01-30-2004, 10:53 PM
[cool][blue][size 1]Carp spawning is nothing like the procreational activities of more genteel species. It is full contact writhing, splashing and carrying on, oblivious to all else around them. And, it often takes place right up on the banks, in water so shallow the fish are literally flopping around out of water. [/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]One of my macho things to do in the spring used to be flinging arrows at those lovestruck buglemouths. One spring when the water level was high, back up Benjamin Slough (at Lincoln Beach), I followed the sounds of amorous carpkind upstream to find acres of golden groping going on. Using a heavy fibreglass fish arrow, and 100 pound test line on my bow reel, I was able to string as many as five oblivious carp on one shot several times.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Once the main orgy has subsided, I am sure that crawdads, sunfish, perch and other predatory gluttons move in to scarf up whatever they can find of the previous passion. However, since carp eggs are about the size of a pinhead, they would not fit on a hook too well. Nor would it be easy to match the hatch with a carp egg pattern. Furthermore, the fishes in feeding on the masses of freefloating eggs would probably be glutted. Truth to tell, there will be lots of suckers and carp eating them too.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]It takes only a week or so for the eggs to hatch. That's when you might want to be ready with small "fry flies" in gold tones. Little plastics work too. Look for them in depressions near the spawning areas you identified earlier. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The fast growing fry hit that 2" to 3" size fairly fast in the nutrient rich waters of Utah Lake. There is a lot of algae bloom starting in the warming waters of early summer so they suck in the soup and grow fast. That stage is when they become prime targets. That's when you break out the gold streamers, spinners and hardbaits. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Much of the year you hunt white bass around thermal pockets, walleyes in the deeper holes and largemouth around shoreline structure. However, when the young carp are on the menu, you first look for schools of carplets and the other fish will all be there for the buffet. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Obviously a good sonar helps, even in the skinny water of Utah Lake. It also pays to be observant. You will be able to detect the small fishies better on calm days, when they are sometimes rippling the surface...sometimes accompanied by splashes. On other occasions you will see birds working them over. On many trips, though, you will have to rely on a combination of good guessing and good luck to locate the little golden hordes and the entourage they bring with them.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Ever caught a catfish on a surface bait? When they are chasing little carp, they will smack a floating golden Rapala. Reel it down and let it float back up. Works well for all the predators, but an occasional cat will get you talking to yourself.[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]One of my macho things to do in the spring used to be flinging arrows at those lovestruck buglemouths. One spring when the water level was high, back up Benjamin Slough (at Lincoln Beach), I followed the sounds of amorous carpkind upstream to find acres of golden groping going on. Using a heavy fibreglass fish arrow, and 100 pound test line on my bow reel, I was able to string as many as five oblivious carp on one shot several times.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Once the main orgy has subsided, I am sure that crawdads, sunfish, perch and other predatory gluttons move in to scarf up whatever they can find of the previous passion. However, since carp eggs are about the size of a pinhead, they would not fit on a hook too well. Nor would it be easy to match the hatch with a carp egg pattern. Furthermore, the fishes in feeding on the masses of freefloating eggs would probably be glutted. Truth to tell, there will be lots of suckers and carp eating them too.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]It takes only a week or so for the eggs to hatch. That's when you might want to be ready with small "fry flies" in gold tones. Little plastics work too. Look for them in depressions near the spawning areas you identified earlier. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The fast growing fry hit that 2" to 3" size fairly fast in the nutrient rich waters of Utah Lake. There is a lot of algae bloom starting in the warming waters of early summer so they suck in the soup and grow fast. That stage is when they become prime targets. That's when you break out the gold streamers, spinners and hardbaits. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Much of the year you hunt white bass around thermal pockets, walleyes in the deeper holes and largemouth around shoreline structure. However, when the young carp are on the menu, you first look for schools of carplets and the other fish will all be there for the buffet. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Obviously a good sonar helps, even in the skinny water of Utah Lake. It also pays to be observant. You will be able to detect the small fishies better on calm days, when they are sometimes rippling the surface...sometimes accompanied by splashes. On other occasions you will see birds working them over. On many trips, though, you will have to rely on a combination of good guessing and good luck to locate the little golden hordes and the entourage they bring with them.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Ever caught a catfish on a surface bait? When they are chasing little carp, they will smack a floating golden Rapala. Reel it down and let it float back up. Works well for all the predators, but an occasional cat will get you talking to yourself.[/size][/#0000ff]
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