BFT fishing report contest

[wiperhunter2]

This is a contest we are starting today, so any fishing reports posted on this board after this post, is eligible to win a prize. The winner will be decided in one week, from Sunday night, by the most replies they receive. We will give the winner a BFT T-shirt and a second place prize will be given from a sampling of the plastics from Lockett lures. We know some of you are hunting right now or getting ready for hunts but if you do any fishing in the next week, please consider posting about your outing, also if you get out and fish and don’t normally post about all your trips, here is a good reason to post those reports. Below, in the attached pic, is a sample of what we will be giving away. Come on folks, get some reports posted, for your chance to win!!
The winners can not win on any future contest for the items we are giving away, this will give all members a better chance of winning a prize.

[catchinon]

Sounds great, Curt. Since I have been so lackadaisical (had to look that one up) about fishing and posting this will be a good motivator. Count me in.

[wiperhunter2]

@catchinon

Sounds great, Curt. Since I have been so lackadaisical (had to look that one up) about fishing and posting this will be a good motivator. Count me in.

Sounds good Craig, you have until a week from tonight to post a fishing report to be eligible but the sooner you post that report, the better your chance to win, Good luck. Here is a hint to you and other members, if you reply to everyone that replies to your post, you have a better chance to win.

[RockyRaab2]

You mean like, “This is a reply?”

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And this is another reply?

[wiperhunter2]

@RockyRaab2

You mean like, “This is a reply?”

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And this is another reply?

NO but if someone replies to you post and says something like nice catch, you could reply back to them and say, “Thanks, it was a nice day on the lake or river and my catch just made it better” or something to that effect. The OP can not say “this is a reply”. Lots of members, never reply to a member when they say, nice fish or nice catch but they could and in this case it might benefit them.

[RockyRaab2]

My point is that this is a flawed measurement system, since the OP can boost his own reply count.

And besides, you might as well just declare Tubedude the winner right now, because he always gets plentiful comments and questions, to which he dutifully and courteously replies.

[RockyRaab2]

You may be right. I don’t normally pay any attention to contests. Not sure why I clicked on this one, but it may have been a “miss hit” of my mouse.

Anyway, since anglers and golfers are known for absolute truthfulness, I will now keep quiet. LOL!

[TubeDude]

@RockyRaab2

My point is that this is a flawed measurement system, since the OP can boost his own reply count.

And besides, you might as well just declare Tubedude the winner right now, because he always gets plentiful comments and questions, to which he dutifully and courteously replies.

**Ahhh, the times they have changed…along with this website. The days of long threads on any topic are no longer. Except for a few inane requests for nonsensical rookie information.

It bothers me not, but my last few reports have seldom generated more than two or three responses…some of which I replied to…making total post count about a half dozen. I try to provide useful information and to reply to any and all questions. But the overall level of participation just ain’t what it used to was.

We have lost a lot of members who formerly contributed regularly. And the ones who have remained have posted less than before. You are a good example.

Probably a good reason to have posting contests.**

[wiperhunter2]

@catchinon

To add to the suggestions Curt made I’ll share an idea I have, even though it was supposed to be my secret weapon. You could always ask a provocative question in your post. Something like: “I only caught one fish on worms and I was wondering what others have found to work there at Wee Willow Bay. Or should I just try a different place this time of year? Your suggestions would be appreciated.”

If this is not allowed please correct me. Any other ideas? Just to clarify, Curt, is it only for fishing reports or do other topics count, too?

Good thoughts Craig. As it says in the title,“BFT fishing report contest”, so yes only fishing reports will count.

[wiperhunter2]

@catchinon

I don’t even pretend to understand all the inner workings of BFT but I think that our funding is dependent on usage, to put it in its simplest terms. I believe the contest is intended (for one thing) to stimulate group activity. We can all help even without a contest. “Keep those cards and letters coming” as they used to say. Myface or whatever it is called seems to be taking over and we aren’t getting the share we used to. I recently became aware of a facebook group called Utah Whisker Wackerz which concentrates on catting at UL. It has nearly 1000 members, though I’m not sure how active they are, but they do put on contests at intervals throughout the year. Anyway, the more we patronize this site the better it will be for all of us.

You are totally correct in your statement Craig, since the raise of FB, BFT has been in a decline. A lot of us older guys don’t care for FB and I think that is why BFT is still hanging on but it does really help when members, especially those that read reports but don’t reply would start to contribute to the site, by at least replying to a post every once in a while, especially if they think BFT is a good resource.

[wiperhunter2]

Seems it is always cool at Strawberry, especially this time of the year but much warmer than the Winter temps up there. It’s amazing how the numbers of bows are increasing this year. they must be stocking a lot more than they normally do. How long was the biggest trout you caught?

[HuntNFishUT]

@wiperhunter2

Seems it is always cool at Strawberry, especially this time of the year but much warmer than the Winter temps up there. It’s amazing how the numbers of bows are increasing this year. they must be stocking a lot more than they normally do. How long was the biggest trout you caught?

Right around 20". Couple in that 17 range and one closer to 14. Rainbows were especially thick bodied.

[wiperhunter2]

@HuntNFishUT

@wiperhunter2

Seems it is always cool at Strawberry, especially this time of the year but much warmer than the Winter temps up there. It’s amazing how the numbers of bows are increasing this year. they must be stocking a lot more than they normally do. How long was the biggest trout you caught?

Right around 20". Couple in that 17 range and one closer to 14. Rainbows were especially thick bodied.

