**Met up with BLK for some antisocial distancing at Utah Lake…at Lincoln Beach. After exchanging pleasantries and strategies we parted company…he to launch his kayak off the beach…me to launch at the ramp. The plan was to try off the mouth of Benjamin Slough and then go north, south, east or west to find fish if necessary. It was. **
BLK got one small cat at the mouth…then nothing. I worked further out in water from 4 to 7 feet deep. No fish, no bites, no errors. So BLK headed back to an area closer to his launch spot where he had seen some fish coming out. I moved further east…further away from what I assumed had been a heavily pounded area over the holiday weekend. When we checked in by radio a while later, BLK had scored a couple more and I had just got my first…and then four more in quick succession. I finally found “the zone”…lots of fish in a small area.
My sonar screen had been almost lifeless up until I got far enough away from the “fallout area” of the weekend recreation. But then I started seeing lotsa fishy blips. And my offerings were eagerly accepted for the next couple of hours. I got bit in water as shallow as 3’. But had consistent action in 4-5 feet. Water visibility was pretty good for Utah Lake.
**Water temp early was 73 and warmed steadily to almost 76 by the time the heat chased us off the water about 11ish. We both ended up netting a few over 10 cats each. Most were “cookie cutter” early twenties (inches). A couple were 2 footers and a 25 incher or two in the mix. **
My first cat chomped a chunk of white bass meat. But most of the others elected to dine on LHBE chub minnows (Left Handed Blue Eyed). Some took plain minnow on a 3/0 hook. Others liked a bit of bling and elected to take minnows impaled on big snarl flig rigs. In the warming waters, all punched above their weight class and even though we didn’t bring in any contest bumpers a good had was timed by all. Or whatever.
On my way back to the ramp I noticed a group of DWR boats working around the mouth of Benjamin Slough. I have seen them in there before. They usually lay out some big funnel nets and then do a sampling of the species and sizes of fish in the area. On one occasion I got to watch them launching carp into the air, well away from their boats. Not sure if that was the prescribed “careful” release for carpkind, but it was fun to watch.
The highlight of my day came when I was shucking down my fishing togs and changing to traveling clothes in the men’s room. Someone had left a small jig laying on the floor and I stepped on it. I felt the pain, but could not bend around far enough to see the culprit (jig). I thought I may have stepped on a small piece of glass. There was a small spot of blood when I stepped on the floor, but seemed to be nothing to scrape out.
I had no idea what it was until I got home and had my wife look at it. She made a wifely face and said I was going to have to go to the emergency room and have it removed. Won’t divulge what I said. She took a picture on her cell phone and showed me the embedded hook. I tried to describe to her how to use the loop of line trick to pop it out. Had to take her down to the computer and show her a few Utube demos and then made her a good solid loop of braided line and told her to go to it. PAIN. But no go. The wimpy hook on the cheap jig (not one of mine) would only bend and not let go. So I handed her a pair of long-nosed pliers and told her to use that instead…with the same concept except using more applied force. OUCH. But it came out. So did a whole lotta blood for a few minutes. Then…as I always do…I quit bleeding. Put some antiseptic and a bandage over the wound and asked if I got a lollipop for being a big boy and not crying. Had to wake up the fainted nurse first though.
Good seeing you on the water again, Lynn. Hey, that rhymes.
