I SPEN A FEW HRS IN THE BOAT SERTCHING FOR THAT DEEP HOLE. LOL SO DID CHUCK SO DID BOB. NONE OF US HIT THE HUNNY. I GOTA VIDEO OF DECKING CHANLE CATS. THEY HAVE ANOTHER AT SPORTMANS ON 72. THINK YOU MIGHT GIVE A BIG JIG WITH A CHUNK OF CARP OUTA YR FREAZER A TRY ABOUT 6 TO 10 FT OFF THE BOTTOM NEXT TRIP. THANX FOR POSTING UP FOR US WHO WERE WAITING ON THEM A WHOLE YR.
Hey TD, Do the whities have the red lateral line that you have to carve out when you filet them?
Is that a Matzuo hook, and where are you getting them? I can’t seem to find the straight eye Matzuos anywhere?
Waljustias dad made mention last night that he was out pounding white bass. Glad you could be there to help him out.
Hey TD, Do the whities have the red lateral line that you have to carve out when you filet them?
Is that a Matzuo hook, and where are you getting them? I can’t seem to find the straight eye Matzuos anywhere?
All members of the striper and white bass family have the red sensory tissue along the lateral line. But, in smaller white bass it is so thin that it is not even noticeable if you leave it in place. I just fillet, skin and remove the rib cages. Just got through with a big batch of garlic butter sauteed whities served over oriental noodles. Yum.
I get the regular 90 degree bend Matzuos from either Cabelas or Barlows. The “Wobble Jig” mold came from Cabelas and takes the standard jig hooks. (See pics) I was using the 1/8 oz. with a size 6 red Matzuo hook…glow green…yesterday. You will notice they have a barb for plastic, but I remove that on smaller hook heads to increase hook gap. They still hold on a small plastic like the Gizzy Bugs. I have standardized using size 8 or 6 hooks for the smallest 1/16 oz. heads, usually 6 for the 1/8, 4 or 2 for the quarter, etc. I am also making some bigger ones for burbot…3/8 oz. with 3/0 hooks.
Sounds like you are looking for some of the Matzuo Aberdeen hooks. You can get either bronze or red finish ones at Cabelas.
[inline “MATZUO ABERDEEN.jpg”]
**I use these for some fly patterns as well as specialized jig applications. They are available is sizes from about size 12 to 3/0. **
. I am also making some bigger ones for burbot…3/8 oz. with 3/0 hooks.
Sounds like you are planning a trip to the gorge soon eh?
“Sounds like you are planning a trip to the gorge soon eh?”
Maybe…and maybe not. That is a long trip for a few slimy “camo eels”. But they are great eating and we all have to do our part to help thin the herd.
**I mostly make large glow lures for some “dependents” who rely on me to “enable” them in their burboholic passion. A couple of them also report that those things work great on pup macks and big bows. **
**I could not find the aberdeen hooks on my last trip to Cabelas. They were out of stock. I guess I might have to get them thru the mail. **
** I am making some perch eye lures and some minnow lures, using the Matsuo aberdeens, but I ran out…Might be a good excuse to make another trip to Cabelas via Utah Lake.**
I like the gap, point, and bend on the Matsuo hooks, but I have always been a bit confused over the straight eye versus the turned up or turned down eye.
Do you have any sage advice on the theory behind the turns in the eyes of the hooks?
I usually have to order the Aberdeens online. I don’t think I have ever found them in stock. But the Eagle Claw 202 is a pretty good substitute for making little ice jigs.
I use up-eye and down-eye hooks for different fly patterns…depending upon how the fly will swim or float…hopefully. But for a lot of larger patterns I like the ringeye (straight) hooks. I suppose the single greatest appeals are the easy to tie and straight line of pull factors. I suspect that I have missed hooksets over the years because of an indirect line of pull on offset eyes.
For bait hooks, however, I like the up-eye “octopus” style hooks. That design leaves a wider hook gap, for better hooking. However, you need to tie them on with a through-the-eye snell type knot…to create the desired straight line of pull.
**That being said, the bait hooks I use the most are the ring eye Eagle Claw 84…or the improved Laser Sharp version…L186. **
[inline “EAGLE CLAW LASER.jpg”]
I also use the nickel plated version…the 085F. Again, using the straight pull and easy tie factors I get a high percentage of hookups and lose few fish to hooks pulling out once set.
Sorry, to stick another question in here while you have a nice discussion going on the lures. That is interesting too.
I was just curious how the fishing is at the “abyss” in the summer time? Do the fish abandon the area as too warm then? Spring? Fall? Have you tried other seasons or is it too far out to tube?
Thanks!
Now back to your regular programing ------ 
Too far to tube…without a motor. Even then it is something I probably would not want to do. Utah Lake is known for developing its own weather and usually does exactly the opposite of whatever the weather forecast is. That spot is a long ways from any shoreline.
Howsomever, Dave has fished it quite a few times during the open water months and almost always finds fish there. He has hooked several big cats in the warmer months that power down into the depths.
The good news for us tubers is that some of the best fishing is close to shore during the warm weather months so we never have to venture too far out. Sometimes we cover a long stretch of shoreline, but even if the wind comes up we are never in any peril.
Don’t sweat “diverting” any of my threads. I ain’t that sensitive. As long as the topic remains related to fishing…and doesn’t get too personal…it’s all good.
Yes, I agree, If it relates to fishing it’s all good.
That 1186 eagle claw looks good and has a good gap. I’ll look for it. I don’t like to tie on and paint a minnow toward the rear of the shank with a short gap. I also think that I am partial to a straight pull.
Thanks for the information, and I hope you are busy downstairs, pouring stuff and sniffing fumes.
I loved your report and pictures. It looks like I need to make some more ice fishing lures.
I have been in Korea doing some consulting…gone for two weeks! I didn’t get out ice fishing last season. I would like to do some this season.
Thanks again for the detailed report and excellent pictures.
“Thanks for the information, and I hope you are busy downstairs, pouring stuff and sniffing fumes.”
Perzactly! Got a whole desk full of jig heads and other lures in the final stages of completion. I refer to it as “Paintin’ Place”…and I start coughing whenever TubeBabe opens the door and allows too much fresh air to intrude. But, as she puts it…it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble.
Those fumes can’t be good for me though. After several decades of doing this stuff it has really made me look older.
South Korea…or the other one?
Thought maybe you had gone into winter hibernation.