I’ve been reading this site for about six months now and picking up tips here and there.
My primary fishing experience in Utah is trolling for Trout in the mountain lakes (Strawberry, Deer Creek, East Canyon, etc.) Although I have really caught a bug for fishing for Striped Bass down at Lake Powell during family trips down there (primarily a water-sports outing).
As the Trout fishing gets slower in the heat of the summer, I’d like to add Bass fishing (probably at Utah Lake since it is so close) to my skill set.
I’ve read some of the more recent threads and there is a lot of material… but is there a “definitive boat fishermans guide” to bass fishing on Utah lake somewhere?
I am also primarily a Catch-and-Release fisherman.
if you like stripers, you will love the white bass they are everywhere and they fight awesome for their size…which is on average getting better at utah lake…throw anything even a bare hook when you find a school and you will have really fast action.
I’ve got very little experience on UL, but I know a few who have played there a bit. White bass can be fun when you find 'em, but you aren’t gonna catch 'em where the ain’t (as some Dude’s might tell ya). Haven’t heard of a lot of trollers down there - but having a finder and moving till your find fish is always a good plan.
The bubble-up can show promise, or working reeds, rocky shores. Been doing some bank tangling up my way, and pitching spinners, jigs out over rocky shores - I’ve run into a number of smallies this year.
Bass do love their structure!
Welcome aboard. Look forward to hearing how you do.
If you figure out how to find schools of white bass on UL let me know. I have launched about 5 times in the last two years on the west side and rarely see much action or fish on the finder at all. My best success has been close to the rocks on dikes for the Pelican marina.
In fact, the only white bass I’ve caught have been behind the pump house. [pirate]
I guess at some point I have to try the east side of the lake.
Over the years I have caught thousands of white bass all over Utah Lake. Last year was an exceptional spring. The knolls the dikes off just about all the marinas, lincoln beach etc all produced well. They are tougher to locate this time of year and it seems you dont find big schools as often and they move more…however slow trolling a jig or spinner in likely area near the reeds or any of the harbor structures might help you find some. Once you locate them fish until they leave. Then go look some more. Frequently areas around inflows such as rivers, drainage ditches and the bubble up attract fish when the weather warms. Have fun
My first plan was to try the area off American Fork harbor around the dike and jigging near the reeds to the north. I believe I recall seeing fishing boats both there and off to the East toward Lindon.
Is that as good a place as any to start?
We do have a fish finder, but I’m not sure how reliable it is distinguishing fish from moss and debris on the bottom.
That is an excellent place to start. Both north and slightly south east of the A.F Harbor you will finf inflows that frequently attract whities. The dikes also attract fish. Good Luck and let us know how you do.
Most of the time I use a red or chartruese head. I use combinations of dark green and chartruese but have had days when pink was the hot color. In general I would say greens, chartruese, reds. Whities are usuall pretty agressive and will hit almost any color once you find them. Finding them is the key as they are more scattered this time of year. During the spring run it is not unusual to catch one on every cast. Small spinners can also be hot. Once you find a couple fish continue to fish that area for a bit. If you dont catch any in 15 min or so continue the search. Hope this helpd. Dont forget there are some nice crappie and bluegills to be caught around the reeds too. A small hook with a piece of worn 2 ft. below a bobber might get you anything from a big channel cat to a bunch of crappie. Hope this helps
by the way I should have mentioned that I use 1/8th or 1/16th oz. Heads. They are easier to keep off the bottom or rocks I prefer longer shank hooks which are harder to come by. Tube Dude makes a few jigs and a lot of us get long shank hooks on 1/16 oz. heads. I use 2" and 3" grubs or tubes. I often fish tandem jigs one about 18 inches above the other
I spent last night rigging up some small and medium tubes and grub jigs that matched the above description… with a focus on the tubes.
I have heard the best place to just catch bass is right at the head waters of the Jordan river… small fish, but aggressive.
So after work I spent an hour fishing about 75 yards below the head gate facility.
The bass were visibly active so I was expecting early and often excitement. I wasn’t disappointed.
My first White bass was landed on shore on pitch #3.
I spent a lot of the hour playing around with colors and different rigs, jigging motions, and getting a feel for setting a hook on a biting fish. Over the hour I landed 12 fish – on an average of about one every 7-8 casts earlier in the hour… moving up to one every 2-3 by the time I knew where they were hiding and had gotten the toss to the area down.
Most of the hour was spent changing colors and set ups. I found I liked a small anti-tangle jig hook the best with a yellow head, green and chartuse tube.
Most the bass were 5-7 inches – all were immediately released. I caught one just over 9 inches that was really fun to fight in – and I probably would have kept that one just as dinner souvenir and for a photo – except I didn’t come prepared at all to actually take a fish home.
And in my thoughts about all the new gear and techniques I wanted to try, I forgot a camera.
I may get up early the next couple days and just hit AF harbor to see if I can find something a little larger tangling from the shore.
Thanks for the tips everyone! I’ve added White Bass to the species of fish I’ve caught!