Had a short but productive trip down to the lower Bear River. Got to “the spot” about 12:30 - after the morning storms had faded. Got a birds eye view of a *couple *fish - and knew I HAD to pitch a few lines in there. Turned out to be a mix of LM-Basslings, Green-Sunfish, and the surprise Crappie joined the fray! No carp no walleye no cats, but couldn’t complain.
One of those times you get on a school that is non-stop action. EVERY pitch was a hit - mostly tossed a silver hammered spinner rig - painted perch pattern, with some beads on a Gamakatsu hook - with a chunk of crawler. Most of the bass were wee bitties - in the 4inch range. But sometimes tugs is tugs! I probably landed and tossed back on order of at least 50 fish in a 2hr span.
Got into a number of green sunfish (pretty sure they weren’t bluegills - longer, leaner - sorry, blurred that shot!).
To my pleasant surprise - I landed a cute widdle Crappie. It was followed by a couple more decent ones (10 inchers - not slabs, but nice enough!). I did get into a couple 10 inch bass that gave a good wrastle.
Tried out a white/chartreuse feather tail jig after a while, and hell - I didn’t even need to tip that pup, and they were ON it! It got beat to hell! Talk about coming unraveled!
Had meant to move around more and try some other spots that have been in mind, but pitching right up against the cliff just kept delivering - and I couldn’t tear myself away. Time ran out, and I had to roll out - but am certain to take another run down there, and try out some of those other spots. See if I can find Big Brother!
Whipped up a mix of poached bass, sunfish, and crappie - partnered with some baked Trout (from Mantua). Along with some Jambalaya rice mix and green beans - hmm hmmm good!
Bank tangling under a bridge. Think I coulda found some with more size if I’d moved to some other spots. I have been told there’s some nice cats and walleye to be found down there. Still need to prove it to myself. Lots more exploring needed!
I can take a guess at where that was! Anyways great job on the green sunfish. I must say those are my favorite fish to catch and I am jealous of how many you got. Back when I went there all I got were crappies and bluegills but I am not complaining, they were huge fish. Looks like a very productive trip to fill your stomach though. No kitties wanted to play huh? Seems like they are taking a nap lately, kinda like their land locked furry bothers.
[pirate][sly] Just don’t tell the lurkers! [pirate]
Would like to track down the bigger brothas - and I know they’re out there. This little pocket was just holding up the schools of pups. Mighty frisky pups though! Even had them come up and slam my bobber! Seems like they sit and wait for something to fall off the cliff, and then just hammer it!
Ya know - I pitched out deep for ‘whatever else’ and had I had more time - woulda set up a pole on deep water - then shoulda found some kitties. But the little peckers just kept me so busy. Landed a bunch more sunfish, and TONs more basslings - but even some I kept were below my ‘size preference’.
I’m gonna have to do some more bank-venturing down that way - see what else I can get into for sure! I was kinda surprised not to see any carp on this trip.
That spot looks really familiar, if it’s were I think it is there are some really nice smallies hangin around too. Warm water fish out of the river, gotta love it. And by the way I’m pretty sure I saw you at the welcome mart in Wellsville last friday and waved with no response, I know we’ve had our spats but come on man, I mean a one finger acknowledgment wave would have been fine.
You need to stop posting the food! I honestly just had my stomach growl now! We should get out together sometime. I leave the state in a month and would like to wet a line with you first! Let me know if you want a fishing partner sometime.
Was I buying worms? Probably when I was on my way to Mantua to NOT find any bass or bluegills. (at least the trout were playful enough!). I’ll tell you where it is, but not here shhhhh. Fishnma’s shared enough intel on that area - that I’ll keep under wraps!
Sorry - no dis intended - musta had my fish-face on, and didn’t see/recognize ya. Would have been proud to share the one-finger salute bud! Far as I’m concerned - it’s all in good fun, no worries here. I’ve said it before - I respect your bassing-abilities, and would love to learn what it takes to get past the dinkers. I can find them plenty easy! Need to shake a wacky worm by a big bush or something! (I still think your DDP post was hilarious BTW)
For all I know some of the ones I got into were smallies - they just seemed more green than brown. Same patterns I see on Newtons (and don’t think they’ve got smallies there?). I know the Bear holds both kinds.
I’m just always happy to run into Crappie on anyday.
Nice Oneida fish - just wish you had a bigger camera!
Maybe we’ll meet on the ice at Hyrum this year. You can show me how to NOT break off a big brown at the hole!!!
Marinespear - well good, worked then - sorry I can’t include the scratch-n-sniff. Be glad to fling lines together. I think I need to challenge the Skunk-Monster of Willard at least once more (head S from the N). Pineview has been calling to me. But I’m really thinking another Newton visit may be in the cards. Maybe an early afternoon Friday venture - fish till dusk?? Any interest?
I typically have a spare seat - since my son “only likes ice fishing” - as he tells me now. Plus I could bring you a sampling of ‘smoked trout’.
I have only fished that river once…but I got my 1st ever Black Crappie that day. Most people only get a mud cat or two…glad to see that you were not one of those people. Enjoyed the meal shot BTW…looks like you have been eaten good lately[;)]. If only SLC weren’t so far away from there.
