Last night was the third trip in a week without seeing any boils. The conditions are perfect! Warm 75 deg. weather no wind. Bait is every where! Tons of shad in the rocks, schools that are thick 50 ft. out. So where are the Wiper?
Has anyone seen anything better out there?
Talked to a fish and game feller and he was telling me that the Wiper numbers are down. Why? Last year only 1700 were planted. That is one reason. The other is over harvest![mad] Yep the fish populations are way down. Next year the new limit will take effect, but the enforcement of these laws need to step up.
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I have no clue what you used but some buddys of ours have been slaying and limiting out on the wipers this week using big 5-7 inch reef runners in white and black and top water poppers. One was 4lbs. Both people were fishing different spots with different techniques on different days. There are still Wipers in there...keep fishing. However I have to agree with you, they need to stock those Wipers at a bigger size to get more fishable sizes being caught.
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I've been using the same along with Kastmasters, and lippless plugs. We have been fishing the southern banks including freeway bay to the South marina. Zero top water action.
Your friends must be fishing the northern banks or the west bank. This makes sense. The fish have to be some where.
No worries I will be back,just trying to find the fish.[
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With so much bait that is spread out all over the lake the fish have to be somewhere.
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Your friends must be fishing the northern banks or the west bank. This makes sense. [/quote]
Hah, west bank in up to 16 feet of water! We have the same set of friends before you ask. Being twins and all ya know.
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[quote TyeDyeTwins]
Hah, west bank in up to 16 feet of water! We have the same set of friends before you ask. Being twins and all ya know.[/quote]
My buddys would kill me for saying telling you this but the guy who got the 4 pounder was bottom bouncing along the west bank in 16 feet of water and thought he had a Walleye at first. The other was throwing top water poppers near dark in the freeway bay area where the main body of water goes into some hidden pools. He said those channel openings had gizzard shad running in and out with Wipers everywhere. Him and his friend pulled out over 20+ in just a few hours. Both our buddies are excellent fisherman that really have their stuff down when it comes to fishing for Wipers. Good luck out there.
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Any new news? Been some steady - relatively warm days.
Figured if the biker-gang ain't getting on 'em - no hope for me! Going S. from the S. marina didn't do me much good last time. Guess I'll try heading north and hit the feedlot area next time.
I like some of the structure north of the N. Marina - but if the jetskis are busy - they just tear it up around Eagle beach - don't care for THEM!
Figure the fall Walleye bite should be picking up??? Need to try some more bottom bouncing - so far all I've caught on those spinner rigs is Xmas trees or rocks!
Went out last night with Joe and it started around 6:30. They were quick at first. The wiper are not really boiling, they are feeding a foot or so under the surface. So that means they are harder to spot. I look for bait to be nervous and jumping. Its not hot fishing by any means. They are reel picky about what they will bite. Surface lures are not working much. Rattle traps, lipless cranks seem to preferred. Slow retrieves as well.Good luck hope you get into them!
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Thanks for the update. So - put away the topwaters, slow it down, and crank it out. Got it. And night-time is still the right time. Kewl.
Guess I won't get my Zook smacked, unless I can talk a Musky into it! Doesn't mean I won't try walking the dog anyway. Who knows!
So - curious - do you tie your crank-baits directly on, or with a snap-swivel? I'm lazy - so I use a snap so I can change up patterns quick and easy, but I KNOW for sure the topwaters get hosed up by even that much extra weight (poppers that just don't wanna pop). But TD recommended I lose some of my extra jewelry, at least tie it in higher up. So - them kitties may like beads, but now bracelets??
There are very few times that a lure should be attached to a snap.
Your catch rates will go up if you lose the extra gear.
Just imagine grabbing a piece of pizza with handcuffs as a topping.....
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I did see one fish caught last night on a spook, but everyone else with topwater was a ziltch. Including me.
Joe caught 3 on the Rattle Trap. Me not so much. I will be ready next time.[cool]
I use a snap with out a swivel.(real small 30lb) Just easier when using 20lb braid. At Willard the water is so murky I'm not sure if it matters. You can throw beads or bracelets. Big and shiny works.
