Lindon Tube-tanic (almost)

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I was gonna do a "drive and dunk" around Utah Lake today...to get my tube wet for the first time this year. First stop was Lindon. Lookin' good. Wide open as far out as I could see, in all directions, and the surface was glass. A glass with no ice.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Got set up and launched just inside the harbor entrance about 8 am. Fished plastics along the rocks and off both points. A couple of good stone bites but I couldn't land either one of them. Donated a favorite jig to one. That's okay. I know the guy who makes them. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No fishies wanted to play. Water was 41 at launch and a dirty greenish brown color. Not looking good.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Moved away from the dikes into about 6 feet of water and put out two bait rigs...one with crawler and one with a left-handed blue-eyed minnow. I figured something would want one or both. I figured wrong. Covered a lot of bottom moving zig zag toward the mouth of Battle Creek. In spite of my high degree of expectation neither rod nodded even a teensy bit.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When I reached the inlet zone, I put up the bait rods and started pitchin' plastic again. Found one little channel in the reeds that had something in it. Got a couple of whacks on a 3" plastic. Felt small. Figured it was white bass. Figured right. When I picked up my double drop shot rig...with my hotsy flies...I brought in two small whities in two casts. Both together would barely make one keeper. Didn't waste the time or the bytes on my camera to take a picture. No more "bites" either. I guess I caught the only two dumb ones.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Worked the reeds a while longer with plastics and then moved back out to deeper water to drag bait some more. I thought my sonar was broken. Nothing on TV today. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I finally noticed my crawler rod give a twitch. Fed the line a little bit and hoped for a walleye as I set the hook...into a little mudder. Yugly. Again, not worthy of a pic.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Suddenly an onshore breeze started picking up. I noticed it first in my hands, which got cold in the wind blowing in off the ice. Then I noticed that I was being pushed deceptively fast toward the reeds. Not a strong wind, but it did have pushing power. Boy, did it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a couple of "nearly almost" ice sheet stories from my past adventures. Instinctively I looked out into the open lake to see if maybe there might be some ice chunks on the move. Yep. I could see a big wide sickly green area in the water between me and the white snow covered ice further to the west. And, it looked like it had water on the other side. I said to myself "Self, you better get yore sorry butt back inside the harbor before that there sheet of ice cuts you off."[/#0000ff][#0000ff] No sheet.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It was my first trip of the year and my tubing legs ain't as tough as they will be later in the year. But, I still got enough horsepower to motate when I gotta motate. The big sheet of rotten ice was racing me to the harbor entrance but I won. I paused to take a picture of the loser before going inside the harbor. The ice rammed the end of the north dike. It would have cut me off from the harbor (and my vehicle) if I had not boogied in time.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Now I decided to check out the inside of the harbor, just in case that is where all the fish were hiding. NOT. An occasional mark on the sonar but nothing that wanted either bait or plastic in almost an hour of diligent searching. When I finally decided I had EEENUFFF I kicked over to the launch ramp to take my tube out of the water. I had to walk out to the point to get my vehicle but the take out point was more tuber friendly than where I had launched.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The water temp inside the harbor was 43. That is in the temp range that walleye usually like for a prespawn munch session. But, someone forgot to invite the walleyes...or they had a better invitation somewhere else on the lake. They tend to do things for their own reasons and don't pay much attention to what fishermen expect them to do.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I WAS surprised that I did not get even one good chomp from a kitty fish. They usually move into this area quickly after ice out and I have done well at this time in years past.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Maybe I just got mooned. [/#0000ff]
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[FishKillr]

Great Post Pat. It sounds like we weren't the only ones that had trouble with the fishies. They should start up soon I hope. Looks like the ice tried to attack you as well, glad you escaped its grasp and lived to fish another day.

C ya around,

Shawn
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[Weekend_Warrior]

You got lots o faith to be fishing UL this early! I know you have caught fish this early and even earlier in years past so that keeps you going but sheesh!!! I think its still time to be making jigs and rigging toons. [] Glad you didnt get sunked (or skunked)!!!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, in years past (before "global warming" kept the lakes frozen until June) I have caught walleyes and catfish as early as mid February. But, the reality is that the fishing usually does not develop until the ice cap comes off and the wind puts some oxygen in the water. That stuff today looked BAAAAAAD. I am sure that the chemistry of that water was slightly below ideal after the long winter under the ice. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Okay, now I go back to the jig making bench. Kinda like the groundhog seeing ice and staying inside for a while longer. Maybe next week...I hope, I hope. [/#0000ff]
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[walleyebob]

Hey Pat, glad you made it in safe, but also glad the ice is movin round. The more it moves the smaller it gets. I went down to Lincoln Beach and did a little jiggin along the ice edge inside the boat ditch. All my worms were dead, so I didnt give it the best try, but the fishing gods count hours with no worms as well as hours with worms. Not a bite, but my dog broke through and got wet so it wasnt a total waste. I drove down the boat ramp and broke some more ice until my check engine light came on and I figured I oughta quit.
It wont be long now!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You work 'em from that end and I will work 'em from the other end. Then we will gang up on them SOMEWHERE.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I originally wanted to start my drive at the south end of the lake and maybe prospect a bit around the SF River mouth. But, haven't heard any good news from there yet either.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It really is hard to keep breathing through your nose when your walleye senses keep flashing on and off. You just KNOW they are out there waiting. Why do we need to be so patient? Oh, the ice? Okay, so what else?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let me know when the Blue Bob Maru is able to break free to the walleye kingdom. I might even join up wit ya.[/#0000ff]
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[ripnlip]

I know I was way too early, but I did SFR 2 weeks ago. Posted it as Cold Water Wading. had the place to myself, not even a fish there. Water was way high, and some new junk in the water. Got hung up in places I normally don't.

