Well, I found some carp meat in the bottom of my freezer left from last year, so I figured I’d put them to good use. I ran down to Cutler for a few hours and soaked some carp chunks between the storm cells. Not the fastest action, but I scored 4 channel cats,[inline “kitty 4 small.JPG”][inline “kitty 3 small.JPG”][inline “kitty 2 small.JPG”][inline “kitty small.JPG”] broke a big one off, and had a couple of taps that didn’t hook up. Oddly enough I didn’t encounter any muddy buddies. I threw some lures for crappie, bass and walleye with my second rod, but nothing was interested. The water is still pretty dang cold, I didn’t even see any carp frolicking, so I wasn’t that surprised. In any case, it still felt good to have something tugging on my line and to get a little sun and fresh air.
That’s a great report. So the kitties are coming out to play!
Curious, (if you don’t mind saying, or pm welcome) what part of Cutler? Looks like you were shore fishn?
I got some Carp for some of those kitties! Found a couple cutters down at Willard, but I’ve got a lot of Cutler I want to explore.
So what kind of rigging do use, and do you put your perch rod in a holder, then go pitching? That’s about my usual approach.
Hey - thanks for the report. Those are some nice cats. Are they on a scale there?
I was just over in the Benson Marina area. I do leave my rod in a holder while I fish my other rods. I use a circle hook, a swivel and a pyramid sinker. The fish grab the bait and run, but as soon as the line runs out, they circle hook works it’s magic and they hook themselves. I very rarely have a gut hooked fish. All the fish were holding along current seams. I was cheap and didn’t buy the grabber with the scale, but it prevents me from getting poked by their spines anyway. One fish was a bit smaller, but I’d guess the others were maybe 17-18". Not 14 + lbers, but they helped take a little stress off so I could spend Sunday doing homework all day.
You may wish to edit your report. You have just admitted to a violation of the Utah regulations. Perch meat is not approved for bait on Cutler.
Which in my oponion is a stupid law. I can go to the store and buy anchovies or sardines and use them in any water in the state, but you can’t use perch in cutler. It’s dumb and the states excuse is even dumber.
No disagreement from me. Don’t get me started on Utah’s archaic bait laws. No live minnows? No use of bluegills or green sunfish? No corn…even in non-trout waters…for carp?
I wasn’t raggin’ on the original post. Just tryin’ to help prevent a citation. DWR COs have been known to use public forum posts as probable cause to get search warrants and issue citations.
Too bad they can’t spend more time on violations as they occur…like on community ponds…or Strawberry…or???
But, in fairness to DWR they are really handicapped by decreasing budgets, limited manpower and extremely large areas for each CO to cover. Where do we change the laws to make their jobs easier and where does common sense take precedence over old outdated practices?
Glad it’s not my yob.
Sorry if I came across to harsh, I know you weren’t raggin on him. It just reminded me how stupid some of the regs are. Both Newton and Hyrum waters end up in Cutler as well as the fish species that are in there. You can’t use perch in Cutler but you can use 1 inch cut bait at Newton to catch muskies that you can’t keep, it’s insane! I’m just mad cause it’s raining and I should be out in the marsh chasing cats but I’m sitting here babysitting at work!
nice kitties if this darn rain ever stops maybe ill have a chance to go play.
Did he say perch fillets im sure he ment carp meat right gstott[;)]
I think maybe he meant to say “chubby P…” - would that be close enough?
Point taken - I see it now (pg9), and honestly - Cutler/Benson is one of the most patrolled locations I’ve encountered. Even heard of an “exotic” angler who ended up deported after they discovered he not only didn’t have a fishing license, he didn’t have a citizenship license, and also happened to have warrants against him (don’t think it was tied to mis-use of bait).
I guess it’s tied to the “body of water” notion. But - aren’t perch one where you can catch them in one place, but use them in another?
But perch can only be used some places still, but I could use carp anywhere? Even a lake that doesn’t have carp?
(TD: Still got chub minnows in the freezer?)
How well to anchovies/sardines work? Think they’d have a hard time staying on the hook - unless they were frozen raw, not salty-canned.
Gscott- I thought it looked like Benson bridge, but didn’t want to hotspot. I still only seem to find yellowbellies around there, though the DNR folks were telling me even Walleye are pulled around those bridges. Gotta keep trying!
TD: You eat the mudcats too I seen? I’ve been told they taste like mud. Most I see are so darned tiny too, but frisky nibblers!
Rod Holders: I’d seen these on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9kNT_6ijPg. Wonder if you could make one out of PVC? Not the best video work, but seems like an interesting product. Beats those little clip on bells!
Fish Catcher Rod Holder
Might have to try rigging up something. Hmmm another job for those old guitar strings!
"I guess it’s tied to the “body of water” notion. But - aren’t perch one where you can catch them in one place, but use them in another? "
Perch are a “protected” or “managed” species. Thus they are regulated as a bait fish. The general rule is that they may be used in any waters in which they currently reside. But not all waters fit that rule. Bear Lake is a good example. No perch meat in Bear Lake even though there are perch in residence.
[#000000]"But perch can only be used some places still, but I could use carp anywhere? Even a lake that doesn’t have carp?
(TD: Still got chub minnows in the freezer?) "
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Carp are not a protected or managed species so you can use their “parts” anywhere bait is legal. And yes, I do still have some leftover minnows. The left-handed and blue-eyed ones work the best.
