Flaming Gorge rpt.2 6/11-6/14

[leaky]

Hi Guys,

This better qualifies for float tube rpt. Wish I had a fish finder!

My buddy called and wanted to go again and I couldn't refuse! Went to the confluence again, (wyo.) and caught a lot of "smalleys" again but still not the size I've caught several years ago. Caught a lot of small guys and probably about 40-50 cookie cutter size of 11-12 1/2 in. Fished from shore and float tube (when the wind wasn't blowing hard off shore). Finally took the water temp. Remember a little over a week ago it was 59-62 deg. Now it's 54 deg.!!!? Big cool down! I new they had colder weather but didn't realize that it was that much. Kind of put's off the spawn, right? That along with low pressures, full moon probably puts them down a little, right? Had the DWR do a creel check on me and he indicated that a little over 2 weeks ago seemed to be the peak (during our record heat wave).

Interesting comment he made - they're having problems with the bass clubs and bass competitors doing their own private relocating/stocking of their private "Honey Holes". What they do is before a tournament they travel around the Gorge catching fish keeping their limit of "big guys" and going to their "honey holes" and releasing them. The letter of the law dictates "immediate release" which is the only way they can make an issue.

What do you guys think? Personally, recognizing many of these guys make their living competing, it still rubs me the wrong way that they are doing this. I wish I knew if any of these "honey holes" were accessible to me. LOL

[crazy][angelic][crazy]Leaky

[TubeDude]

[cool]Good report, Leaky. Looks like you experienced the fickleness of the weather gods and what it can do to fishing. Experiences like that make you properly grateful for the times when you hit it JUST RIGHT. And, when you have a less than stellar day you can always retreat home knowing that there will be better trips ahead.

That thing about the tournament fishermen is no surprise. People in general are basically larcenous, and are always looking for ways to derive gain, even if it results in a loss to others. Unfortunately, fishermen are no exception. And, when it comes to competition and the BIG BUCKS being paid out on the pro circuit these days, it is not unexpected to see a few of the less sportsmanlike pros "working the game".

Is is illegal? Probably not, in the strictest sense of the law. Is it ethical? Heck no. In a contest of personal equipment and skills, there should be no unfair advantages for those who rig the contest in their personal favor.

I do question how effective that would be, however. While a bass released in unfamiliar waters might hang around to get oriented, and recover from the stress of the battle, most of them will disperse fairly quickly back out into the lake...many ending up near where they were caught originally. The bigger ones especially are territorial, and will not only stay within a certain range, but will drive off other bass. So, one area is not likely to see a super concentration of large fish accumulating, because the biggest will force the others to leave...especially if the food is in short supply.

If you are going to get serious about bassin' from a tube, YES you should consider getting a sonar rigged up. Once you have used one, and become dependent on the information it provides, it is like fishing blind when you go out without one.

P.S. Congratulations on winning the Float Tubing Trivia contest on the Utah Board. See what hanging out with the good guys can get you.

TubeDude.
[signature]

[leaky]

Tube,

Surely your funning me!!!!!! My h------------ll! I didn't get the word from the ut. forum yet. Is this advance notification? I'll look for it. I win very few things!!!! yipeee kiiiiyiiii!!! And all those other exclamations.!!!! Ill be looking for what I may have missed, if anything on your neat/humorous questions. Totally agree with "the good guys". I still make fun of the 50k bass boats zipping around, what they're missing and bad habits.

Future plans - Jordanelle, Mantua, Snake River, Ut. Lake. I've got my human Bud hooked and now is struggling to find time to join me. I've always got Bud Nr.1!!! He's simply the best!!!!

[][][][][sly]Leaky