Gotta have a 9’ pontoon to fish the fishable rivers in Utah. And they only gots trout. No thanks.
Yes, there are high mountain lakes…in the Uintas. They look just like the lakes in the Sierras I used to hike when I was YOUNG. Anyway, they only have troutkind in them too…and mostly small stuff. Boring.
I prefer the warm water species and that usually translates to lakes and reservoirs. Ain’t none of them that offer UNIQUE tubing opportunities. In fact, the State Parks system has taken over a lot of the waters and has closed off a lot of the launch sites I used to be able to use for tubing.
You are preaching to the choir. I have been extolling the virtues of solitary fishing via float tube for over 50 years. I know all about the portability and the accessibility via tube that are generally not available to boaters. But, in Utah that seldom exists.
On one memorable occasion I was fishing a point going out into the lake, and doing well on several species of fish. There was one water ski boat on the lake and it kept coming closer and closer with every pass…trying to scare me off the lake…totally in violation of the 150 foot rule. And then…like they always do…they dumped the skier almost right on top of me. I took advantage of the “up close and personal” thing to “politely” ask the driver not to come so close with the boat. He rudely commented that I should be fishing over behind the buoys…in the swimming area. So I just as nicely responded that he should be water skiing on the freeway. Same difference. You go where the action is…not to “meet” new people who want to challenge your right to be where you are.
I can see where you’re coming from. Maybe the coming cold will at least diminish the skiers and obnoxious PWC of the summer. Then at least you only have similar interest fishermen to deal with, albeit in noisy stinkpots and sometimes with bad manners.
Do you have a personal ranking of fish you prefer to catch, or is it just the variety that can be had during any particular single trip? Or is it size and/or numbers that matters?
About the best I’ve done here for variety is working both sides of the dam many years ago over 2 days in a pontoon. Keeper size stripers, perch, bass varieties like smallmouth and even a white, also a walleye and something that broke off on the deep dam side. Then rainbows, cats, perch, different bass varieties, and a snagged carp at the bottom cold water outlet area on the other side.
I also caught a double (front and back hooks) of 2 different species of bass on the SAME crankbait on another trip, but that’s only happened once in my life…
Pon
9 foot pontoon? an NFO boat is only 6 feet and is legal
At one time they had a ruling of pontoons 9’ or bigger on the Green. Probably a matter of water class rating now. I don’t keep up with the changes because I don’t fish it.
No other real rivers in Utah big enough for floatin’ for more than a few feet…unless you got plenty of brewskis to keep you floatin’ high. Lotsa “high floaters” on the Provo below Deer Creek.
“Do you have a personal ranking of fish you prefer to catch, or is it just the variety that can be had during any particular single trip? Or is it size and/or numbers that matters?”
I love 'em all…even trout. But I generally target waters with multi-species potential. I often start by going after one species…like walleyes…and then alternate to other species if the early bite is not on. I have caught just about every species in the USA…both fresh water and salt…but I still get my enjoys with perch, bluegills, bass, catfish or whatever else is active and available.
In most of the waters I fish the various species all respond to similar lures, baits and presentations. So it is not uncommon to catch 4 or more species in a day…on the same lure or fly. And if I really work at it I can increase those numbers. But, as I realily admit, a lot of the catches are more accidental than by design…like the crappie on this last trip. No way to plan for that one.
I can see where you’re coming from. Maybe the coming cold will at least diminish the skiers and obnoxious PWC of the summer. Then at least you only have similar interest fishermen to deal with, albeit in noisy stinkpots and sometimes with bad manners.
Pon
But the cold also effects the species.
Perch and Trout are there, but the bass, cat, walleye..etc become a little tuffer.