Hi brand new to the forum, and a recent Bass fanatic… Cant get enough…fishing utah lake..I’ve been catching a few… Lots of time spen and two really big ones but they are hours between bites any help would be awesome…I would consider myself an excellent fisherman as far as presentation and hook setting…learning on the go with the how to find them
Fishing UL lmb’s is not easy, you need to know where to go. The guys that know where to go have spent lots of time trying to find them and they are not willing to share with the public. I have put in my time, very frustrating but it has paid off. Marinas are obvious go to spots but the lake has plenty of shoreline. I keep fish, bass included, on some waters but I am selective on how big and what water. Utah Lake I encourage largemouth bass being released.
On a side note: Keeping over your limit bass in your live well and releasing them in a different spot to improve your chances of catching them for a tournament (or whatever your reason is) is unethical and I’m embarrassed that a fellow angler would do that. Yep, I saw everything. I don’t need to prove what I saw with my own eyes but just know that it was pointed out by a Sheriff that checked my registration. You know who you are. He asked me to keep an eye on you and I told him “No way! He’s a pro!” but I was wrong…and disappointed. Let this be known that eyes are on you, your boat stands out and your name is on the hit list. Please stop. Sorry bigyfan that I got sidetracked and hijacked your post. Had to get that off my chest.
I agree I am 100% release on the largemouth, letting the big ones go is easy because they are usually females who are going to spawn future bass for me to catch :)…thanks for the advice
I’ve also been trying for LMB in UL this year pretty heavy and have struck out every time. But the fish that have been caught that I’ve heard of were on sweet beaver tails and/or spinner baits. I second the marinas as a good place for them.
But why the bite is so hit and miss with those is beyond me. But I know some people that catch them consistantly out on UL, but they’re pretty jerky about divulging any info. I too withold some information on things, but it’s ok to mention a few places, techniques, etc. It’s not like we’re going to catch every last LMB out of there!
There are guys out there that do a lot better than I do, but let me address some of your points. i don’t think I’m too off base.
1.RE: " I’ve heard of were on sweet beaver tails and/or spinner baits."
Those have seemed to become popular out there and yes, they work, but finesse techniques also work well. Try different things. One hint, dark colors.
- RE: “I’ve also been trying for LMB in UL this year pretty heavy and have struck out every time.”
“why the bite is so hit and miss with those is beyond me”
You guys have to remember that UL is not the same as going to Jordanelle or Lake Powell, where you can expect to have a 25+ fish afternoon. There aren’t that many there and they are spread out. Occasionally, you will get a good number, but when I go down after work for green fish, I’m happy with one or two.
- Along those lines , Re: “they’re pretty jerky about divulging any info.”
Please understand that since there aren’t a lot of them in there, people are not eager to see the fish they catch caught and harvested. With the new regs, we are already seeing “the locals” take a bunch out of there. Sure, someone can swear up and down on a stack of scriptures that they will C&R, but many of us that have dealt with the average Joe know better. If you must harvest some LMB there, keep the small ones and leave the big hens in the water.
- RE: " It’s not like we’re going to catch every last LMB out of there!"
Lastly, its about pressure. since there are only a few spots that are good, spread out in a big lake and there aren’t a ton of fish, if someone hits the fish hard before you get down on a given day, you are out of luck.
All that said, don’t give up, explore, and find your own spots, and you will get a few. You might even get some bigguns.
I was out there last Saturday fishing one of the harbors and I got a couple. I was fishing next to another kid for a while and he picked up one on a black spinner bait, a pretty good sized largemouth from some of the ones I’ve caught and as soon as he got it on the shore he said " this ones going home with me" Now I always release the bass I catch especially from Utah Lake so I go over to talk to him about it and he sees a sore on it’s tail and asked what it was. I saw that as an opportunity to talk him out of keeping it and thankfully I did
Its a pretty challenging lake to catch them out of but they are in there for sure, you can hit me up some time as well and I’d be glad to go down there and show you some things.