07-22-2017, 11:00 PM
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WOW, this is a tough order to fill.
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I read this and almost thought about not responding, but few else had either, probably because of how difficult the task is. This is going to be long, so I apologize in advance.
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Remember that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish. I believe that in reality 2% of the fisherman catch 70% of the fish, 10% catch 10%, leaving the remaining 88% to fight over the remaining 20%. It is seldom the lures that make the difference, it is the knowledge of how to use them.
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Most of us have benefited by having some form of Mentor that we learned from. I learned the basics from my Dad, then as I exceeded his knowledge it shifted to noted local fishing experts, and finally I knew enough of the basics that I was able to teach myself. If you will take a Star Wars analogy, the apprentice became the master.
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[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
You will benefit by finding that Mentor as well. The mentor may be younger then you even. For about 15 years I was taking out and teaching guys 10 to 20 years older than I was. Yes, even old dogs do learn new tricks. Of course I have mentored many younger then me as well, and my Son is 30 years ahead of where I was at his age. I think my Grandkids are much farther than that.
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Of course reading is a great source of knowledge. I loved watching “In-Fisherman” on TV, it was a great source of how-to at the time. I have not watched it in years so I don’t know how it is now that the Linder’s no longer own and run it. Their Magazine was better. There also was a great Magazine called Fishing Facts. The problem is that you get snippets of what to do, edited for time and the advertising at the time. Lots of lures are sold that way that really are not all that good.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Now, today, YouTube is a source of information. Some of it is great, some good, and some flat out stinks. But, looking for YouTube videos about local areas will help. Just try to pick through them.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
One thing to keep in mind regarding reading and watching is that you seldom get the fine points. A case in point is a lake I fished in Washington. It has some Awesome Browns, and lots of them, IF you knew what to do. When I say Awesome, I am talking about some days where you could catch 25 fish a day over 20 inches and expect at least 3 or 4 over 27 inches.
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My lake best weighed 17.5 pounds, and was released. I have lost some much larger, much much larger in that lake. So, with so many fish, and so big, anyone could catch them, right? Nope! Most days I would tell my new partners how to do it, then show them how to do it, then the first day they would get skunked when I would C&R until my arm and back were sore. I would exchange rods with my new partner just to show him that it was not MY lure. Often they would say it was because I was in the front of the boat, so I would make them run the trolling motor and I caught even more because I could focus on fishing.
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Usually on the second trip they would start to pay attention and start to pick up the little things that made a difference. By the third trip they would normally start to do pretty well, but it usually took 10 or 20 trips later before they got almost as good as I was.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
So, once you get that mentor, you need to actually pay attention to the mentor. You need to go with the mentor often, and you need to support the mentor. Having more than one mentor is OK, but don’t try to pit one against the other. Telling Joe that Bob does it different is the fastest way to be left home on the next trip. And no, you don’t need a mentor, but the learning curve will be much longer.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I know this is getting to be a book, and I am sorry about that, but keep in mind that a tackle box is just like a tool box. It stores tools; the type of the tools is the only question.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
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First thing to remember is that fishing where the fish are not is called wetting a line. Fish are NOT uniformly distributed throughout the water. I am attaching a diagram that In-Fisherman published so long ago that I think computers were not even available to the public. But, in this ideal lake, it shows what you should be looking for. Call it cover, call it structure, you want to fish around it. Structure concentrates fish because it offers food, cover, protection, etc. I could have started you out by suggesting you get a copy of Spoon Plugging by Buck Perry, but it has been out of print for a long time and would date me really bad. Structure is not always a physical thing, but it can be current, a thermocline, etc. Even Kokanee in open water relate to something, but the subtle changes in water temperature, algae concentrations, clarity, etc., that constitute structure to them are harder to determine.
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Stream fishing is not all that different, just the structure is different. Structure may be below a water fall, above or below rocks, a current seam, an eddy, a shallow riffle, a deep pool, etc.
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OK, so now I am willing to get to the tackle box. Remember, tools, just tools.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would get some marabou or buck tail jigs. I would get them in light, medium, and dark colors. Other jigs may be better at times, but these tools will work in a lot of different conditions. I would get them in 1/16 oz., 1/8 oz., and maybe 3/16 oz.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would get spinners in similar sizes. I would also get them with hackle tails, like Rooster Tails or Bang Tail. I prefer Panther Martin lures, but I add the chicken hackle on the hooks myself. Sometimes just adding a little piece of worm will help as much or more. Again, don’t try to match the hatch at this point, get some light, medium and dark colors, plus a silver and gold.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would avoid the spoons for now. They will work, but they are not as versatile as other options. Most of the ones I have are Kastmasters, Phoebe, Buoyant Minnows, or similar. Jakes are popular in Utah, but the above options will out fish them most of the time. Again, small, medium, larger sizes. Light, medium, dark colors, plus silver and gold.
