Willard Cats and a bonus...

[obifishkenobi]

I've been trying to hit WB at least once a week this summer between the iffy weather and some family issues.  My season started out with several skunks and a few trips with only "onesies".  
Today looked like a fair chance to try again. 

Got launched at  7:01 a.m.  Dark clouds but they were moving off to the east. Very light and variable breeze, air temp 70, water temp 74.  Got out to my favorite Cat drifting area, set up my 2 bait lines at area reading 19 fow and started a nice drift to the south.  Exactly 30 minutes after setting up had first Cat hit hard. Swallowed the hook so far it was gill hooked and bleeding, so dropped it in the live well.  Then realized I had neglected to bring my electric fileting knife...  . 
14 minutes later, Cat # 2 swallowed hook so far down, I couldn't see it. So cut the line and dropped her in the live well also. 4 minutes later Cat # 3 started stripping line, I had just barely started tying on a new hook on the other line.  And #3 proved to be as hungry / greedy as the first 2, so another line cut and into the box she went. Now I got 2 lines needing new hooks, and I need to pull back out to some deeper water. All 3 of the first Cats hit in area of 16 to 14 fow and I was quickly drifting over 11 fow towards the jetty wall.  Motored back out to area over 19 fow, got my new hooks tied on and baited. 


             

Took almost an hour to drift back where the Cats were hungry, but not quite as aggressive. Hit Cat # 4 with a good corner of the mouth hook, and was able to release it with little to no harm done. But he wasn't as cooperative when it came to taking his mug shot. 
Cat # 5 was another deep hook, so into the box and tie on another new hook.  Just got new hook tied on, and # 6 tried to run off with the other line, but that new hook went thru it's side barbal (whisker). Amazed I was able to get him to the net without the hook tearing out. Released.  
I had brought what was left in the shrimp bag at home, turned out to only be 8 shrimp.  Last shrimp was on the other line, and it seemed as if the Cats had eaten their fill, but that last shrimp got me a surprising bonus. 
Something hit that line and took of towards the west wall.   I figured it was a bigger than average Cat because of where I was drifting.  NOPE, wasn't a Cat..................

        

                             A WIPER !!  Hadn't caught a Wiper in over 2 years, sure didn't expect to hook one today.  But Willard is a weird place sometimes.  Willard Bay is the first place I caught Catfish while trolling a lure for Wiper. So why not catch a Wiper while drifting bait for Catfish.    

                                             
              

Having forgotten my electric fileting knife I had some work ahead of me to clean up 5 fish with my Rapala knife.  They didn't end up as pretty as with the electric knife, but good enough to bag and freeze for the next fish fry.  

Nice work Forest, encouraging report I’ll be back at Willard in the coming weeks. Im targeting bait this week at  Lost Creek.