Fishing

Went out to UL today with TroutBumDave.

I have never ever fly fished before, or float tubed for that matter. Wasnt a real fast day, we started around 1, and left around 7.

We launched from the Lindon Marina, and headed out north of the marina in the reeds. There were a ton of carp jumping out there, some really big ones too. We ended up getting into a good school of Whities, I ended up landing my first fish on a fly rod, TBD hooked a bunch though. Overall a good day in my opinion. Tried some new fishing techniques, learned a little about fly fishing, and had a nice day on the lake.

Day off well spent

Sounds like fun.It's always nice to learn something new and to have it actualy work is a bonus.

I will trade you for my Monday. LOL

Ten hours of pure hell and tomorrow doesn't look to be any better.
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Light travels faster than sound.

So some people seem really bright until you hear them talk.

It was almost like my wedding night... Almost. Seeing him lose his F-Chip made me... well, it made me damn proud. For his first time, he has pretty damn good technique, and he only lost one fly -- 10 minutes before we got off the water. Not too bad considering I lost four or five.

Those damn carp eluded me once again, and man, I am not happy about this at all.

Does anyone know why they're jumping all over the place? Surely they're not eating, right? Spawning? Horseplay?

I have heard that they do that to break up their eggs sacks when they're ready to spawn, but it's early for that, and I see them do it in the summer and fall too. I've never understood it really. It's just one of those things that makes carp such ridiculous creatures.

Your losing that monster fish reminded me of a similar incident on the middle Provo. It was during a stonefly hatch, and a monster brown came up to suck in my dry. I got a little too excited and pulled it out of his mouth. There was a guy about a hundred yards upstream who looked down toward the maelstrom of profanity and then promptly left the river. Whoops. It was a really big fish. But, on the bright side, I got to fish through that section after he left.


http://gregsfishinglog.blogspot.com/

  So, what is the fly of choice for a white bass?

Last year my dad's friend was killing them on the ugliest fly I've ever seen, pitched with spinning gear, he said was his secret weapon back when he went to BYU 45 years ago, or something.... A BIG wooly-bugger looking thing tied with all kinds of tinsel and white, with a bright red hackle and tinsel on the front 1/3.

Flashy white streamers were always good producers for me on the white bass.


http://gregsfishinglog.blogspot.com/

When white bass are schooled up and active they are quite competitive...and they will hit just about any lure in any shape, size and color. When they are cruising individuals or small groups they can be a little more selective...or even inactive. But they will hit some colors out of a 'reaction bite".

I have fished for whities with flies going clear back to the 60s. It would be fair to say that I have never found ANY color they would NOT hit. But there are a few colors you should always try to have. White is universal...all seasons. Ditto for chartreuse. The hot colors...red, orange and pink...are also good to use either solid or in combo with white and/or chartreuse. Black is another universal color. Right with it is purple. Both of those show up well in murky water (rare for Utah Lake...right?)

Some of the color combos that work well are red head, chartreuse body and white tail...red head and either white or chartreuse body and tail...hot pink head/body with chartreuse tail, black and chartreuse, etc. And anytime you mix in some sparkly stuff like Flashabou or Krystal Flash you add to the appeal.

Flies for whities do not need to be ultra fancy...or even more than just some chenille on a hook. But if you have any nice trout patterns that you seldom use any more because they have become grungy or hammered let the whities have them. They ain't proud.

Attaching a pic of some of the stuff I have found effective.

TD, you forgot the white with blue mylar back . TD tied this up and it is by far the best white bass fly on the lake. Use a 3x long streamer hook, white sparkle chenille, white marabou tail, blue mylar tubing pulled over the back, and white hackle on the front. You can weight it or not !! Killer on pretty much everything in Utah lake, including carp. Easy to tie, but most effective !!

Essentially, the flies that TD posted are what we were using. The only difference is that I like to bulk up the marabou on the butt end. Yesterday I was using a chartreuse and brown woven larva lace bugger. It is a fun pattern to tie and looks awesome -- but like TD said, looks mean pretty much nothing to these fish (as far as I can tell) and they also took a straight up black wooly bugger, brown and olive woven bugger, and a perch minnow pattern. Here is how to tie the weave:
http://renegadefishers.com/...ave/overhandknot.jpg

It makes deadly scud patterns, off topic.

Sometimes you have to look at the water. Dark day, dark color. Bright day, bright color. I have also found matching the color of the water. Brown murky, brown or blacck, Green water, Olive.

At least this works for me. The one and only time I have been to Utah Lake, I tried TD generous flies. Mostly Black/Purple and the White/Blue (which kicked bum at Willard.)
But I was targeting Carp. No go and I am sure I didn't try long or hard enough.
I switched to a Type II line and a #12 Prince Nymph ( I have found Prince Nymphs and Zug Bugs work killer with warm water species).
I then proceeded to land four and miss a couple more.

So, I am saying, "HOW" you use a fly will make a big difference as well. As they say...Presentation. Not just for dries.




Some things are better left alone, Even though, some feel they know better.
http://www.utahflydrifters.com/guides/profiles.htm

Sorry. Yeah, I have used a lot of variations of that old "over and under" pattern...using lots of different materials and different hook styles and sizes. But the traditional red back and blue back are still the best all around.

Here is a pic...with the blue back one top center.

It would not be very effective right now, but later in the spring and summer, poppers are very effective for WB, LMB, Bluegills, and such. Never caught a carp on them, but a small floating spider or such would entice some of the buglemouths when the are slurping on the surface.

Along about middle of May when the midges and mayflies start to hatch, you will see a lot of carp slurping the emergers on the surface as they swim up from the bottom. Any of your standard emerger patterns will work then. Remember, when the bugs are hatching down there, everything is eating !!!

I've caught my share of carp on dry flies, and let me tell you, there are few things in life as awesome as watching those lips slurp down your bug.
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"I'm not even against removing the carp from Utah Lake but I just think we should do it ethically and I also think if anything carp help protect some of these other fish from being overfished. " OMG, Save Teh Carpz!!1

we'll have to try some of these TBD, maybe when we got out for cats we can make a pit stop in that same spot for a bit. These are supposed to be great carp flies

Now twernt this a family friendly forum I might read somefin into them wurds....
Sorry - but reminds me of the ensuing commentary on a Youtube about hungry carp, Koi - actually - I do declare U-Tube could sure use some moderators to control the commentary on videos!

Those are some great looking flies - can you say "shake your tail feather". Bet some slurpy Wipers might snarf on some of them on a given day too! Hmmmm fluuuuufyeeeee.

There was a collection of cheapie jigs and such last spring on display at Walleyworld. Quite a few variations of heads, bodies, tails. A number with a touch of dazzle n glitter. They came and went. Bunch of Walleye targetting knockoffs too. Maybe they'll be back for spring spawn!