Willard Frustration 4-23-24

[TubeDude]

Just like my last trip, I hadda go fishing Tuesday instead of a better forecasted Wednesday.  Launched at Willard south marina…after a go-round with a boat doofus.  I pulled in to the last parking spot next to the water at the north ramp.  With the high water, it makes it easy to unload and launch my tube right where I park.  But as I was starting to unload my vehicle a boat trailer backed down only a couple of feet from the back of my car.  A whole ramp open and he chooses to launch right on top of me. So I told him I was in the process of launching my float tube and he was blocking be from doing so.  After a couple of unkind remarks he said they would only be a minute.  Turned out to be over ten minutes as they needed to finish loading the boat from the truck, etc.  Hadn’t even prepped for launch.
 
When my blood pressure subsided, I finished launching…about 7:30 am.  Air temp 50…only getting up to about 65 by noon departure.  Cloudy with a cool breeze most of the morning.  Water temp inside the marina was only 50.  A couple of degrees warmer in the main lake…getting up to about 54 by the time I left.  Muddy inside.  Stained outside.

 
Cruised around from shallow (12’) to deeper (22’) looking for love while dragging a succession of crawler rigs in different sizes, shapes and colors.  Saw very little on TV and even less on my line.  Ya cain’t ketch ‘em where they ain’t.  Once I find fish I can usually fish them efficiently and catch a few from my float tube.  But I am limited in how far and how fast I can go to cover more water to find more fish.  Have heard reports of a few anglers finding a few fish in the past few days so I was hopeful.
 
Not even a sniff until I found an area with some bottom anomalies in about 21’.  First bite was a walleye…just like on my last trip.  No cheers yet.  The 18 incher was inexperienced and didn’t know how to hang on.  Arranged his own release for bad behavior a couple o feet from the net.  Had a couple of other bites later that I’d like to think were walleyes.  And a few “perch pecks”.
 
But…as is often the case for me at Willard…the everlovin’ kitties killed the skunk and stretched my string a few times.  No matter what my targeted species for the day, the kitties usually pay no attention to the directions and bite anyway. But I always appreciate the tugs and enjoy them on the table. Ended up bringing in about 7…up to maybe 22 or 23 inches.  Kept the first two for the fillet board and released the rest.

 
Quite a few boats out on the water today but did not see evidence of much success.  Nobody stayed in any defined area.  Several boats hit the island zone briefly and then left.  And of the ones who chatted with me…on the water or back at the ramp…none reported any success.  So I was happy I had at least got some "hand to fin" combat.


Had another absurd boater vs float tuber encounter back at the ramp.  I pulled my tube back up next to my vehicle…at the very edge of the ramp…leaving the rest of the ramp open for boat launching.  As I was unlocking my car I noticed a big power cruiser backing down….at an angle…directly toward me and my tube.  I made some noise and they stopped, pulled forward a little and finished backing down to launch.  WITHIN A COUPLE OF FEET OF MY RAMPED FLOAT TUBE.  Three empty launch ramps and this joker has to almost run over my float tube to launch.


The rest of the story?  After the boat was off the trailer the truck driver gunned it and sent a big wave washing up over the ramp…washing my float tube back out into the marina.  I was still wearing my waders so I was able to wade out deep enough to grab my tube before the stiffening breeze carried it across the lake.  But my fins that had been resting on the tube were gone…under the muddy water somewhere.  Took me a long time to probe around with the end of my net to find both of my fins.  Some peoples kids!

[Piscophilic]

Hey Pat, I'm glad you are "seeing" some fish again after the eye surgeon ambushed you! Thanks for another fun report and pictures. I'm also glad that you recovered you fins. It was a really  encounter with a knucklehead.

[SkunkedAgain]

Pat, it sounds like the jokers are back in numbers from your report... That's they are so uncourteous, but glad the fish were a little more cordial... at least the cats.... It's surprising the ramps are that busy mid week... makes me glad my pond isn't that popular... Although I did have two folks that figured the boat dock was their personal sunning perch and wouldn't move so I could use it after I launched... I used the other one in the no boats allowed area since no one was around that area... (Not sure why the sun bathers wouldn't use it, its a nicer, bigger dock..) People... Anyhow, hope the eyes are doing well and glad to see you back at it... Later Jeff

[TubeDude]

Hey Pat, I'm glad you are "seeing" some fish again after the eye surgeon ambushed you! Thanks for another fun report and pictures. I'm also glad that you recovered you fins. It was a really  encounter with a knucklehead.

Thanks Jim.  Eye is recovering...but still not back to "normal".  But at least I have some peripheral vision and better depth perception.  Hope for the future.  

Those who know me from my younger years would  be surprised that I did not react in a more forceful or physical way.  I'm a big guy and have always been athletic...including combat training, etc.  But as my hero Dirty Harry says, "A man should know his limitations."  My aging body reminds me of my limitations every day, so I have mellowed out a lot.  In years past I have narrowly avoided assault charges for physically "reacting" to boater transgressions.  These days I have neither the strength or stamina to take on the (usually) younger aggravations.  Also, in our wacko world today you never know who is "carrying" and how eager they are to "bag a big old buck".  I'd rather remain a disgruntled old codger than to become a late night news item.  

