05-31-2008, 12:22 AM
[cool][#0000ff]TubeBabe couldn't go today, so I figured I would hit the south marina at Willard to check it out. I figured wrong. The gate was locked when I drove up just after 5. They left it open last year. Bummer.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Drove to the north marina. Got launched about sixish. Back to the ramp to fix the broken wire on my sonar battery. Got launched again about 6:20. Air temp 45 and water temp 62 in the marina...63 outside. Really murky water. Did not have a lot of expectations.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Didn't get my first hit...on anything for an hour. Nothing on plastic or cranks. Finally caught a cookie cutter kitty on minnow. Turned it loose. Guessed that it would not be the only one of the day. It wasn't.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I had released several small cats and kept two by the time Wiperhunter2 and Wiperslayer motored up to chat. We exchanged pictures and pleasantries. Good to see you guys.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Water temp rose quickly after the sun hit the stained water. By nine it was over 65 and the fish got more active. Lots of kitty whacks. Lost a couple of wipers on crankbaits. Inexperienced fish. Didn't know how to get the hook firmly planted in their mouths.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Threw a lot of small plastics around the shoreline gravel humps. No smallies, no wallies, no crappies. Just the whiskered variety.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Wanted to get off the water by about noon so I started back in a little before 11. The water temp was rounding 66 and on its way to 67. Couldn't keep the kitties off the minnows on the bottom, so I rigged up a "bobberhead jig rig"...with an Adjustabubble 5 feet above one of my bobberhead jigs...with a minnow on it. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Was fishing 7-8 feet of water and still catching cookie cutter kitties. Going through minnows fast.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Then, the bobber went down and my rod bent over in the baitrigger holder. The drag sounded off. This weren't no cookie cutter. The 23" wiper kept me busy for a few minutes. My first wiper of the year turned out to weigh just over 5 pounds. A good way to start.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Rebaited the bobberhead jig and tossed the rig back out. The chartreuse bobber had hardly touched down before it slipped under the surface again. And, once again, something big on the other end was bending my stick and stretching my string. Yeee Hawww. Another 5 pounder. Only this wiper had whiskers. A 24" daddy cat. Snapped a couple of pics and sent him back to take care of some of the girl kitties and make some more. Not many larger cats in Willard anymore and the little ones are better eating.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Already had my limit of decent size cats anyway, and I was headin' in to the marina. So, I packed it up and boogied. Water temp was almost 69 in the marina when I got out. Should be gangbusters this weekend.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]First time in the last ten trips that I did not pack my fillet knives. And, wouldn't ya know it, they finally had the fish cleaning station open.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Lovely day, with lots of purty clouds left over from yesterday's rain. Just a light breeze a couple of times. No W. That's okay with me. Lots of birds too. The usual pelicans, gulls, terns and grebes. Plus, quite a few big black cormorants. I guess Locomotive Springs and other shallow trout ponds will be cleaned out soon.[/#0000ff]
[#ff0000][size 5][/size][/#ff0000]
![[Image: image.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/files/image.gif)
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[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36570"][#63626b]WHISKERED WIPER.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (175 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36571"][#63626b]WHISKERED WALLEYE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (200 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36572"][#63626b]BOBBERHEAD RIG.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (150 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36573"][#63626b]BOBBERHEAD COOKIE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (204 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36574"][#63626b]BOBBERHEAD KITTY.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (238 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36575"][#63626b]DADDY CAT.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (222 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36576"][#63626b]ON BOARD.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (169 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36577"][#63626b]FIRST IN 2008.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (231 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36578"][#212126]TRADIN PICS.jpg[/#212126][/url] (157 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36579"][#212126]ANVIL CLOUDS.jpg[/#212126][/url] (153 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36580"][#212126]CROWN OF CLOUDS.jpg[/#212126][/url] (120 KB)
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36581"][#212126]BIRD REEF.jpg[/#212126][/url] (184 KB)
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Drove to the north marina. Got launched about sixish. Back to the ramp to fix the broken wire on my sonar battery. Got launched again about 6:20. Air temp 45 and water temp 62 in the marina...63 outside. Really murky water. Did not have a lot of expectations.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Didn't get my first hit...on anything for an hour. Nothing on plastic or cranks. Finally caught a cookie cutter kitty on minnow. Turned it loose. Guessed that it would not be the only one of the day. It wasn't.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I had released several small cats and kept two by the time Wiperhunter2 and Wiperslayer motored up to chat. We exchanged pictures and pleasantries. Good to see you guys.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Water temp rose quickly after the sun hit the stained water. By nine it was over 65 and the fish got more active. Lots of kitty whacks. Lost a couple of wipers on crankbaits. Inexperienced fish. Didn't know how to get the hook firmly planted in their mouths.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Threw a lot of small plastics around the shoreline gravel humps. No smallies, no wallies, no crappies. Just the whiskered variety.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Wanted to get off the water by about noon so I started back in a little before 11. The water temp was rounding 66 and on its way to 67. Couldn't keep the kitties off the minnows on the bottom, so I rigged up a "bobberhead jig rig"...with an Adjustabubble 5 feet above one of my bobberhead jigs...with a minnow on it. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Was fishing 7-8 feet of water and still catching cookie cutter kitties. Going through minnows fast.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Then, the bobber went down and my rod bent over in the baitrigger holder. The drag sounded off. This weren't no cookie cutter. The 23" wiper kept me busy for a few minutes. My first wiper of the year turned out to weigh just over 5 pounds. A good way to start.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Rebaited the bobberhead jig and tossed the rig back out. The chartreuse bobber had hardly touched down before it slipped under the surface again. And, once again, something big on the other end was bending my stick and stretching my string. Yeee Hawww. Another 5 pounder. Only this wiper had whiskers. A 24" daddy cat. Snapped a couple of pics and sent him back to take care of some of the girl kitties and make some more. Not many larger cats in Willard anymore and the little ones are better eating.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Already had my limit of decent size cats anyway, and I was headin' in to the marina. So, I packed it up and boogied. Water temp was almost 69 in the marina when I got out. Should be gangbusters this weekend.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]First time in the last ten trips that I did not pack my fillet knives. And, wouldn't ya know it, they finally had the fish cleaning station open.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Lovely day, with lots of purty clouds left over from yesterday's rain. Just a light breeze a couple of times. No W. That's okay with me. Lots of birds too. The usual pelicans, gulls, terns and grebes. Plus, quite a few big black cormorants. I guess Locomotive Springs and other shallow trout ponds will be cleaned out soon.[/#0000ff]
[#ff0000][size 5][/size][/#ff0000]
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36569"][#63626b]COOKIE CUTTER.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (162 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36570"][#63626b]WHISKERED WIPER.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (175 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36571"][#63626b]WHISKERED WALLEYE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (200 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36572"][#63626b]BOBBERHEAD RIG.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (150 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36573"][#63626b]BOBBERHEAD COOKIE.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (204 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36574"][#63626b]BOBBERHEAD KITTY.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (238 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36575"][#63626b]DADDY CAT.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (222 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36576"][#63626b]ON BOARD.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (169 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36577"][#63626b]FIRST IN 2008.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (231 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36578"][#212126]TRADIN PICS.jpg[/#212126][/url] (157 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36579"][#212126]ANVIL CLOUDS.jpg[/#212126][/url] (153 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36580"][#212126]CROWN OF CLOUDS.jpg[/#212126][/url] (120 KB) [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=36581"][#212126]BIRD REEF.jpg[/#212126][/url] (184 KB)[signature]