02-02-2008, 12:33 PM
[cool][#0000ff]With the current (and ongoing) low water conditions your best bet for chilled wiper would be to find the deepest trench off the far west side and soak whole minnows or crawlers just off the bottom. They will also hit a variety of jigs...from very small to large...tipped or untipped. I have heard of them being caught on plain silver Kastmasters, jigged without any bait. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There just have not been that many people fishing Willard through the ice over the past few years. And those who have fished it catch a few perch, crappies and even catfish, but few walleyes or wipers. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Part of the problem is that the forage (gizzard shad) school up on the bottom of the deepest holes in the winter. The predators simply have to swim in and open their mouths to get all the groceries they need. Not much competition for food and with a slower metabolism in cold water they do not feed as often. No real incentive for wipers to swim around the lake looking for food.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There just have not been that many people fishing Willard through the ice over the past few years. And those who have fished it catch a few perch, crappies and even catfish, but few walleyes or wipers. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Part of the problem is that the forage (gizzard shad) school up on the bottom of the deepest holes in the winter. The predators simply have to swim in and open their mouths to get all the groceries they need. Not much competition for food and with a slower metabolism in cold water they do not feed as often. No real incentive for wipers to swim around the lake looking for food.[/#0000ff]
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