Heck, I don't even remember even being gruntled.  But then there's a lot I don't remember.

[chubby chaser]

it appears the these wake boarders apply the same poor etiquette to launching as they do to boating. Unfortunately this is rapidly becoming a "me-first and only me" society we live in. Glad you were able to catch some fish to make it worth it at least.

[dubob]

Sorry I missed seeing you Pat.  I launched about 10 AM give or take.  The only thing that came home with me yesterday was the smell of skunk.  I drug cranks for 4 hours and nary a look see.  Next trip WILL involve the drowning of some worms at depth.  I did test the water column for temps all the way to the bottom at 2 PM - 59+ at the surface and 55+ at 21 feet.  The eyes SHOULD be active by now.  I'll find out next week. 

[oldguy]

it appears the these wake boarders apply the same poor etiquette to launching as they do to boating.  Unfortunately this is rapidly becoming a "me-first and only me" society we live in.  Glad you were able to catch some fish to make it worth it at least.

I agree 100 %  they seem to think that they are entitled  to do as they please  with out regard for any one else. Just saying.

[doitall5000]

It would be a great idea for state park Officials to help us out!!
Hint Hint !!
Use your phones to call and report these Violations..
We can walk up to enforcement people when ever you see them. I see them at the jordanelle marina checking fisherman, lest get in there Faces..

[EyLayo]

 
When my blood pressure subsided, I finished launching…about 7:30 am.  Air temp 50…only getting up to about 65 by noon departure.  Cloudy with a cool breeze most of the morning.  

Just keep that BP up. Helps keep the tootsies nice and warm in the early morning cold water.

[TubeDude]

Hey guys.  Thanks for all the supportive replies.  Glad my pictorial ramblings still get a few "followers".  I enjoy fishing and being able to provide some fish porn for fellow addicts.

Just a couple of notes:  

1. The south marina is probably a bit busier due to the current construction project at the north marina that has sent more anglers south for at least the time being.  

2.  Good walleye fishing is likely still a few weeks away.  We are getting a few post-spawn fish now...some more than others...but until water temps climb over 60 to about 65 it will not become "wide open".  But once the post-spawn/cold water lethargy is over I am predicting some wunnerful wallie action this year.  DWR has been spawning out a lot of walleyes and dumping in a whole bunch of new hatchlings the past few years.  And each year we see more and more good sized fish being caught.  Based on previous 2 years planting numbers it would seem this year could be a bananer year.

There have already been more walleyes reported this year than most years this early.  But most anglers are doomed to seeing more on "TV" than on the end of their line until the water warms just a titch.  However, once the temps climb a bit and the post spawn fish get active...hold on for the ride.  

For those who are not familiar with the biology involved, the walleyes' main source of food is the gizzard shad.  Last year's hatch has either died off or grown too large for all but the largest predators to swallow.  So the walleyes, wipers, crappies, catfish, bass and any other predators gotta scrounge up what they can for groceries.  And there is a lot of competition for any available food source.  The shad spawn during April-May.  Until the new hatchlings grow to at least 1.5 - 2" (usually by about July) all the predators have to scrounge for aquatic insects (midge larvae), the scarce spottail shiners and log perch, last year's young yellow perch and baby catfish and anything else they can find.  The hungry and aggressive walleyes we catch in the next weeks before newly hatched shad are big enough to eat will have a lot of "make do" food in their tummies...even including some crawdads. 

So, once water temps are up just a titch, walleye fishing will be sporadic.  Some guys will find active fish in select small areas.  Most will not.  But once the water warms enough to get them active and hungry it will be wide open for a few weeks...usually from about the end of May through the first week or so in July.  That's usually about when the wallies begin to glut on the huge schools of newly hatched shadlets and largely ignore the silly stuff anglers drag by them.

And no matter what kind of fishing you prefer...dragging crawler harnesses very slowly to speed trolling over 3 mph...you will catch walleyes.  Of course there are a lot of variables from day to day...in terms of best areas, best depths, type of lures, color combos, etc.  And due to weather, weird wallie anomalies, water clarity & temps, etc., the hot lure, color, depth and speed can change from day to day...and even during the same day.  Always good to go well equipped with the gear to adapt to any set of conditions you find on any given day...and always be ready to change it up when the action drops off.   

[ELM 71]

Glad you found a few Pat and hope your eye is better. There seems to be more rude folks around these days for sure.  Pat I had my cancer surgery thursday. They are pretty sure they got it all. Will be a few more weeks before Im up and around I think. Bobbie is making sure Im doing what Im supposed to. Hope to see you soon.
                                                          Lee

[TubeDude]

Glad you found a few Pat and hope your eye is better. There seems to be more rude folks around these days for sure.  Pat I had my cancer surgery thursday. They are pretty sure they got it all. Will be a few more weeks before Im up and around I think. Bobbie is making sure Im doing what Im supposed to. Hope to see you soon.
                                                          Lee

Glad the surgery went well.  Miss you out on the water.  Hope you are able to get back at it soon.