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[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would get some Rapala or similar minnow shaped “crank baits” later on. The black back with silver side is always a favorite. In the old days an Orange back with gold sides was available and those two colors would work 80% of the time. The Orange and gold is no longer made by Rapala. There are a lot of other makers of similar shaped baits. Casting them can be difficult due to weight, so adding sinkers a couple feet ahead may be necessary. You already know the drill on sizes and colors.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Don’t go overboard on lures or colors right now, learn how to use them first. Most of all of us have lots and lots of lures, most which never hit the water. THERE ARE FEW SUPER LURES. Sometimes a really great lure does come out, and those are the ones that tend to stay around for a long time. The Rapala is an example, as is the Rooster Tail, and the Kastmaster. They are still popular because they work.
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[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Now, as for the places you mentioned. This is not a complete list, but a start. Always double, even triple check the regulations.
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Utah Lake is not the greatest place to fish, but it has some good fishing once you learn it. It has the White Bass you mentioned, and did not like to eat. I find they cook up good with a good preparation method, but not everyone likes them. There are Walleye, but don’t expect to get dinner often. There are Large Mouth Bass, but they can be pretty hard to locate there until you learn the lake and the methods. The regulations should be consulted and the small size you are allowed to keep on UL for the bass means that it is not worth keeping them at all. Channel Catfish is the largest, most common sport fish in UL. You can catch the Catfish with lures, but bait is the best bet.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
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Deer Creek is busy with boats, and as such it can be a challenge, but the fish are plentiful and of good size. Rainbow Trout are the number one fish. Brown Trout are also available, and can be good size. Small Mouth Bass are probably the most prevalent. They can be caught in large numbers, and some of them are pretty good sized. There are a lesser number of Large Mouth Bass as well. Walleye are also in Deer Creek in decent numbers. There are a lot of Yellow Perch also, but not in the quantity they once were.
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The Provo River is a Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout river. Some Whitefish, some Walleye in the lower stretch at times but watch the seasons on them.
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Strawberry is a Rainbow and Cutthroat fishery for sure. Slot limits on the Cutthroat. It is also a great Kokanee fishery but your boat is not a good one for that.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
As you can see, I just wrote a book and I have not even scratched the surface. I bet that there could be numerous books to answer your questions.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Just remember my suggestion, find a mentor, go out often with that mentor, soak up all sources of information you can find. And remember one last thing. A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work, so go often!
[fishin]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[signature]
WOW, this is a tough order to fill.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I read this and almost thought about not responding, but few else had either, probably because of how difficult the task is. This is going to be long, so I apologize in advance.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Remember that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish. I believe that in reality 2% of the fisherman catch 70% of the fish, 10% catch 10%, leaving the remaining 88% to fight over the remaining 20%. It is seldom the lures that make the difference, it is the knowledge of how to use them.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Most of us have benefited by having some form of Mentor that we learned from. I learned the basics from my Dad, then as I exceeded his knowledge it shifted to noted local fishing experts, and finally I knew enough of the basics that I was able to teach myself. If you will take a Star Wars analogy, the apprentice became the master.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
You will benefit by finding that Mentor as well. The mentor may be younger then you even. For about 15 years I was taking out and teaching guys 10 to 20 years older than I was. Yes, even old dogs do learn new tricks. Of course I have mentored many younger then me as well, and my Son is 30 years ahead of where I was at his age. I think my Grandkids are much farther than that.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Of course reading is a great source of knowledge. I loved watching “In-Fisherman” on TV, it was a great source of how-to at the time. I have not watched it in years so I don’t know how it is now that the Linder’s no longer own and run it. Their Magazine was better. There also was a great Magazine called Fishing Facts. The problem is that you get snippets of what to do, edited for time and the advertising at the time. Lots of lures are sold that way that really are not all that good.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Now, today, YouTube is a source of information. Some of it is great, some good, and some flat out stinks. But, looking for YouTube videos about local areas will help. Just try to pick through them.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
One thing to keep in mind regarding reading and watching is that you seldom get the fine points. A case in point is a lake I fished in Washington. It has some Awesome Browns, and lots of them, IF you knew what to do. When I say Awesome, I am talking about some days where you could catch 25 fish a day over 20 inches and expect at least 3 or 4 over 27 inches.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
My lake best weighed 17.5 pounds, and was released. I have lost some much larger, much much larger in that lake. So, with so many fish, and so big, anyone could catch them, right? Nope! Most days I would tell my new partners how to do it, then show them how to do it, then the first day they would get skunked when I would C&R until my arm and back were sore. I would exchange rods with my new partner just to show him that it was not MY lure. Often they would say it was because I was in the front of the boat, so I would make them run the trolling motor and I caught even more because I could focus on fishing.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Usually on the second trip they would start to pay attention and start to pick up the little things that made a difference. By the third trip they would normally start to do pretty well, but it usually took 10 or 20 trips later before they got almost as good as I was.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
