I took my pontoon to willard Saturday. Got there about noon. Rigged one pole up with perch meat, and tried for wipers and walleye with the other one. I tried several crankbaits and twisters, but didn't have any luck except for one small catfish on the perch meat. It was a beautiful day. Only one jetski on the lake too, and he didn't bother me. I didn't see anyone else catch anything.
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Thanks for the report and the pictures, it looks like the water has come up a foot or more since the last time I was there. That boat dock was several feet from the water the last time I was there, it looks like it is up to the dock now. The little islands are still out of the water though, I sure need to get out there and mark them with a GPS before the water comes up any more. WH2
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Thanks for the report and the pics. Nice to see some water actually go into willard! Good luck on your next trip.
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I gave it a try Friday and didn't catch anything either. Maybe we're just a bit early yet, but its got to turn on soon.
Jigz
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Welcome aboard Jigs, and I think you're right. I haven't done very well at Willard since they put the gizzard shad in there, but then I haven't really spent a lot of time trying to figure it out either. Usually about the time that things seem to turn on at Willard, Pineview crappies start hitting, and I'd rather go there. I'm going to try to put in more hours on willard this year.
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I think I can tell you why... but first I want to ask you what were you using and doing fishing for wipers? Right now, you don't see boils... so what do you do? Hint, keep it on the bottom...[cool] let me know and I can give you some help.
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Well, saturday I started using some deep diving cranks, both shad and baby bass imitations. Then i switched to a white twister. Then I switched to a green booger trying to find some crappies.
I was happy just getting out of the house and trying out the pontoon. I'll get more serious next time, and cover more area. I'd love to hear some advice though. Anything that puts more fish on the hook is always welcome.
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Ahhhhh, might be a problem here... what I do is use bottom bouncers, this way it stays there all the time always tickin' the bottom... doing it walleye style, boat is generally a good idea, but if you got a minn kota electric motor, you can do that for your pontoon.
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Well, the first trip was without any electronics, but I'm working on that. I was in the process of rigging up the fishfinder and the trolling motor yesterday, when my wife decided I needed more social interaction, and dragged me off to a barbecue.
I think she got worried when I ran the motor in the bathtub, so I could figure out how strong the motor mount needed to be, and how much current the motor was going to draw. I thought it was fun. My own little whirlpool.
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Thanks Mateo, I wish I had found these boards eons ago! I searched for something like this several times but never had any luck. Still not sure how I found my way here, but when I arrived i knew I was in the right spot.
GlassyeyedPaul, I've only been here a week, but I've already searched all your posts, how about a few hints for Willard for me. I'm marooned on the bank for now (boat motor kicked the bucket, float tube was stolen over the winter) How can I get into some wipers and walleye? I tried throwing jigs from the north dike. To tell the truth I've never really done good at willard no matter what I try (I've olny been a few there few times) I fish for walleye alot in Idaho but I'm told that they act different in Willard.
Wipers? I'm new to that game. My first attmpt was last fall, Caught one but i think it was a fluke.
How about a few tips please, please, please!
(Jigz gets up from his knees embarrassed he had to beg)
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Let's see here... I am embarrassed to tell you Jigz, I have never done wiper fishing from the dikes so I am not too sure, but something tells me that you might go with a bobbler and a worm, they eat those randomly, but if you get into a school, better get two pole permit so you can get into them using the same technique.
I have heard of people casting producers toward the boils, but my question is, can you cast that far to a boil as I don't think I've seen a boil next to the dikes but then that's possible because they corner the baitfish up against the rocks for a feedfest.
For that producer lure, talk to HFT (James). You can PM him and he can mail you the lure... it's only $3.20 each and they are darned good!!!
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Thanks for the lure tip! I'll be checking into that. It really stinks being stuck on the bank, but that is my situacion for the time being (hopfully not for long though) How about getting into some of the eyes from the bank, any good odds. I talked to people who say they done ok from shore when the water was up to the dikes, but it seems we're at a loss on what might work with the lower water conditions.
Thanks,
Jigz
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Welcome Jigz. I have fished Willard alot from the shore. I don't have a boat. I have gotten wiper on curly tailed grubs right as the south marina goes into the bay. I have gotten alot on top water just about an hour before the sun is going down. Most topwater work,with the exception of the ones with red on them.Never even got a bite on the red ones and everyone around me was fishing bright colored ones without red and pulling them in like crazy.I have also gotten them with a worm al-natural right along the shore. At first I thought that was a fluke but I kept getting them so I think they like that also. The water isn't up to the rocks yet I was out there yesterday. All i saw were carp jumping. I did get one carp and that was it. Hope this helped. Good luck
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Jigz: I also most always fish for them from the bank. I start with the blue back prism shad if that doesn't hit I turn to White rooster tails then to a 1/32oz jig below a bobber with a slow retrieve. If I don't hit on one of those three it is just not going to happen.
On a side note if I ever catch a small mouth while wiper fishing it always turns out to be a slow wiper day,anybody else have that experiance?
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silver spoons like kastmasters and crocidiles are trhe ticket from shore. I usually fish the north side when the waters this low but when it goes up I walk in the water along the old road bed and sandbars on the north west side.
If you reel fast you will usually get wipers with the occasainal smallmouth If you reel slower so it kinda bumps along the ground you will get catfish and the occasional carp.
I usually use the 1/2-3/4 oz. size.
hope this helps.
I caught my biggest wipers on the day I caught a nice smallmouth. a coupla 5# off the north dike last fall.
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Boys, that is a wealth of information, thank you! I shall put it to good use.
HTF, I sent you a PM.
Jigz
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