes it was and I was very greatful for it. Just trying too hard to find a big gun. But I sure won't argue with a fight like that. That's why I fish to battle those beasts. Pat mentioned that the fun would be peaking soon as far as fight quality and he was sure right on that one it was one of the best of the year and it's been a good year so that was a stand out fish. Made sure to get that one released quick to preserve the gene pool. Fun times. Later J
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Nice report and good fish! Glad you got out and had some fun! I'm glad it wasn't a really big one, I'd hate to hear you got tipped over[  ] I can't imagine trying to land a big one with just a PFD for flotation!
Keep after them though, that big one is still out there bulking up for winter.
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Yah, I guess I might of stretched that a bit on the tip over, but it wrapped my pole tip almost into the water as it pulled it back underneath me... I had my anchor on the back side of my toon, so I didn't want it to get under me and wrap around the anchor rope, so I was trying pretty hard to stop it.... Luckily it went to the side and didn't find the rope, because I couldn't stop it from going under... I need to figure out an instant anchor raiser so when I get a big fish on, I don't have to worry about it breaking off on that anchor rope... The spot I fish has too much current to hold your position without an anchor so I need to figure out a better way to do this so I don't have the  story when the big one gets away... Hopefully sometime I'll find one that will be competitive with you southern boys... Been tough for me this summer to find a big fish, lots in the 2 foot range, but not many over 27.... Hopefully I'll find a couple soon... Later J
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Still sounds like a nice cat, especially that fight it gave you, even if it wasn't the big one you were after.
Looking at the forecast this week, it is looking like some cooler weather with highs in the 60's and 70's, hope that gets the fish biting better.
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You did better then I then, I couldn't even get a small one to bite.
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Hey Rod,
Dad told me the day before that things had shutdown and I figured it was a one day thing and I'd still catch some.... got a lesson for some reason the switch had been thrown and the fish had shutoff.... I assume you were after the same things that I was as well... Anyway glad there were a few, but it was way different than my previous trips... Hope it's not done for the year, but I guess the youth duck hunt starts next weekend, so it's time to start ducking shotgun pellets... I guess this is when things usually slow down, but it just seemed faster this year than past years... Well better luck next trip... J
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Hey Curt,
Yup this weather report sounds like big change, will be interesting to see what it does.... Probably more of a fall pattern coming at us now... Always like fall once I figure out what to do and how to change from what I have been doing... Are you heading to big blue soon? I know you usually lead that charge each year after them.. Good luck and thanks for the note... J
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I was hoping to get up to BL this week but this weather likely will change my plans, hopefully I'll get up there next week.
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I took a chance and went out this a.m. too. It was raining when I left home but not too bad and there was no wind so why not?? Glad I went. I have never had cats biting the way they were today. I could not keep two poles in the water. Several times I had to hold one hook-up down with my foot while I brought in another one on my second rod. Perfect weather... overcast and dead calm. All of the cats were between 23 and 27 inches with the exception of a couple of mudders. All were healthy and fat and they fought hard. Best day for numbers and fun I have ever had... but still, no really big ones... yet.
I have no idea what turned them on but they were sure on the feed today. Maybe the coming cold weather has them stalking up on grub?? Carp meat and baby wb worked equally well. Also caught four big wb on little wb. I fished from the shore and all fish were released except the wb.
Took a big trash bag with me today and did a little clean up along the shore where the pigs left all their trash. Didn't make much of an impact on the litter but at least the area I fished looked a little better.
Weather permitting I'll be there tomorrow. Gotta be a bigun' in there somewhere.
BLK
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I hope to get out one more time before October hits myself. Hopefully the bigguns will be wanting to play.
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There's no stopping you is there? Even when the water is too shallow to fish you still catch a boat load. My hat is definitely off to you nice job. Man you're sure having a great season, bet you have as many fish over 27 than our whole team combined. Way to go, keep it up. I won't tell you how jealous I am. Thanks for the report. J
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Yeah BL in stormy times is not worth wasting the gas to get blown off, but maybe right after the storm it might pick up. Good luck when you go. Later J
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[#0000FF]Sounds like a fun trip...except for the trash part.
The cats were probably responding to a 3-way stimulus. The first is the noticeable drop in water temps. The second is the decreasing hours of daylight. The third is the incoming frontal pattern.
I'm guessing it will not be so spectacular next week. But there will be a better chance of finding a larger fish or two.
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J-- Three things that make it easy to chase cats: being retired, living close to the water, and having an understanding wife. Can't lose with that combo.
I went out again this morning but rain and wind made it a no fishing day. I still can't get over how eager and aggressive the cats were yesterday. I always like to use fresh bait and I'll frequently reel in just to put fresh bait on. Yesterday I was running low on bait so I was using the same bait after a catch. Some of the baby wb I was using were so mutilated you could hardly tell they were wb. It made no difference how bad the bait was cuz the cats would find it and take it sometimes before I could put my rod down. Wish my crew could have been there but between school and football it is hard for them to hit the water... maybe Saturday.
Tube Dude is probably right about the bite slowing down after this cold front passes through. Hopefully he is right about it maybe bringing in a few bigger cats.
I'll be there.
BLK
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Quote:[quote Boatloadakids]J-- Three things that make it easy to chase cats: being retired, living close to the water, and having an understanding wife. Can't lose with that combo.
You are a lucky man indeed! Add to that your crew of dedicated fishing grandkids and you just about have it all.
As the Vulcan used to say: "Live Long and Prosper."
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[quote Boatloadakids]J-- Three things that make it easy to chase cats: being retired, living close to the water, and having an understanding wife. Can't lose with that combo.
I'll be there.
BLK[/quote]
So far I only have one of this combo. Long ways away from or the others to show up. [sly]
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Hey Lynn that is a great combination of good luck, got to feel blessed to have that situation. I hope it lasts long for you. Seems I'm still working and have too many other obligations my line soaking time is pretty limited but I love what I get of it. Well got to run. Later J
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Yep, I am blessed and lucky... except not so lucky in my pursuit of that 36 inch cat I have been chasing for the past few years. But the fun is in the pursuit more so than in the catching... I think??
Retirement is great and I highly recommend it. My only regret about retiring is that I did not do it 20 or 25 years sooner. I worked in child abuse investigations for 30 years and the day I hit the big 3 0 I was outta there. When you work with neglected and abused kids and their abusive parents for that long you start to have doubts about humanity and some of the things parents do in the name of discipline. The antidote for me was family and fishing.
Now, if we could just get enough rain out of this coming stormy period to raise the level of Utah Lake... oh... maybe a foot or so... I could get out to Bird Island and make my connection with that 36 incher.[  ]
Still lots of good catin' to be done.
BLK
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