[#000000]“How well to anchovies/sardines work? Think they’d have a hard time staying on the hook - unless they were frozen raw, not salty-canned.”[/#0000ff]
Anchovies and sardines DO work…but not any better than “natural” baits. However it is good to carry some anchovy or sardine oil to “sweeten” up some carp meat from time to time. The actual baits do tend to get soft quickly once thawed. Best to keep them almost frozen until you pin them on the hook. But a sneaky fish can wait until it thaws and then rip it off the hook fairly easily. Bigger fish tend to slurp it down though.
[#000000][/#0000ff]
[#000000]“TD: You eat the mudcats too I seen? I’ve been told they taste like mud. Most I see are so darned tiny too, but frisky nibblers!”[/#0000ff]
I don’t deliberately target bullheads but if I am getting more than a couple…and at least 11-12 inches…I will keep them for the table. Truth be told, they are mighty tasty little critters…from clean water. They can pick up some “musty” flavors if they hang out in nasty water with low oxygen content and too much algae. The ones from Utah Lake are delicious. You gotta be good with the fillet knife to make it worthwhile to fillet them. Some folks skin them and fry them whole.
**You don’t need anything exotic for mudders. Just a SHARP hook…with exposed point…and the right kind of bait. That can be almost anything but crawlers are at the top of the list. But they also love PIECES of minnow and small chunks of carp meat. **
Bullheads hit differently than most channel cats. The bigger kitties “gulp and go”. Bullheads often pop and drop a few times before getting the hook in their mouths far enough for a good hookset. And they have surprisingly hard mouths…and a strong bite. If they are clamped down on the bait and you make a wimpy hookset you will just feel their weight momentarily and then bring in a mangled bait…or no bait. They can be tough to hook.
However, they seem to be easier to hook when fishing bait below a bobber. That is probably because they rise up to take it…take it all in their mouths and are heading down and away when you set the hook. That is the best insurance for a good hookset.
Bullheads are usually some of the first fish to arrive in the warm shallows of most waters in the spring. They will swim into really skinny water to soak up the rays of spring sunshine. If you toss half a crawler on a weightless rig…and let them swim off with it a few feet…you can catch a grundle when you find them in a shallow warm cove.
have you found that circle hooks work better on cats then say a octopus hook, also what size circle hook do you usually use 
also are the kitties spawning right now in cache valley or when is it
[bobhappy]
Tubedude you are right on. So I there is no need for my thoughts…LOL
I need to try for one of those big Channel Cats soon. Cutler has 'em, but I think my chances of a lunker improve down at Utah Lake (but that lake has not been nice to me the last couple of years). I try to hit it once every summer with my brother. Now I’m starting to wonder if summer will ever get here.
[fishin]
TD knows his stuff. Learned a lot from my honorary grandpa over the years.
[bobhappy]
Cutler has the biggies! But it seems like you have to get to areas that don’t get hammered nonstop…IE all the bridges.
So are mud cats a protected species? As many as there are you would think they have 24 hour survaliance. And there are some big cats out there, I need to get a 25 plus pounder out of there to put a end to all the UL nay sayers.
That question will be answered strictly based on Who You ask. .. I strictly use circles and use a sweep hookset or just let them hook themselves, others prefer a octo or a big J hook Because they enjoy the rush of laying into a running big cat as hard as they can. .. so its Definitely opinion based.
So are mud cats a protected species? As many as there are you would think they have 24 hour survaliance. And there are some big cats out there, I need to get a 25 plus pounder out of there to put a end to all the UL nay sayers.
A “protected” species is generally speaking any that are listed in the Fishing Guide as a regulated species…with limits, etc. White bass are kinda outside that line…with no limits…but still considered a gamefish and restrictions on the use of their flesh as bait in waters other than Utah Lake.
I believe there are cats over 25 pounds in several Utah Waters. These would include Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell, Green River, Bear River, Cutler, Utah Lake…and even Echo. Possibility in Gunnison, Yuba and maybe a couple of other lesser known spots.
Best chance for a GRANDE would be the Bear River or Utah Lake. More fish in Utah Lake but the chance for big fish is probably better in Bear River. Of course all of that depends upon timing, tackle, technique and luck.
Thanks for the heads up. For some reason I was thinking they were okay to use. I guess I’ve spent too much time in Idaho lately. [sly] Truth be told, that’s actually where I caught them in the first place. Most of the ones I catch on this side of the border aren’t worth the trouble [:p] In any case, yes it was carp meat after all [angelic]
I like to use circle hooks because I have a short attention span and tend to fish with lures with another rod while soaking my bait. The hook does the work while I’m busy and the fish don’t swallow the bait. I can’t remember for sure which size I’m using, I’m too lazy to go out to the garage and look right now. They’re not super huge, maybe a 1 or 1/0. You can find them at Cal Ranch of all places. It’s the only place I’ve seen them in Cache Valley.
I’ve eaten bullhead back east out of some really clean waters and they were fantastic. I’m not sure about Cutler, but if they’re good out of Utah Lake, I would imagine they would be good out of Cutler. I’ve found some nice ones up around a foot with some regularity in Cutler.
I may go look for kitties again this week, but I’m really tempted to shell out my $98.50 and go look for some frozen bass up north. I really miss those guys.
Custom sports in Hyde park sells circle hooks, their selection of gear is kinda going down hill, but they still are the go to store for bass/spinning tackle in the valley.
If I were you I would shell out my 98 bucks as soon as possible, so I could get as much my moneys worth as possible until the end of December when it expires. You know it’s worth it!