I’ve gotta kill a buck before I can start jonesin for the hard deck. I’m a little worried how Hyrum is gonna be this year with it being as high as it is still. It’s totally screwed my spring, summer and fall bass fishing there. I’ve never prayed for a drought until this year. They are letting out a lot of water though, the little bear below my house is raging so hopefully that will help concentrate the little buggers more.
I know what you’re saying about wishing for a drought. The fish have been so much more spread out and well fed on all the fry that it’s been a lot slower this year for me. The overall quality of fish that I’ve been catching has been better, but I probably caught 500 fewer fish this year than last.
Oh yeah, Coyote, the bass in your BIG bass pic is indeed a smallmouth. How were the water levels down there? I was thinking about trying for smallmouth down there, but I was afraid it would be too high.
It is really high still. I was kinda surprised. Stopped by in spring and the pump-house was raging. Still is - had thought some of the washes below might be shallower now, but not so. Those rocks in the picture were above water last year, but submerged this.
Ok then - thanks. Smallies it is. (he really wasn’t that big! It’s all relative). I wonder if there was a mix - some had splotchy spotted patterns on their sides.
Zooming in on the overhead shot - you can make out some of the sunfish - by the spot. Kinda cool how they all school up together. Ah - safety in numbers.
I hear ya on the Hyrum levels. Tried the shore a couple times - but there’s so little of it! Need to give it a fall float - see if I can get past all them tiny planters and find some big bows or browns. I expect the trout are pretty active with fall. Hope the perch have sized up some!
Was surprised to see Newton’s level come UP! Not the way it dropped and dropped last year.
Yeah, you definitely have a mix of bass there. The one is a smallie, the others are little largemouth. It’s funny how much their colors can vary, even in the same body of water.
All the Idaho waters I’ve been fishing are just a few feet from full. You’d think it was may if it wasn’t for the colorful foliage.
Ya, Hyrum is always better when there’s a hard-deck, at least in my experiences there. Although I’ve seen some huge trout come out of there in past years during the Fall. Seems that reservoir is always changing from one year to the next. Too many fisherfolk. Who knows, maybe this will be the year of the fat perchies.
Lava: You oughter get off the bank and come trolling - might change your tune. Hyrum can be a tough mistress from shore, but when you can get on top of the fish - makes a difference. Good lake for Pop-gear. Plus it’s hard to get to good spots around the inlet - like where tent-city pops up in winter!
TDT - I’d concur - this is all I found last time I went “cat-fishing”. They just got fixed - and hadn’t even realized they were broken!
[inline “River Cat.jpg”][inline “Charlie Bear.jpg”]
I’ve trolled many times, and been on boats pitching lures many times. Like I said in before post, ‘in my experiences’. Sometimes it’s best from a boat. And sometimes it’s not best.
Lakes like Hyrum and Porcupine, you need to get down deep if you’re fishing in the middle of summer. I just wait until Fall and Winter
Hey I’d use those for “KITTY BAIT”! MEOW!
Nice fishies!..and I think you’d get yourself a white bass too if you try hard enough!
LaMont and Twin are fun right now if you get tired of that murky river.
Smiles Always!
MA
Actually - they were pretty intent on STEALING my bait. They found ME at the launch by Benson Church - so hungry they stole shrimp right off a hook. Then - dammit! The Kids went and named 'em - I was stuck! Curse-ed be! (have a colleague that assures me he could “take care” of 'em. Kids won’t go for it! Grrr.)
Least I can do it train 'em right!
[inline CatPhishing.jpg]
You’re not kidding - that water is pretty murky and muddy. Seemed like the “clear” pockets against the rocks were hot - went downhill as you moved out into the murk. But that’s what ‘vibration’ is good for, no? (good good good - good vibrations…)
So - I’ve got all these “forces” drawing me to go fishing in Idaho. Wassup wit dat? Is it really any “better” than Utah fishing (yeah - it’ll cost me - I KNOW that!). We’ve got sooo many waters I don’t get enough time for - is it really ‘worth’ it to cross the border?
Wadda find at L and T? Big Smallies? Show me the Walleye - and I’ll be there (Oneida?). Wish Idaho would adopt Utah’s approach to “annual” not being based on January 1st!
White Bass from the Bear? Is that what you’re suggesting? Really?! I’m probably more likely to find a perch or trout out there. [:/] But this year - I’ll believe anything - have “opened up” the multi-species door.
AND ME LIKEY! Still a couple on this year’s bucket list, and a new list forming for next year…
and hey - Lava - I know you’ve been a float before! Mine was more an invite than a dis - just so’s ya know! You’ve probably had yur Pontoon out there! But - to reiterate - the invite is open. But those frisky trout are sure to invade the shorelines at dusk-n-dawn, no doubt. If we can work those perch schools - I’ll bet we can find more chunkers. Find the edge, bigger baits - something.
I think the high water is going to affect the ice fishing as well. two years ago the ice fishing at hyrum was terrible and the water had been higher that year than normal. Good thing I’ve got a lot of the structure on a GPS. There’s a tip for ya coyote, find structure in your boat and then go sit on it in the winter, lots of good browns to be had.
[pirate]
Far as I’m concerned - it’s all in good fun, no worries here. I’ve said it before - I respect your bassing-abilities, and would love to learn what it takes to get past the dinkers. I can find them plenty easy! Need to shake a wacky worm by a big bush or something! (I still think your DDP post was hilarious BTW)