So, once you get that mentor, you need to actually pay attention to the mentor. You need to go with the mentor often, and you need to support the mentor. Having more than one mentor is OK, but don’t try to pit one against the other. Telling Joe that Bob does it different is the fastest way to be left home on the next trip. And no, you don’t need a mentor, but the learning curve will be much longer.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I know this is getting to be a book, and I am sorry about that, but keep in mind that a tackle box is just like a tool box. It stores tools; the type of the tools is the only question.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
First thing to remember is that fishing where the fish are not is called wetting a line. Fish are NOT uniformly distributed throughout the water. I am attaching a diagram that In-Fisherman published so long ago that I think computers were not even available to the public. But, in this ideal lake, it shows what you should be looking for. Call it cover, call it structure, you want to fish around it. Structure concentrates fish because it offers food, cover, protection, etc. I could have started you out by suggesting you get a copy of Spoon Plugging by Buck Perry, but it has been out of print for a long time and would date me really bad. Structure is not always a physical thing, but it can be current, a thermocline, etc. Even Kokanee in open water relate to something, but the subtle changes in water temperature, algae concentrations, clarity, etc., that constitute structure to them are harder to determine.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Stream fishing is not all that different, just the structure is different. Structure may be below a water fall, above or below rocks, a current seam, an eddy, a shallow riffle, a deep pool, etc.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
OK, so now I am willing to get to the tackle box. Remember, tools, just tools.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would get some marabou or buck tail jigs. I would get them in light, medium, and dark colors. Other jigs may be better at times, but these tools will work in a lot of different conditions. I would get them in 1/16 oz., 1/8 oz., and maybe 3/16 oz.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would get spinners in similar sizes. I would also get them with hackle tails, like Rooster Tails or Bang Tail. I prefer Panther Martin lures, but I add the chicken hackle on the hooks myself. Sometimes just adding a little piece of worm will help as much or more. Again, don’t try to match the hatch at this point, get some light, medium and dark colors, plus a silver and gold.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would avoid the spoons for now. They will work, but they are not as versatile as other options. Most of the ones I have are Kastmasters, Phoebe, Buoyant Minnows, or similar. Jakes are popular in Utah, but the above options will out fish them most of the time. Again, small, medium, larger sizes. Light, medium, dark colors, plus silver and gold.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
I would get some Rapala or similar minnow shaped “crank baits” later on. The black back with silver side is always a favorite. In the old days an Orange back with gold sides was available and those two colors would work 80% of the time. The Orange and gold is no longer made by Rapala. There are a lot of other makers of similar shaped baits. Casting them can be difficult due to weight, so adding sinkers a couple feet ahead may be necessary. You already know the drill on sizes and colors.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Don’t go overboard on lures or colors right now, learn how to use them first. Most of all of us have lots and lots of lures, most which never hit the water. THERE ARE FEW SUPER LURES. Sometimes a really great lure does come out, and those are the ones that tend to stay around for a long time. The Rapala is an example, as is the Rooster Tail, and the Kastmaster. They are still popular because they work.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Now, as for the places you mentioned. This is not a complete list, but a start. Always double, even triple check the regulations.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Utah Lake is not the greatest place to fish, but it has some good fishing once you learn it. It has the White Bass you mentioned, and did not like to eat. I find they cook up good with a good preparation method, but not everyone likes them. There are Walleye, but don’t expect to get dinner often. There are Large Mouth Bass, but they can be pretty hard to locate there until you learn the lake and the methods. The regulations should be consulted and the small size you are allowed to keep on UL for the bass means that it is not worth keeping them at all. Channel Catfish is the largest, most common sport fish in UL. You can catch the Catfish with lures, but bait is the best bet.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Deer Creek is busy with boats, and as such it can be a challenge, but the fish are plentiful and of good size. Rainbow Trout are the number one fish. Brown Trout are also available, and can be good size. Small Mouth Bass are probably the most prevalent. They can be caught in large numbers, and some of them are pretty good sized. There are a lesser number of Large Mouth Bass as well. Walleye are also in Deer Creek in decent numbers. There are a lot of Yellow Perch also, but not in the quantity they once were.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
The Provo River is a Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout river. Some Whitefish, some Walleye in the lower stretch at times but watch the seasons on them.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Strawberry is a Rainbow and Cutthroat fishery for sure. Slot limits on the Cutthroat. It is also a great Kokanee fishery but your boat is not a good one for that.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
As you can see, I just wrote a book and I have not even scratched the surface. I bet that there could be numerous books to answer your questions.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
Just remember my suggestion, find a mentor, go out often with that mentor, soak up all sources of information you can find. And remember one last thing. A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work, so go often!
[fishin]
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[signature]