Fishing Forum

[cool][#0000ff]Been awhile since TubeBabe and I tried Willard. Reports have not been too encouraging. Met up with Wildcat94 at the south marina and launched about 7 AM. Cool 50 degree air temp and no bugs. No wind to speak of. Light offshore breeze. Water temp still a surprising 66 degrees at launch. Water levels are about 3 feet below high water mark.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Saw lots of fish in the channel going out. Lots of shadlets and a few larger (well fed) fish among them. A couple of active kitties in the channel, with TubeBabe catching the first (jinx) and Wildcat94 bringing in another cookie cutter shortly after. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Both of them had a couple of cats in their baskets before I really got started. I was feverishly throwing plastics and hardbaits, trying to find something with big teeth or with stripes on their sides. Nada, zip, zero, zilch.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I kicked out into the 12 foot deep zone, where TubeBabe reported that she had been getting bit by kitties. Started getting some of my own. First on minnows, then on a piece of carp meat. Several more on minnows and even one on a pearl colored shad grub. It wasn't fast and furious but enough biters to keep things interesting. I probably got a dozen or so,keeping a limit of eight for the family fish fry over the weekend.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Bryce (Wildcat94) acquitted himself well and also brought in a limit of cookies. TubeBabe fought the first fish jinx...losing several fish and almost losing a rod...almost. She worked hard but only brought about five to the fillet station.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]A beautiful day to be on the water. Only a few boats out and none of them in the area we fished. No idea how they did wherever they went. Saw quite a few wiper scales at the cleaning station. Who scales wipers...and why?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Did not see any boils or even any wipers hitting the top today. Did see a few terns diving to pick up single shadlets when they popped on the top. Lots of individual shad rippling the top or jumping out of the water. But, nothing taking advantage of the abundance...at least while we were there.[/#0000ff]


[#0000ff]Water temp was only about 1 degree higher...67...as we kicked into the ramp about noon. Just a hint of a westerly breeze kicking up. Got back in time for my afternoon nap.[/#0000ff]
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From reports as well as yours, it sounds like Willard has shut down for hte season? At least you didn't find skunk and still had a swell day to boot.[cool]
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[cool][#0000ff]Definitely not "shut down for the season". As others have reported or speculated there is so much natural food in the lake right now, from the massive shad spawn, that fish are seldom hungry or aggressive. That will change as the water cools and the fish feed more actively before the winter sets in.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have done very well in the past all through the months of October and November. Looking forward to some of the best fishing of the year coming up.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Skunk? Not me...on Willard. I cannot recall a single trip...in my float tube...where I did not catch fish. However, ONE TIME...while riding in another guy's boat for about an hour...in high winds...I failed to catch anything by "washing lures". I hate trolling.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It truly was a nice day to be on the water.[/#0000ff]
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Nudder great report Pat!

I had been toying with the idea of hitting Willard Friday morning if I could get away from work. It looks like I can so your report is very timely for me - thanks!

One question, when fishing minnows for cats in 12' of water, are you adding weight to get it and keep it down?

Thanks again!
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[cool][#0000ff]The only weight, besides the hook, is a small swivel I put about two feet ahead of the hook. I use 8# line and a 12 or 14# leader. Size 2 or 4 hooks, depending upon the size of the minnows.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As the morning progressed, the fishing was better in shallower water. Some of our fish came from as shallow as 10 feet or less. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Best area was further down toward the feed lot. Just keep moving in and out and moving on down the dike until you find the fish. They seem to hang out in small groups.[/#0000ff]
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Roger that! I'll let you know how it turns out.[cool]
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No WIPERS yet? I am ready for them after wrestling these Cutts!
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That is early bird start alright [] Its good to see that
you catching fish and having good time on the
water.

Peter
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[quote flygoddess]No WIPERS yet? I am ready for them after wrestling these Cutts![/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Poor baby. Tough duty. But, nice cutts.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Wipers have been off this year. Hope they turn on before ice up.[/#0000ff]
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Hi, TD. I see you do most of your fishing on lakes and start very early morning. Do you use sunscreen to protect your face for once the sun comes up? I know a cap helps, but doesn't do much for reflected light from water surface. I guess another way is to keep pedalling so your tube is faced away from the sun. Down south the glare and heat from direct or reflected sun gives you an uncomfortable burn for several days. But, I guess that might feel good to you cold weather guys....

Pon
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[cool][#0000ff]You raise a good point. All anglers should respect their skin and should take proper precautions to prevent overexposure to the sun.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I use Bananaboat sunscreen...30 or 50 SPF. I apply it early in the morning, before leaving home, and again about midmorning on bright sunny days. I also carry and use a good SPF 15 lip balm to prevent sunburned lips. I am especially diligent in applying sunscreen to my ears, even when I wear my hat with the long flaps to cover ears and neck. I lost a good former friend and fishing buddy to skin cancer...which started on his ears and spread rapidly before he thought to have it checked.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]What's more is that I use sunscreen all year...not just during the summer. I can't believe all of the fishing reports I read in which the guy who posts the report cries about a sunburn. No excuse for it.[/#0000ff]
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Absolutely. That is also why I started wear cowboy hats. The tops of my ears.
Now I use "BUFFS" they are great and so many ways to wear them plus the SPF built in.
But I do still use Western Family Sport 35
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Sunblock is a MUST no matter what or what time of
a year. Better be safe then sorry.

Peter
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