Mid week Willard Bay

[Tin-Can]

Had no other chores or appointments to attend today. Wife and I headed for WB-South. Had an unscheduled meet up with Coyote Spinner at the ramp. Been a couple years I think since I saw John last. Not sure which way he went out of the marina, 8:09 A.M.we headed just about north-west toward the light pole.
About 2/3 of the way to the west wall, decided to drop the lines in and drag some rat-l-traps.
On the water less than 30 minutes, 8:36 A.M. I got a very hard hit and reel strip. Took about 5 minutes to bring him to net, but is the biggest Wiper I have caught in at least 3 years. 4lbs. 1 oz. (I pre-weighed the fish grippers and subtracted them from the fish weight) Caught him on one of my oldest rat-l-traps, running at 2.53 - 2.60 mph, 17-18 fow, line out approx. 100-110 ft. Trolled about half way up the west wall from the light pole. Nada. Turned south-east, zig-zagged just to the bottom of t he island. Watched a very small, fast, boil about 200 yards in front of us, lasted no more than 30 seconds, but is first one wife has seen. Just about then, noticed a txt from Yote...he had a fat walleye, seen birds diving, but as of then nothing more. Shared my Wiper photo with him. Trolling rather died. Headed to the south marina, let Mate use the facilities. Another unscheduled meet up with a BFTer, r2u2. Was good to see Richard again. Went back out to a couple spots off the feed lot and coffer dam. No joy, breeze died, bugs started getting thick. Called it a day @1:00 p.m.
[signature]

[fish_hntr]

[quote Tin-Can]Had no other chores or appointments to attend today. Wife and I headed for WB-South. Had an unscheduled meet up with Coyote Spinner at the ramp. Been a couple years I think since I saw John last. Not sure which way he went out of the marina, 8:09 A.M.we headed just about north-west toward the light pole.
About 2/3 of the way to the west wall, decided to drop the lines in and drag some rat-l-traps.
On the water less than 30 minutes, 8:36 A.M. I got a very hard hit and reel strip. Took about 5 minutes to bring him to net, but is the biggest Wiper I have caught in at least 3 years. 4lbs. 1 oz. (I pre-weighed the fish grippers and subtracted them from the fish weight) Caught him on one of my oldest rat-l-traps, running at 2.53 - 2.60 mph, 17-18 fow, line out approx. 100-110 ft. Trolled about half way up the west wall from the light pole. Nada. Turned south-east, zig-zagged just to the bottom of t he island. Watched a very small, fast, boil about 200 yards in front of us, lasted no more than 30 seconds, but is first one wife has seen. Just about then, noticed a txt from Yote...he had a fat walleye, seen birds diving, but as of then nothing more. Shared my Wiper photo with him. Trolling rather died. Headed to the south marina, let Mate use the facilities. Another unscheduled meet up with a BFTer, r2u2. Was good to see Richard again. Went back out to a couple spots off the feed lot and coffer dam. No joy, breeze died, bugs started getting thick. Called it a day @1:00 p.m.[/quote]

Wiper make great fish tacos, what made you let it go?
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

Yes, they do make great fish tacos, but I have lots of fish in my freezer, and had not planned to keep anything to take home unless it was a nice Walleye.
[signature]

[Optimizer]

Tin Can - Thanks for the nice report.

You mentioned the coffer dam. What is that?
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Several years ago a small leak was discovered in the dike. To repair it they had to construct a coffer dam around the problem area and reinforce the dike. The rocky structure still remains and can be a fish magnet depending on season and water depths.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]Here's a map.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF][inline "SOUTH MARINA AREA.jpg"]
[/#0000FF]
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

Pat, thanks for the answer.
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

TubeDude provided a very nice map with his answer. But that is an aerial (satellite) view. So to explain what it looks like from water level..........you know where the feed lot is by the big tower sticking up behind the south-east dike...

[inline "(033a) Willard Feed Lot 5 May 16 1355.jpg"]

East of that about 200 yards (approx.). is where the Coffer Dam was put in during the dike repair. When the water is low (lower than right now) the weeds are very visible, and there used to be some hazard buoys around it. Have not seen the buoys lately, and the water is up to the point that right now you can see maybe 1 to 2 feet of weeds above the surface.

[inline "(026) south wall near Coffer Dam.jpg"]

The depth varies of course with the water level. Off of that south wall there is a depth change caused by a small ridge line that runs roughly east and west about 150 yards out from the wall. When the water level is medium to high as it is now, that ridge is in approx. 10 to 13 fow. That ridge line may only be 1 to 2 feet higher than the surrounding bottom depth, and it isn't consistent or in a straight line. But from in front of the feed lot to just past the Coffer Dam has always been a fair to good, and sometimes great fish producer.

Had my personal best day in that area on 20 August 2016 - 4 Channel Cats, 12 Wiper, 1 Walleye. All on night crawlers. [] Had several days before and since that I took a limit of Cats out of that area.

[inline (086).JPG]
[signature]