04-18-2009, 01:05 PM
[cool][#0000ff]There are a lot of folks who have done well trolling on Utah Lake over the years, but conditions have to be right (cleaner water) and you have to consider that it is a fairly shallow lake. You can't troll in the prop wash while using a noisy motor. In other words, you have to either troll a long line behind the boat or use planer boards. Trolling with an electric is also better than even using a small gas kicker.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For white bass, troll small spinners or crank baits in white, silver, chartreuse or pink. All black and a black/chartreuse combo can be good...as can fire tiger when the water is cold and/or "stained".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The same lures will work for walleyes. Of course you can also troll crawler harnesses...on Lindy rigs or other "snag resistant" setups. Most of Utah Lake is a flat bottomed mud bowl. But, there are areas with rocky rubble and other places with volcanic rock ledges...like around Lincoln Beach and Bird Island.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Walleyes and whities can sometimes be found out cruising over open areas, where you have a shot at them by "washing lures". Most of the time you will do better by casting lures in and around the abundant shoreline reedy structure...especially during high water periods. After the carp, white bass and sunfish species spawn, the fry hang out in the protective cover around the shoreline and that is where the predators go to find their groceries.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]During the later part of summer and into fall, the young-of-the-year white bass are about 4 inches long and many of them leave the reeds to cruise over the mud bottoms, searching for leeches and other invertebrates for breakfast. That is when the bigger walleyes follow them and you can get some big wallies by casting or trolling large shallow diving crankbaits (5-6') in the areas where the little whities are congregating. Sometimes that can be close to shore or inside marinas. Other times it might be a long way offshore, over clean bottom.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Large walleyes also feed on perch, bluegill and small crappies. Crankbaits in these color patterns will get bit. I have also caught some with small black bullheads in them. I guess that is why big black jigs sometimes produce well.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Back in the days when I was attending the BYWoo "marriage mill" in Provo (early sixties), I used to ride my bicycle down to the old boat rental concession at the mouth of the Provo River several times a week. I would row back and forth across Utah Lake...just for exercise and grins. I always trolled a 3" hammered nickle spoon as I rowed and some days I had to quit fishing so that I could get back to shore before dark...or during a building wind storm. The fish would not let me keep rowing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Nothing fancy. Just a simple spoon, tossed about 20 yards behind the boat and then lean on the oars. I caught TONS of white bass, lots of walleyes and catfish (yes, on lures) and FAR TOO MANY carp...mostly snagged. I also got a few big largemouth bass and once about a 10 pound brown trout.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The water was in worse shape then than it is now. I am thinking that if trolling worked then, it should still work. But, dont look for me out rowing a boat across the lake. Best I can do these days is to paddle around in my float tube.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]For white bass, troll small spinners or crank baits in white, silver, chartreuse or pink. All black and a black/chartreuse combo can be good...as can fire tiger when the water is cold and/or "stained".[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The same lures will work for walleyes. Of course you can also troll crawler harnesses...on Lindy rigs or other "snag resistant" setups. Most of Utah Lake is a flat bottomed mud bowl. But, there are areas with rocky rubble and other places with volcanic rock ledges...like around Lincoln Beach and Bird Island.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Walleyes and whities can sometimes be found out cruising over open areas, where you have a shot at them by "washing lures". Most of the time you will do better by casting lures in and around the abundant shoreline reedy structure...especially during high water periods. After the carp, white bass and sunfish species spawn, the fry hang out in the protective cover around the shoreline and that is where the predators go to find their groceries.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]During the later part of summer and into fall, the young-of-the-year white bass are about 4 inches long and many of them leave the reeds to cruise over the mud bottoms, searching for leeches and other invertebrates for breakfast. That is when the bigger walleyes follow them and you can get some big wallies by casting or trolling large shallow diving crankbaits (5-6') in the areas where the little whities are congregating. Sometimes that can be close to shore or inside marinas. Other times it might be a long way offshore, over clean bottom.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Large walleyes also feed on perch, bluegill and small crappies. Crankbaits in these color patterns will get bit. I have also caught some with small black bullheads in them. I guess that is why big black jigs sometimes produce well.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Back in the days when I was attending the BYWoo "marriage mill" in Provo (early sixties), I used to ride my bicycle down to the old boat rental concession at the mouth of the Provo River several times a week. I would row back and forth across Utah Lake...just for exercise and grins. I always trolled a 3" hammered nickle spoon as I rowed and some days I had to quit fishing so that I could get back to shore before dark...or during a building wind storm. The fish would not let me keep rowing.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Nothing fancy. Just a simple spoon, tossed about 20 yards behind the boat and then lean on the oars. I caught TONS of white bass, lots of walleyes and catfish (yes, on lures) and FAR TOO MANY carp...mostly snagged. I also got a few big largemouth bass and once about a 10 pound brown trout.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The water was in worse shape then than it is now. I am thinking that if trolling worked then, it should still work. But, dont look for me out rowing a boat across the lake. Best I can do these days is to paddle around in my float tube.[/#0000ff]
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