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This time of year it is back to th subsurface trolling. Not hat they are not boiling or not that they are shallow, but he majority of the day they are holding in the same places as earlier in the year. Subsurface lures are still poking the numbers of fish.
Went out this morning and fished till around noon, caught one 22 inch wiper right off the git go in 20 feet of water trolling a crank just off the bottom at 3.25 MPH then a while later caught a nice fat 19 1/2 in walleye doing the same thing. had one other hit and that was it. I haven't fished the Bay for over 2 months. My son and I will hit it tomorrow morning and then that will be it for the soft water fishing this year. [fishin]
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Went back out Friday night(evening) and fished the Feed lot area. It was a wash. Saw zero fish. Hooked zero fish, landed zero fish. Man it tough out there.
When we got there at 5 PM there was a ton of skiers out there. The water was all churned up. But buy 6PM most had gone home and us fishermen had the lake to ourselfs.
It has been a very strange year. To few fish.
Think I will bring some bait next time and fish for Cats.
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As I walked out of work Fri - thought - MAN what a nice day! Warm, sunny - thought the Wipers must just going crazy at Willard.
But alas - the Friday being the new Saturday - must have had an impact. And scared down the wipers. Shoot!
Again - thanks for the update. Think I'll be floating the Bear this weekend - but maybe once fall-transition has turned - I'll make it down to Willard to chase my skunk again.
I DO envy you guys your frequent access, and appreciated reports. Thanks!
We were on the water fishing by 7 A.M. this morning had one fish on a planer board pulling a crank at 2.85 MPH but he came unbuttoned and one smack at a crank on a down rigger and that was it. Called it quits at 10:30 with no fish in the boat. All and all it was a great year for the walleye out there, sorry to see summer end but now its time to kill something. Two elk in the freezer so far and a grundle of deer tags to fill. Next fishing trip will most likely be on the hard deck.[fishin]
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i here ya pete my last five trips have been a big zero,ive trolled the whole friggin thing several times im graph tons of fish,burnt one fifty in fuel.and sick of it.i seen more boils before the shad got bigger.but then again thats why they call it fishing and not catching.sure like to know where them there channels the twins said there buddy had shad swimin through.if fished that beast for 40 years and aint seen no channel other than the one than comes in.happy hunting.
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I could be wrong, but I bet you could still catch the walleyes pretty well fishing at night. I wish I lived 10-20 minutes from that lake - I'd spend 2-3 hours a night throwing cranks off the dykes.[sly]
Good way to stay in shape hoofing it over rocks for 2-3 miles a night!! Good way to catch some nice fish too.[sly]
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im afraid you would wear your arm out moose any fish in that tub is full of shad.but hey even a blind squirell can find a acorn occasionaly.[sly][sly]
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Just got back from Willard 10 min ago and got skunked again. Spent a couple of hours throwing cranks and plastics, even tried trolling a bit...... nothing. I noticed the water is more murky than normal. Saw tons of shad 15' from the bank, but no fish biting! This was the third time in a row I have come up empty handed. I just don't think the numbers of fish are in there like before. This is my last trip out there for the warmer season. The water was nice, almost glass. Hardly any skiers.
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I have caught walleye in Oct. working the dike with perch scale shad raps at and shortly after dark, but when fall comes it's time to turn my attention to other things so the old Crestliner goes into storage. We caught alot of walleye this summer and had fun taking grandkids and other friends out fishing for them. Got to make a scouting trip to Idaho next week for a big buck, following weekend a trip to Green Bay for a Packers game, then shortly after ward heading to WY. for our annual hunt up there, a couple day turn around and back to Idaho to see if I can nail a big buck. Doesn't leave me much time to fish so like I say my next trip will most likely be on the hard deck. I love to ice fish damn near as much as fishing the walleye on the soft water. Tight lines to all you guys & gals. [fishin]
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