Solo Smallie Smackin' Safari

:sunglasses:**Hey Lloyd, it’s okay if you hang out here too. We ain’t proud. We’ll let almost anybody in. Look who we got as a moderator. That should tell you something. You’re a tubaholic. You’re qualified. **


I did tip some of the jigs with crawlers, if I was also targeting perch. But, with some of those jigs, they work better for finesse hopping and retrieving if you don’t mess up the action with “sweetener”. Sometimes less is more. As with all the other stuff, you need to keep your options open and if they are not hitting well, keep trying other goodies until they vote for it.


I did see your reponse to my LAST post (for awhile) on the Utah Board. Thanks for your kindly comments. Blush, blush. As I recall, we exchanges a couple of emails on the jig making issue. I apologize if I failed to respond to an email that required a response.


That vinyl jig finish contains some potent thinner. I actually use the thinner to clean brushes after using epoxy. And, the brushes I use are CABELAS DISPOSABLE BRUSHES (link). They are just the right size, tough, and are nylon so they clean up in any kind of chemicals without disintegrating.

Not all plastic containers are created equal. Some are resistant to the solvents in plastics and paints. Some are not. My wife and I enjoy the Crystal Light drink mixes. They come in small plastic containers that are ideal for holding glitter mixes or epoxy. In the attached picture you will see both the brush and the containers I use. Also, the “glitter” I use to get the special effects on many of my jigs.


I buy thinner for the vinyl jig paint by the pint can. I do a lot of painting and glittering, and I clean a lot of brushes. I save small empty bottles and set them up for brush cleaners…for different types of applications. For example, I have one bottle of thinner for WHITE PAINT only. I keep about a half inch of thinner in the bottom and it is tall enough to just leave the nylon brush in there between uses. I also have separate bottles for GLITTER and for PAINTS (all colors). I keep one small bottle of thinner handy while painting or glittering, along with a medicine dropper. This is especially helpful when working with a batch of glitter (in clear vinyl), since it thickens quickly and needs a couple of drops of thinner periodically to create the best finish.


We really need to get together sometime…besides on the keyboard…so you can see this stuff firsthand. One of my favorite expressions is “How do you describe the taste of salt to someone who has never tasted salt…without using the word SALTY?” As with jig fishing or many other activities that benefit from initial instruction and demonstration, making jigs is best learned “hands on”. Similarly, it is simple once you know how, but overwhelming when you are trying to figure it out by yourself. I know. Been there, done that.


We had a jig making “party” over a year ago, in the Springville area. If you have space in your garage, or another suitable venue, I would be happy to bring my traveling jig show down to show you and others the basics…and to answer specific questions.

Pat,

Again, thanks for the help! It is much appreciated. I’d be happy to move things out of the garage if you want to do a “show and tell” in Orem sometime.

Incidentally, the private message I was referring to was about the rod making CD. Did you get that message?

Lloyd

:sunglasses:I do not recall getting such a message. If you would like a copy I will be happy to mail one. I still have your address. Otherwise, the majority of the value on the CD is in the writeup. I am attaching it in both Word Doc and PDF file. The rest of the CD is mostly pictures of different wrapping jobs. I can send most of those by email if you would like them.


See now, aren’t you glad you came over to the dark side? All on one board you can get info on fishing, tubing, rod building, lure making, etc. Just don’t ask any questions about world peace or understanding wives.

I am glad that I tuned into this board. It’s great! I don’t care how I get the pictures-- either email them to me or send me a copy of the CD, whichever is easiest!

Many thanks,

Lloyd

PS If I’m not careful all of these new hobbies are going to make me glad that I am going to retire.

:sunglasses:Retire? You? Already? After all, you are only “plenty nine”. You shoulda hung it up several years ago.


Better never late.


Also…Work is the single greatest interference with a man’s fishing schedule.


That’s right up there in the profound department with “Marriage is the leading cause of divorce”.


My “mailing department” is out of town for a couple of weeks. I will email most of the pics.

I was able to make it today and was on the water between 7-11:30 AM. I had a good day numerically, but most of the bass were small rats. Only got one toad. The wind hit hard about 10:30 and made things difficult. RC also was pounded by some intense fishing pressure today.

What I did want to share with the boards perchaholics was that I was able to find some perch today, just before the wind hit. There were a fair number of them in the shallows where aquatic grass is growing. They weren’t concentrated, were mostly small, but some were decent fillet size. As the lake level subsides and these areas dry up some, these fish will become more congregated, and the fillet knives will be in business. Have a good weekend all.

:sunglasses:**Thanks for the update. Sorry that the bigger smallies didn’t wanna play. And, between wind and pressure, it is probably good that you did as well as you did. **


Glad to hear the perch are somewhere. I usually do better after the water drops a bit and the perch move into the brushy areas which are now about 15 - 18 feet deep. There are some channels and holes in there that consistently hold perch under lower water conditions.


Love smallmouth but like to play with perchies too…and invite them home for dinner.

What a brave tuber !!! Going to the zoo on a weekend. I’m surprised you even had room to cast. After the last few post of how hot the bite is there.

Glad you were able to find a few and that wind let ya play for at least a little while. PM me before you head up again. The perchie are playful also.

:sunglasses:I thought it had been too many days without a TD tubing report, so I headed over here. Glad I did. I will become more of a regular over here now than I’ve been in quite some time.

Speaking of tubing, I plan to assult some waterway with my tube this Saturday a.m. Just not sure where yet, but Rock Cliffs is sounding pretty good…

:sunglasses:You’re always welcome here Geoff. You are qualified…as a tuber.


Rock Cliffs is starting to kick out some perch as well as the smallies. Go way back up into the skinny water near the inlet of the Provo and fish around grass and brush.


Just posted up a report on our Willard get together. That is where you need to go. A limit of tasty kitties is almost guaranteed, with a good shot at wipers and wallies if you hit it right.

Sorry to dredge these bones, but I was reading through some of the older postings I have missed in my abscense from the board and this one piqued my curiosity. What’s the deal with the canoe crowd Pat?

-ABT

:sunglasses:There is a group of “challenged” kids and adults who are taken out on day trips as part of their therapy program. For some reason, the counselors got excited about canoeing and they brought those people down to the remote ramp every day so that their “students” could play in the water. Those people do not know any better but the adult counselors should take responsibility for keeping everybody away from serious anglers. There were many complaints to the State Parks department over the way they would just take over the ramp and that whole part of the lake…right in the middle of the best fishing of the morning.


**I no longer even try to fish there. **

…isnt that also the area/ramp where a week or so ago you posted that one of the counselors had moved or knocked over some of your equipment??

I would hate to be put in that position, where you could offend an innocent that knows no better and piss off a “counselor” who is suppose to know better..

..just my .02

:sunglasses:Same ramp. Same problem.


The good news is that the lake is going through summer changes now, and the fish are moving to other more tubing friendly venues. No need to revisit the “Rock Cliffs” area until late fall…after the wimpy folks get off the cooling water…and when the trout get more active.


Just got back from a tubing trip with TubeBabe to our other favorite area, which usually starts to turn on about this time of year. The fish were there and we had a good trip. Will post as soon as I finish my reponses.

I thought I had remembered that.. was not trying to add fuel to the fire but cant say I blame ya for being upset with the counselors and not going back .. I think most of us would of felt and done the same…

MacFly