Seems like bows always do good at the Berry and now that they are stocking more of them, hopefully we will start seeing some really big ones show up in the coming years.

[TubeDude]

@wiperhunter2

@HuntNFishUT

@wiperhunter2

Seems it is always cool at Strawberry, especially this time of the year but much warmer than the Winter temps up there. It’s amazing how the numbers of bows are increasing this year. they must be stocking a lot more than they normally do. How long was the biggest trout you caught?

Right around 20". Couple in that 17 range and one closer to 14. Rainbows were especially thick bodied.

Seems like bows always do good at the Berry and now that they are stocking more of them, hopefully we will start seeing some really big ones show up in the coming years.

Like this one?

](17 6oz Strawberry Bow — Postimages)

[wiperhunter2]

@TubeDude

@wiperhunter2

@HuntNFishUT

@wiperhunter2

Seems it is always cool at Strawberry, especially this time of the year but much warmer than the Winter temps up there. It’s amazing how the numbers of bows are increasing this year. they must be stocking a lot more than they normally do. How long was the biggest trout you caught?

Right around 20". Couple in that 17 range and one closer to 14. Rainbows were especially thick bodied.

Seems like bows always do good at the Berry and now that they are stocking more of them, hopefully we will start seeing some really big ones show up in the coming years.

Like this one?

](17 6oz Strawberry Bow — Postimages)

Over 17 lbs, that’s impressive, when was it caught?

[TubeDude]

@wiperhunter2

@TubeDude

@wiperhunter2

@HuntNFishUT

@wiperhunter2

Seems it is always cool at Strawberry, especially this time of the year but much warmer than the Winter temps up there. It’s amazing how the numbers of bows are increasing this year. they must be stocking a lot more than they normally do. How long was the biggest trout you caught?

Right around 20". Couple in that 17 range and one closer to 14. Rainbows were especially thick bodied.

Seems like bows always do good at the Berry and now that they are stocking more of them, hopefully we will start seeing some really big ones show up in the coming years.

Like this one?

](17 6oz Strawberry Bow — Postimages)

Over 17 lbs, that’s impressive, when was it caught?

Sorry. I didn’t make a note on the picture. But in checking the properties in my photo editing file I see that it was created in my files sometime in 2017. That was during a period when several large rainbows were shown on local TV shows or posted on websites. Here’s a TV screen capture from that same time period. No stats or poundage.

](BIG STRAWBERRY BOW — Postimages)

**

[wiperhunter2]

@TubeDude

@wiperhunter2

@TubeDude

@wiperhunter2

@HuntNFishUT

Right around 20". Couple in that 17 range and one closer to 14. Rainbows were especially thick bodied.

Seems like bows always do good at the Berry and now that they are stocking more of them, hopefully we will start seeing some really big ones show up in the coming years.

Like this one?

](17 6oz Strawberry Bow — Postimages)

Over 17 lbs, that’s impressive, when was it caught?

Sorry. I didn’t make a note on the picture. But in checking the properties in my photo editing file I see that it was created in my files sometime in 2017. That was during a period when several large rainbows were shown on local TV shows or posted on websites. Here’s a TV screen capture from that same time period. No stats or poundage.

](BIG STRAWBERRY BOW — Postimages)

**

Nice, thanks for sharing those pics. I think we will be seeing more of those bigger bows in the future with the numbers they are stocking.

[TubeDude]

**A lot of it has to do with the food chain.  Lots of “bitty bites”…for both kokes and 'bows.  When koke numbers are down there is even more invertebrate soup for the 'bows.  Lots of other aquatic life like crawdads and minnows too.  But the rainbows don’t target the minnows as much as the cutts do, so they really don’t compete with each other that much.  That’s why DWR bumped up the cutt program in the first place…to munch the chubs if not to provide a good fishery.  Most of us who have caught both prefer bows to cutts…both for battle and table qualities.  **

I suspect that an increase in bow plantings is at least partially to offset the lower numbers of kokes the past couple of years.  I know more than a few 'Berry fans who would rather catch a couple of hefty bows than a boatload of cutts.  And if the kokes are not numerous enough to kick out limits for everybody it’s great to be able to do some hand to fin combat with a big bow or two.

[wiperhunter2]

@TubeDude

**A lot of it has to do with the food chain.  Lots of “bitty bites”…for both kokes and 'bows.  When koke numbers are down there is even more invertebrate soup for the 'bows.  Lots of other aquatic life like crawdads and minnows too.  But the rainbows don’t target the minnows as much as the cutts do, so they really don’t compete with each other that much.  That’s why DWR bumped up the cutt program in the first place…to munch the chubs if not to provide a good fishery.  Most of us who have caught both prefer bows to cutts…both for battle and table qualities.  **

I suspect that an increase in bow plantings is at least partially to offset the lower numbers of kokes the past couple of years.  I know more than a few 'Berry fans who would rather catch a couple of hefty bows than a boatload of cutts.  And if the kokes are not numerous enough to kick out limits for everybody it’s great to be able to do some hand to fin combat with a big bow or two.

I sure agree with your statements.

[HuntNFishUT]

Went up to Strawberry Friday for the first time this year. It was cool but calm when we put our tubes in around 8:00. Used a Gulp 3" white curly tail tipped with crawler casting toward the bank and doing a slow, bouncing retrieve. Picked up four fish in the first two hours, nothing for a bit, then two more, then lots of nothing as a bit of a front started to push in. Off the water by 12:30 as the wind was picking up. Slow morning, but quality was good. My total was three rainbows and three cutts.

](PXL 20240524 155027785 — Postimages)