Sm mouth / lg mouth tuesday and Wednesday

[davew]

Went to good hope on Tuesday-- did ok -- 3 of us hooked 40 to 40 with average size landed about 1 pound. Got 3 real nice crappie in back of red. Used ned rig, double tails and shad worms on a drop shot rig. Most fish caught were in 15ft of water. The 3 baits were about the same

Wednesday was a different story -- went south to the escalante-- the 3 of us hooked between 150 and 200. This included a 4 and a 4.5 large mouth. Also got a 3 pound small mouth. The double tail got about 70% with the ned rig and a single tail getting the rest.
I got the 4.5 on a top water 1st thing in the morning. That was the only fish hooked on top water. Best technique was to slow troll the grub in 30 feet of water. Kept the trolling motor on the 2 or 3 setting, cast toward shore and very slowly real back in. Most were hooked well off the bottom.
Picture is my nephew 1st real fishing trip. He is now hooked

 

[Dworwood]

Nice report and really nice fish!

 

[birdsnest]

What a beaut! Will be trying Escalante myself Oct. 9th-Oct 15th. with 4 friends,can't wait.

 

[fastarget]

good report, the south side of the lake is still doing better than North end.

 

[Dworwood]

after being there a week ago I wonder if water clarity has something to do with that?

 

[wayne gustaveson]

I will report when I get back. Going to Good Hope tomorrow.

 

[davew]

clarity in Good Hope was 2 feet -- Escalante was 15 feet --- the most surprising item was that the fish in escalante were not shy -- we watched many come up and hit the bait.

 

[Flipper]

Planning a trip myself two weeks from Tomorrow. Usually go to upper good hope or further north this time of year. How far back in the Escalante did you go, and what kind of structure were they on?

 

[davew]

We went about 5 miles back total. -- we fished any area that had broken rock under the surface. We got a fair number of fish on vertical rock areas right next to a rock slide that went into the water.
I have to believe that Good Hope will come alive in the next few weeks, so I would not give up on that plan --- just be ready to alter the plan based on the fish.

 

[Flipper]

I have fished the Escalante many times, it is often really good for boiling stripers in August and there is seldom a crowd. Have not done as well on other fish, they are there, just not as many and not as big on average as GHB and above. I usually try and fish around the three roof ruins area and up towards the intake. Thanks for replying.