04-27-2005, 06:10 AM
Well I almost past Willard today and went to Mantua. I hate to be skunked, as I was Monday at Willard, so I think why not give it one more shot.
First, I try to enter the North Marina.....they want $9.00 just to fish. I say screw that. So I head over to the North dike and hike my tube down to the water.
I observe tons of flooded brush and think this must be Crappie city. My first cast into the brush I get a hit. It gets off, and then I get it again, and it gets off. By the way, I am fly fishing.
So I kick around a few hours in all the brushy areas. There is so much good cover, I'm not sure where the Crappie are? It looks so damn good, but nothing.
I finally move away from the brush into open water and let lots of line out. Tap, tap.......I got one and it's a big Crappie. I bet it was a few lbs. It hit a white wooley bugger. I keep kicking along, try some more awesome cover areas and nothing.
A few hours later, I kick back to where I caught my Crappie and a catch 4 more. I also hook a small Wiper.
Finally, I strip/troll my fly along the North dike. First cast I get nailed, and it's off. Then I hook two very nice Wipers, probably about 5-6 pounders. I end the night with 2 more hits and one more Crappie. Pretty good day!!!
So who can tell me about Willard Crappie.....all that beautiful submerged cover, but no fish in it that I could tell. Is it too early?? Maybe I just didn't fish it with the right technique, but I know when I fish Pineview with my flies in cover, I usually nail em....I dunno...see you'll out there!
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First, I try to enter the North Marina.....they want $9.00 just to fish. I say screw that. So I head over to the North dike and hike my tube down to the water.
I observe tons of flooded brush and think this must be Crappie city. My first cast into the brush I get a hit. It gets off, and then I get it again, and it gets off. By the way, I am fly fishing.
So I kick around a few hours in all the brushy areas. There is so much good cover, I'm not sure where the Crappie are? It looks so damn good, but nothing.
I finally move away from the brush into open water and let lots of line out. Tap, tap.......I got one and it's a big Crappie. I bet it was a few lbs. It hit a white wooley bugger. I keep kicking along, try some more awesome cover areas and nothing.
A few hours later, I kick back to where I caught my Crappie and a catch 4 more. I also hook a small Wiper.
Finally, I strip/troll my fly along the North dike. First cast I get nailed, and it's off. Then I hook two very nice Wipers, probably about 5-6 pounders. I end the night with 2 more hits and one more Crappie. Pretty good day!!!
So who can tell me about Willard Crappie.....all that beautiful submerged cover, but no fish in it that I could tell. Is it too early?? Maybe I just didn't fish it with the right technique, but I know when I fish Pineview with my flies in cover, I usually nail em....I dunno...see you'll out there!
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