Tubing for wipers

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]TubeBabe and I hit Willard Bay Reservoir (Utah) yesterday. Our primary goal was wipers...the sterile hybrid between striped bass and white bass. They are fairly plentiful in Willard, but are typically taken by trolling, from a boat. More of a challenge to find them and catch them from a tube.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]We launched from Eagle Beach just after 6 AM. We threw all kinds of lures for first half hour but neither saw many fish on sonar or had any whacks on artificials. So...we went to plan B...bait.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]We have a Utah 2-pole permit so we each rigged one rod with dead chub minnows and one rod with carp meat. Both wipers and catfish will take the minnows, but usually only the channel cats will hit carp meat. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]We had only a couple of light bites before the sun came up over the mountains to the east and hit the lake. Then, we each got several cats in quick succession. But, since I still wanted wipers I kicked off to the north, in the direction of the north dike of the manmade reservoir. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I got into one area that held a lot of fish. I was getting bites on my minnows about as fast as I could pin one on and send it out. Some were small channel cats, but others were wipers. Before I ran out of minnows I had caught quite a few cats and three wipers. After that, I could only get a few cats.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]TubeBabe agreed on the radio to come over and hand off some of her minnows. She had not had as much action and still had most of her minnows left. We met up and exchanged some minnows for a new swivel rig leader for her rod. Fair trade.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Shortly after pinning a new minnow on my line, I hooked up into my largest wiper of the day...a 21" fish that weighed just over 4#. Thanks, TubeBabe.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Everything kinda shut down after that. TubeBabe missed a couple of wiper bites, but neither of us caught anything else before we finally hit the beach about 1 PM.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I gotta tell ya. Those wipers hit like heavyweights and run like freight trains. I was using medium spinning gear, with good 8# line and I am glad I had a smooth drag. The fish I caught all took off on runs that would have broken poor line with a sticking drag.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I ended up with 4 wipers and kept about 5 small channel cats...out of maybe 15 caught. TubeBabe did keep a couple of 16" cats. Those little kitties from Willard are really good eating. So are the wipers.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[zonker]

A most excellent report, TD. Sounds like a really great day. Nobody can kick at fish up to four pounds. It sure must be great to have a fishing partner who likes to fish as much as you do and is also your life partner.

BTW, the blue pants... Looks like you were tubing wet (i.e., no waders) or is that just the color of the photo?

Those wipers look like they would be a fun fish. I was given a few stripers down in the Sacramento Delta when I lived near there by someone who had more time to fish than I did. Good eating, so I'll bet their sterile half cousins would be, too.

P.S. I've seen no context links lately. Did the brass decide against them or is the thingy just not working a the moment? Here's a test...

Fish, fishing, er...

Did they turn into links?

Looks like a "no."

z~
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You like those baggy blue pants? Yep...tubing wet. Whenever the water temps get over 65 to 70 we prefer to go without waders. Kinda cool when we launch, but by the time the air temps pass the 80 degree mark we are feelin' fine.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have a couple of pairs of loose fitting drawstring pants that work well both for yard work and tubing wet. They do not bind, like jeans often do, but they soak up the water and I gotta carry some extra weight back to the car. We usually go into a restroom and change to shorts or other lighter appropriate wear for the ride home.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Wipers? I have caught stripers up to 40 pounds and white bass over 3 pounds. They both hit hard and fight well. However, it may be purely subjective, but I think that pound for pound the hybrid (wiper) fights harder. They are really a lot of fun, and there is a growing group of fly flingers that target them with white ZONKERS and other shad imitating patterns. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The wipers in some waters, in other states, reach weights over 20 pounds. Their maximum seems to be about six or seven in Willard Bay and it is rare to take one over five pounds. The fish I caught were about average. I ain't proud. I gladly accepted their volunteering to play with me and to come home to dinner. Mighty fine on the table, I might add.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Yes we have no more linky thingies. The results of the "test" are still being reviewed but it is not likely to ever become an issue on a permanent basis.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Careful about saying too many nice things about TubeBabe. I am finally getting her partially trained after 27 years of awful wedded bliss (anniversary on the 15th of this month...went fishing). Of course, if you listen to her, she has been doing all the training and I am just a poor student.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[zonker]

Yay for the apparent demise of the linky thingies. I hated them! Could you tell?[mad]

[cool]I have removed the tagline from my posts about editing. My hat is off to TheAngler if indeed this is a final thing. I will dismantle my soap box and burn the wood. I'll also be a diligent poster on BFT and supportive of its success.

z~
[signature]

[bassguy64]

Good lookin haul for you guys TD, thanks for another nice report.

I haven't been out in a week on my toon but this coming weekend we are on 5 days vacation camping...well mostly tooning for me. The long range is lookin good. Here is the blurb from the website.

Fishing: The warm waters of the 137-acre Hills Creek Lake provide excellent fishing for warm-water species. Common fish are muskellunge, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and yellow perch. This lake is on the Bass Masters Tournament Rotation. Largemouth Bass weighing over eight pounds have been pulled from the lake.

We camped there last year and caught a nice 4#'er from shore but I am estatic about being able to get ON the lake this year. I have my 50# braid ready to go as its nothing like hooking into something and pulling out 10 or more #'s of salad along with the fish.

Bguy64
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks. Glad you liked it. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That lake sounds like it offers a lot of opportunity for a tubing or tooning addict. Hope you are able to put the hurtin' on them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I always like to fish a multi-species water and target multiple species on the same day. I agree about the problem of bringing a lot of salad with the fish. On some lakes it is tough to get a good battle out of the fish before they dive into the vegetation. Light line doesn't work there. You need hauling power.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck, have fun and be safe. Of course we expect a full report with some naked fish pictures. [/#0000ff]
[signature]

[shark_hunter]

great report I still need to get up there and catch me some of those wipers. I just got a tube I will have to give it a try.

Joe
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Just got back from some more wiper whackin' in the tube. Will post a report and pics later.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[zonker]

Been so long since I fished that I'm beginning to worry that I'll forget how. I look forward to your report.

z~
[signature]

[roadkillmac]

Hey tube dude thanks for changing into dry clothes IN THE RESTROOM. I don't want to look out my window here in New York and think that the world is coming to an end because the moon is rising in the west.
[signature]

[Flycasting]

I also tube wet whenever possible. Throw on some shorts, tshirt, old shoes, and strap on the flippers, and I am good to go. Willard is plenty warm right now.

TD, Monday is a defenite go for me.... supposed to be partly cloudy with a high of 90! I'll have to be outta there by noon or so. Everything still lookin good for you?
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]A full moon from the west is better than the crack of dawn. Those wet pants drop low enough that folks might think I am a plumber.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]How's the weather back there? We have 90 degrees and sunshine for the weekend.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I'll be there by about 6...launching from the clear area inside the campground, just down from the north dike. I'll be solo, since TubeBabe has a commitment.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]We seldom stay past late morning so a noon departure will be fine. Probably will have had enough power squadron by then anyway.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]We usually carry walkie talkies, set to channel 8. Do you have one?[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Flycasting]

I don't unfortunately. [] Like I have said before I am a defenite clutz, and the walkie talkie would find its way to the bottom somehow. That's ok though. So if I am right, you go through the pay station, and hang a right into the campground before you get to the north marina?
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You can do it that way, or park up on the dike road, which is straight out from the offramp road, around to the right of the ranger facilities. It is free if you have your permit, or $3 if you don't. You go through the opening in the fence and then down a short hill and across to the south to the opening in the trees. [/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Flycasting]

Okay I know exactly where you are talking about. See ya there at 600am. []
[signature]