Planning on a sunset trip this week. Wed or Thurs. depends on work schedule. I'll post the results, good or bad.

I think I was born to retire and fish, just can't convince anyone else of it.
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[AnglerDan]

Nice Pat,

You beat me too it!! I am pulling out the toon tomorrow and patching some leaks but I was planning on hitting the lake Friday. Seeing your report I will now wait till next week. Great report and good adventure. Scary when that ice is coming in. I had the same thing happen on Strawberry last year. Cant wait to hit the lake for some eyes and cats soon. Let me know the next time you are planning a ice dogging sucide run. I am in!!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I am optimistic that the series of "weather disturbances" forecast for the next few days will break up the weakening ice and blow it off the lake. That will reoxygenate the water and let it warm up faster if the sun comes out. Also eliminates the need for ice berg patrol.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I heard that the channel is opening at the south marina at Willard and there are walleyes being taken outside the buoy line. It is now illegal to fish from the inlet to the buoys. And, there is a gate that closes the road to traffic. So we have to wheel our craft all the way down to the launch ramp. Tough duty but it was worth it on the trips I made last year. That is probably my next adventure this year.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]It's good that us adventurous and pioneering types get out to check out the situation for all the wimps...ain't it? Yeah, we don't always find the fish on our early jaunts, but we always have fun...sometimes more than others.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was surprised yesterday at how high the water level was, considering that they had been dumping water out of the lake early. That will be good for walleye that spawn in the rocks...if they ever sneak in and get things going.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was born to retire too, but it took over 60 years to git 'er done. Not sure I get in much more fishing now than before but the scheduling is sure a lot more flexible.[/#0000ff]
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[toadly]

Nice post.[]To bad the fish didn't cooperate, the conditions look right and the sun I bet felt good.
I will give another look see, in a day or two. My toon is hope'n and wish'n to get wet soon.[fishin]
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[BigBassaholic]

Pat, can you get a atv past the gate?? I have a small 11ft john boat on a small trailer I can hook up to my atv. If the atv will go so will the boat.... let me know....thanks
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]The gate is two lanes wide. You could bring your Hummer if you wanted. They launch some big boats at Lindon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The gate is usually open after about 7. If you plan to get there earlier, shoot me a PM and I will let you know how to get in "off hours".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Launch fee is $5. There are some white envelopes at the pay shack you can leave your money and write your vehicle info on the envelope.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Two large ramps and plenty of courtesy docks. There are pit toilets but no running water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water depth in the harbor and the channel are at about 7' right now.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sometimes good bassin around the inside of the harbor. Used to be a lot more trees and brush but the beavers (and proprietors) removed a lot of it. Flippin' beside the docks can be good early and late. And there has been some artificial structure put around the edges in a couple of places. Once you learn the layout you can usually stick a greenfish or two. But don't be surprised if it comes up with funny looking eyes and big teeth...or a big head and whiskers.[/#0000ff]
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[mactuna]

Nice report, jumping the gun a little bit.
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[TubeDude]

[quote mactuna]Nice report, jumping the gun a little bit.[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Either that or jumping off my tackle box. Eeeeenuffff of the ice fishing stuff. Time for open water fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When are you guys gonna put the boat back on the water...and where are you going to start?[/#0000ff]
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[kochanut]

andpeople say im nuts for wading in rivers dodging ice bergs.... glad to see another basket case out there that like to get wet and suffer hypothermia! ice off for the rest of these lakes is soon to follow one of these days ill have to meet up with you some where in my tube and well do some fishing..... question, if im wearing a life jacket can i get a BUI (boating under the influence) in a tube? [:p]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Always a good idea to watch out for natural hazards...like ice floes. The attached picture shows what a big sheet of ice looked like after the wind blew it up on shore near Lincoln Beach. If you got caught between the ice and the shore it would be a great weight loss program. The wimpy ice sheet at Lindon would have been little more than a traffic hazard...keeping me from getting back to my vehicle without taking my tube out and walking a ways.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I look forward to sharing some water with you. We were supposed to get together after you got back but you have been busy rediscovering all the good fishing spots...without me. Let's get our dance cards together and do some floatin' this year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]"BUI"? I am betting that if anybody could pull that off YOU would be the guy to do it. If nothing else you could just toss all your empties on the water and get busted for littering. Then again, all that good brewski also gotta "pass through the system" so you might even go for a water pollution ticket. If you get lucky you could get a three-bagger.[/#0000ff]
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[BigBassaholic]

I was asking about the south willard gate, is is passable with a atv???
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Sorry. Misunderstood the question.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Answer: Yes, you can make it through with an ATV. I have seen rangers use that gate and a wheeler for a quick trip to check on the facilities at the end of the road.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Attached is a poor quality pic that shows the width of the gap between the two iron pipe gates. I am guessing it is over 5 feet wide.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Might be a good idea to call the main State Park office at the north marina to check on the legality though. It is possible they might not allow it.[/#0000ff]
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[BigBassaholic]

thanks, will do
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