May Day at Lincoln Beach 5-1-07

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]We were supposed to meet BFTers road and jbnsigma at Lincoln Beach about daybreak this morning. TubeBabe and I commented on the big full moon hanging over the western horizon as we drove south. We started making up the excuses we might need for a poor day...full moon, heavy winds (usually caused by road), newbie jinx (Justin's new tricked out tube), incoming weather, etc.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Turns out we didn't need no steenking excuses. We did fine. Road did not show. Surprised...and so were the weather gods. No W. Lovely calm morning. Jnbsigma was late...about an hour after TubeBabe and I hit the water. I caught my first cat as he drove up.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We were also joined by a new BFTer, BegN4Bass, or something like that. He works with Out4Trout and recently registered, although he has not posted much. He paddled out and anchored near the reeds in his cartop canoe.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water temp at 6 :30 launch was 63. Climbed to 67 by the time we got off the water about noon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I fished a whole bunch of different plastics and hardbaits, in addition to dragging minnows and carp meat. I caught two small white bass and my first (landed) walleye (13") of the year. I got the first catfish on a piece of carp meat below a bobber. I got two other cats later...one on minnow and the other on carp meat.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My largest cat was 24" and just over 6 pounds. Tubebabe also caught 3 cats, but she had the biggest...at 27" and just over 8#. Her second largest was just smaller than my largest. Her smallest was a 5# daddy cat. We each caught one male and two females today.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Jbnsigma acted like he did not want to be around us. When he got launched, he powered over to the dike area and wasted a couple of hours in nonproductive water. Then he came over to our side of the channel, but went in shallow and fished more nonproductive water. If he had "hooked up" with us, we could have probably got him into a couple of cat-tussles.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Shirt sleeve weather with no W until about 10. Then, the deadly north breeze came in and killed the fishing. Didn't have another munch after that. Still took me two hours to fish my way back to the vehicle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good to meet you Allen (Bass Guy) and sorta good to fish (the same lake) with you Justin.[/#0000ff]
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[Majja]

Looks like it was a fairly productive day. That one cat in TB basket if FAT. Congrats on the landed walleye.
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[KoldFeet]

Good goin' once again TD & TB! I can't get out again untill Friday or Saturday and I was gonna head to Willard for a mixed bag but I been hearing about a storm headed this way. Oh well, just have to watch it.
Thanks for posting the nice pics! KF
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[Flycasting]

Ah very nice! Finally got an 'eye to fully cooperate. [cool]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I hear ya on the weather. Us tubers try to plan our trips carefully, to avoid the big W. With fronts coming and going there is almost always W.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am looking to hit Willard next Tuesday, if not before.[/#0000ff]
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[ocean]

Wow an actual walleye!! [] I knew there had to be at least one out there!![]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]This is the beginning of the post spawn season. Now the fish bite because they are hungry and looking for food. Lots of walleyes are taken every year in May and June by anglers soaking bait or casting lures for other fish. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you deliberately fish for walleyes, they sense it...like a dog senses fear on a human. They won't bite if you actually try to catch them.[/#0000ff]
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[jnbsigma]

I think I was a bit too enamored with my new tube, new mods, and new fishfinder to have my head in the game today! [] But at least I was gracious enough to keep the newbie jinx to myself right? [angelic]

Thanks again for the help riggin my ride, TD--tubing is much more pleasant with the right setup. I think I worked a lot of dumb novice mistakes out of my system today and next go round I'll be a bit more with it.

After I left I hit a community pond to get the stench of skunk out of my clothes. I was hoping to throw the tube in for the second dip of the day, but the w%*# kicked up somethin fierce, so I bank tangled it. I caught about a million bluegill & sunfish and a decent sized bow. I saw a couple pretty good sized bass up next to shore, but couldn't find the right treat for 'em. Maybe next time.

Let me know when you'd like to try it again, and once again, thanks. I had a great time despite my numerous mishaps!
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[road]

Sorry TD I should have PMed ya. Still a bit under the weather. Hoping to shake this off any day. Having a brain fog day.....
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[mactuna]

Get well Marty
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[road]

Thanks mac
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[Theekillerbee]

Another nice repot sir Pat. That little wallace looks kinda skinny. Hope they are on the upswing again.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Actually the little guy was pretty healthy. They usually don't get much girth on them until they reach about 24 inches. Up until then they are just about round...like this one was.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Skinny is what the fish were two years ago, when the white bass population was down. I caught some then that were so thin you could read a newspaper through their bodies. Many of them died off through the following winter and that is one of the reasons the 'eyes in Utah Lake have been scarcer the last couple of years.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Plenty of food now, and a growing population. Should be good by next year.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]No need for apologies, my friend. When you did not make it, we were pretty sure there was a good reason...given the health challenges you have been going through recently. I am glad that you are (hopefully) on the mend and not going the other direction. We still got lots of fishing to get done.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I may have to stop setting up "hook ups" at Lincoln Beach with my good friends and fishing buddies. It was about this time last year when Coldfooter failed to show up for one of our planned trips. When I got home I had a message from his daughter that he was in the hospital with a brain aneurysm. That was a tough one for CF and we are all happy that he fought his way through it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Take care of yourself and let me know if you are going to be cleared for takeoff soon.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, I'm glad you had a good time anyway. I am sure you picked up some good experience.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, you just overdid what I usually recommend for anyone who gets a new tube or toon...taking it on a shakedown cruise before trying to effectively fish from it. it is important to be comfortable with your system in order to be able to concentrate on the fishing. But...you can usually do that close to shore...in an hour or so. You tried to cover half of Utah Lake...all by your lonesome.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Granted, we had just completed "pimping" your ride the afternoon before. And, it is understandable that you were still a bit overwhelmed with all of the new goodies. But, dagnabbit man, when ya go fishin' ya gotta get with the program and try to catch some fish. You should have at least put a line in the water (kidding).[/#0000ff]
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