06-07-2023, 08:22 PM
(06-07-2023, 07:44 PM)Gonefishing71 Wrote: I have made 2 trips to Willard in the last couple weeks and only caught 1 small walleye but have seen several posts from the same days I was out members had limits of walleye, I am still a novice at walleye fishing but will mostly be fishing Willard this year due to some physical limitations until I get surgery towards the end of the year I have a handicap sticker and if I get to the South marina early enough I can park close to the ramp, walking long distance is my only real limitation, I have a decent fishing boat 16' Starcraft 50 hp main motor and a kicker motor so can troll as slow as needed and have decent Garmin sonar, fishing gear wise I have planer boards and rods with line counter reels set up with mono and leadcore plus spinning setups, lure wise I have a good selection of crank baits and many different options for bottom bouncers.
I would like to get at least a couple decent Walleye for dinner if any members would be willing to share some pointers on lures and techniques I would really appreciate it not trying to get anyone's best spots or anything, I have a decent understanding of the layout thanks to the map and article created by Tubedude.
Thanks for any tips members are willing to provide.
Willard can be a fickle beast, but fortunately from the last couple weeks in May into the middle of June is the easiest time to consistently catch walleye. The technique that has been most productive for me the last several years has been long lining bottom bouncers at high speed. I am using 2oz. bottom bouncers with Lindy worm harness and half a worm set back 100-150' going 2-2.5 mph. I use the really long set back so I can get my gear close to the bottom at that high of speed. The key to my success I believe, is that I turn a lot I'm always turning. When I turn the inside line slows town and the bottom bouncers ticks on the bottom and that is when I usually get bit. The most productive times for me is when there is enough wind to make walleye chop. I will drive back and forth across the wind from 50-400 yards off the rocks and most bites happen when I turn up into the wind. I turn tighter than most which sometimes leads to tangles but it also produces more hook ups. My favorite area to target for Walleye is along the West Wall from the light pole to 2/3 of the way to the South West Corner if you watch your graph there are humps and bumps and old road beds you can see and follow especially if you have side imaging I will target those thing when there is no wind to work with. I will be out there again this Friday working that area in my big blue Wooldridge boat feel free to say hi and follow me around if you want. My first choice is bottom bouncers but if you have more people in the boat I would put the plainer boards out the side with #7 flicker shad set back 100' Blue tiger has been my best color of flicker shad this year. The best color of worm harness has been fire tiger, purple and white and blue tiger.