Fishing Forum

[cool][#0000ff]Our original plan was to hit Willard on Wednesday. An iffy weather forecast suggested we move it up to Monday. So, we launched our tubes about 7 AM this morning. Air temp was 53 and water temp was 67 at launch...warming to 74 when we ramped back up around 1. It is still kinda murky, although visibility improved during the calm morning.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water level has stayed about the same for the last three weeks...5 feet at the ramp, 7 feet mid channel and 3.5 feet at the shallow hump as you go into the main lake. Should be good for almost any fishing boat. Just don't turn right or left for at least a couple hundred yards going out.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Our main target today was wipers, but we also wanted to bring in a limit of cookie cutter kitties. We have a fish fry to furnish for the family in Idaho next weekend. They all love the Willard Kitties.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Started out throwing the usual crankbaits and plastics. ZIPPO. Put out a minnow to drag on the bottom and it was a long time before I netted my first kitty. But, once the sun hit the water the bites picked up. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe actually caught the first and last cat of the day...but I caught more than she did. Also, her last one went just over 20 inches, for big fish honors of the day. In between she had to deal with a lot of pop and drops and bait stealers. Kept her occupied. She funned. And, she managed to basket a nice limit for the family feed. Me too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was trying just about everything today. And, the kitties hit just about everything I tried. I caught 3 on small red/chartreuse plastic tubes and one on a drop shot pearl tube rig. I also got several under a bobber, with a minnow pinned on a "bobber head jig".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]What I didn't get was any wipers or walleyes. Fished shallow and deep...with everything I have ever caught them on. Nada, zippo, zilch. Not even a whack that might make me think I had one. Well, I have to amend that. I did get one thump that when I set the hook the fish took line off my reel like he did not intend to stop. I was thinking "TEN POUND WIPER". Nope. A big carp that might have gone about 10 pounds. Didn't even get a chance to perform the ritual gillectomy. As I clicked a picture it bounced up off my apron and boogied...with my jig still attached to it's lovely lips. I had to grab the line to keep it from breaking my rod tip...which was standing straight up in the holder...and of course the 6# line popped. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A good day for the birds. Lots of terns and they occasionally dipped down and snarfed a shad or small carplet off the surface. But, never did see evidence of anything chasing the bait. Several flights of Canada geese flew over...heading north. Mixed up. Plenty of seagulls, pelicans and a few cormorants. See the pics.[/#0000ff]
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Great report as always Tube Dude, looks like you had a fun day out with your better half. As for the water being murky, is it because of the work they are doing on the dike? I am just curious as I have not been there for awhile. John R[cool]
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[cool][#0000ff]There are two reasons for the murky water...LOW WATER LEVEL and WIND.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In "normal" years, the water level reaches up into the rocks in the dike. With the current low water levels, the entire shoreline around the lake is mud. When the wind blows, the waves muddy the water. And, the wind blows EVERY DAY on Willard...at some time and from some direction. On some days it blows all day and from multiple directions. During extended blows, the lake turns brown and stays that way for several days after it calms down. If the wind continues to blow every day, the lake does not have a chance to let the mud settle out.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The work on the dike does put some mud in the water but not enough to affect the whole lake.[/#0000ff]
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See I told you you would catch all the Wipers!!!!
Now what am I going to fish for up there but CARP....[][cool]
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[cool][#0000ff]That explains it. There were carp all over the surface up there (see picture). They kept sticking their noses up out of the water and moving their lips. Now that I think about it they were trying to say "Where's Cliff?"[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Plenty of wipers still in that lake, but even with a boat and good sonar they can be hard to find. It is definitely one of those 90/10 situations...90 percent of the fish are in only 10 percent of the lake. And, even if you find them they don't always hit what you are offering. But, that is one of the challenges that makes fishing fun...right?[/#0000ff]
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Their is a saying - When it get tuff the tuff get going...And if it was easy fishing wouldn't be as much fun..

But those carp was not calling me...They were laughing at you and your offering...
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[cool][#0000ff]I guess I need to carry a "carp to English" dictionary with me. I don't understand them as well as you do.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, you do have your quote wrong.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]"When the going gets tough...the tough go bananas."[/#0000ff]
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Well I knew it was something like that, and besides you can't believe anything the carp said anyway...
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