Gulpin' On Willard 7-27-22 (With Video)

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Been away from Willard for a couple of weeks.  But from past experience I figured the shad would be getting big enough for the predators to pursue…and that a changeup in lure sizes and presentation might be in order.  In years past I have done well with Gulp Minnows and small Rapalas.  So that’s what I brung to the party.  That's what the title of this report refers to...not mini boils or gulping fish.

           Launched a little after 6:30.  Air temp 69 and water temp 77…warming to 80 by noon departure.  And air temp had climbed to 90 by noon.  TDH (too d------ hot).


            Powered out beyond the buoys and found some 9-10 foot water.  Tossed out a couple of whirly fligs decorated with Gulp.  One with a white 3” Gulp Minnow.  The other with a white 3” swimming mullet…a “curly tail” body.  Had my first kitty customer within the first half hour. 


            Worked back and forth between about 8’ and 11’.  Had most bites on either side of 10’.  Caught a succession of cats on both Gulp models…minnow and mullet…some sweetened with a bit of crawler.
 

            Probably caught about a dozen Gulp gulpers and then switched it up a bit.  Started dragging a 2” holo Rapala on one rod and slinging a U-rig with 3 gulp baited hooks on the other rod.  Got hits on the U-Rig but no hookups.

            Howsomever, the little Rapala was appealing to big carp and I caught two big “golden wipers” in fairly quick succession.


            It had been glass calm all morning but was forecast to get breezy by noon.  So I started working back toward the ramp and told myself I would bag it by 11:30.  Then my Rapala rod went bendo again.  Another carp?  Nay.  It turned out to be a 21” wiper on that little lure this time.  Yee Haw.

  

            Optimistically I stayed out a while and practiced my wiper calls.  Didn’t work.  That was it for the day.
            Saw lots of shad on sonar today.  Suspected that the predators were starting to find some large enough to eat.  Back at the cleaning station I didn’t find any shad in my wiper but one  of the kitties was full of shadlets just over an inch long.


            Only a couple of boats out from the south marina and only saw one or two others on the whole lake.  High temps, low water and high gas prices all might be to blame.  As I came back to the ramp about noon I noticed 3 or 4 power squadron type boats that looked…and then left.  There is a sign at the entrance to the south marina cautioning boats about the low water…but some of ‘em just gotta check.
            First trip with my new Lithium battery.  I’m sold.  Peak output for 5 hours of heavy use and still power to spare when I got in.