**I should join Masochists Anonymous. Didn’t get enough exercise climbing up the long ramp at Jordanelle last week so thought I’d do Deer Creek again. **
Met up with Perchinski launching just ahead of me. He was on a perch search and headed out…somewhere. Didn’t see him again before I came in at 11:30. Also, a DWR tank truck backed up and unloaded 5000 surplus rainbows from the nearby (Midway) hatchery. But they were only 5" long…a fact duly noted and acted upon by a horde of seagulls after the truck departed. The silly little hatchery pets all schooled up on the surface and were easy pickings for the enterprising gulls. And they were still mopping up on them when I came back in later.
A nice day. Air temp 48 at launch…warming to 80 by noonish. Water temp 65 at the ramp…warming a degree by departure time. But the water temp dropped over 1 degree in the upper end of the flats…where the Provo River comes in. And that had a half dozen slimer slayer boats anchored up in the channel.
I have done well on some nice trout on Deer Creek in the past by dragging a rainbow trout colored mini crank. So I put it out and trolled about 2 mph on my way to the flats…hopefully to find a few holdover walleye…or whatever. Noticed a couple of boats that were bringing in small trout on pop gear. About that time my rod developed a wiggly bend and I had one of the same…a recently planted bow “underfooter”. Caught several more before I finally put up the crank and brought out the bottom bouncer rigs.
**Worked large areas of the flats without seeing anything on sonar. Guessed the walleyes and other predators were probably following the schools of baby perch into deeper water. Still, I kept at it and when I swung closer to the rocky shoreline under the railroad tracks my rods began to dance again…again with slimers. Released several of the underfooters and kept one healthy 15 incher for some “surf & surf” (with shrimp). **
Made a few casts with plastics along some previously productive rocky shoreline. No smallies. Amazing. I did have about a 10 inch perch hooked but it declined to come aboard.
Got back in about 11:30 and began taking my rig apart to pack for departure. I hoped if I messed around long enough there would be someone else either launching or trailering and I could hitch a ride back up the hill. First time I can remember going so long between seeing anyone else on the ramp. I hiked…and huffed and puffed…and finally made it. That’s s’nuff of that stuff.
Took some footage with my new GoPro. Experimented around with different mountings and positions. Some turned out okay. Others…not so much. But I will piece together something to post for the video porn freaks.
Nice running into you this morn at the bottom of the ramp, Pat. Wish we could have been there to help you with the take-out.
but we quit around 12:30. Tough day for us, particularly compared to last Friday. Did find a largie spot across from the Island, but
few fish, small fish, and few bites.
I haven’t fished Deer Creek in years but have been thinking about giving it a try. I went to Strawberry this morning and decided to take a looksie on the way home of the ramp you launched from. Since we have never met before I watched a gentleman walk up the ramp and he was almost to the top otherwise I would have offered him a ride. Do you by chance have white hair and were wearing a white shirt. He paused for a little bit I guess to catch his breath.
Anyways, I think Deer Creek might be my next stop instead of driving all the way to Strawberry. However, it will be a couple of weeks away because I have some surgery scheduled next weeik.
Strawberry was kind of a bust. I didn’t see anyone else catching anything and I only caught 3 slot cutts. I did see something that I’ve never seen at strawberry before. This mornings temp was 35 degrees when I got there and lanuched at 7:30. This CRAZY guy had on a swim suit and was paddling a wake board. I launched from Renegade and he took off north and I never did see him again. He had a fishing pole with him and was trolling with it. Totally blew me away.
Ever wonder why the fish and game can t wait until after dark to stock lakes with fish. They have been stocking lakes for years during the daylight can t imagine how many fish have gone to the birds. At the cost to bring a minnow up to stocking size I think some of us sportsmen should start talking to some higher ups. Maybe a couple dollars in over time money or start there shift at 6 and plant the fish at 10 just a thought.
Hey Pat, so you had a TNC trip (trout not cats), that’s pretty unusual for you, but they say a change is better than a rest, so at least you had that going for you… Sorry about those long hikes, they need to offer valet launching for the senior fishermen… or shore side parking… Sometime I need to pick your brain about perch in shallow water, where they may want to hang in the winter under the ice, if the area is pretty shallow in general… Maybe the question should be, where will they show up during the fall and how would one angle them the best? Anyway thanks for the report… Later Jeff
Okay folks, I finished editing the amateurish footage of my first attempt at a report video. Obviously I still have a lot to learn, but I have already learned a lot more about proper positioning of the camera and editing the footage.
Great job pat thanks for your extra effort.
It seams like the fall fishing is going to be very different this year, both access and fish cooperation. My last visit to strawberry I learned it has not dropped still at full level to me.
Pineview is at 16 percent. Yuba about 9 percent. Willard still dropping.
And 50 feet down for Lake Powell. That’s going to be a problem for Calf. Veggies, farmers will be in trouble.
Typical great report and video Pat. Good to see your reports as well as *read *them. As your video talents continue to improve you might want to drop that TubeDude moniker you use and maybe try something like Cecil B. DePat. If our planned Friday hookup at Lincoln is not postponed by the wind I will be available for a feature role in your video with the 36 incher I’m expecting that day.
I Love your first video. Always wondered what your voice sounded like.
I think the Oscar Awards and Golden Globe people might be calling you soon.
Red Carpet time for Tube Dude
