01-05-2011, 12:34 PM
"Hey Tubedude, care to give us some tips for Willard ice fishing...where to fish and what to use? Where are those darn crappies? lol"
[cool][#0000ff]It has been a few years since I was last able to fish the South Marina through the ice. In fact, the last time I fished it in winter was before there were any wipers in Willard. In those days the lake was choked with both crappies and walleyes. Also lots of bluegills.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Most crappie anglers in those days fished around the end of the small dock up in the end of the marina. And the fish were often suspended only a couple of feet below the ice. Plain white tubes or curly tails...with or without waxies...took lots of crappies then. Sometimes schools of crappies would cruise around out in the more open areas and you could actually see them going through below your hole. Less commonly they would suspend a foot or two above the bottom. In the days before good ice sonars it was always a challenge to find the fish...even though there were more of them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Used to be grundles of walleyes in the marinas under the ice. But, they were spooky and seemed to hit best right at daybreak and again right at dark. I liked to sneak quietly onto the ice just before it got light, drill a few holes and then tiptoe from hole to hole before the happy horde joined me on the ice. I usually just jigged a 1/4 oz. silver Kastmaster or a special mylar jig...bouncing them off the bottom and then bringing them up a bit. With just the right action you could usually count on banging a few small wallies on any given morning. Seldom over about 16 inches but every once in a while a big ol' mama would stretch your string. And quite a few stray cats...especially if you tipped with crawler.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The main channel has been dredged and is deeper now than in former years. Maximum depth during high water is about 17 to 18 feet. So by looking at the high water mark on the rocks you should be able to figure what your deepest spots might be. Wipers usually like at least 15 feet in the winter but sometimes cruise through at mid depth. Crappies can be at any depths but last winter the 13 - 15 foot zone seemed to be best. Perch come up into the shallower water looking for small shad or the fry of their own and other species. They also cruise mud flats looking for midge larvae at times.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In short, most of the species move around a lot, looking for food. If you can find the little channels they use as highways you can set up and wait for them to swim through. Or, you can drill a bunch of holes and go hole hopping from time to time to try to locate fish. Just don't stomp on the ice as you move around and once you have your holes drilled, leave your auger alone. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Fish inside a closed system (marina) seem to be more sensitive to unusual noises. And noise in a "bowl" bounces back off the sides from all directions. Fish have sensitive lateral lines and have to rely on their senses to avoid predators so they get nervous when there is a lot of activity.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have had more than one trip spoiled by a rowdy group of noisy ice stompers. I have been catching lots of fish from the school of marks on my sonar and then others crash onto the ice...and head in my direction (always). In seconds my sonar clears up and the fishing is over. It pays to go early, fish quietly and try to avoid fishing near others if you can avoid it. That's tough on Utah's hard hit waters.[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]It has been a few years since I was last able to fish the South Marina through the ice. In fact, the last time I fished it in winter was before there were any wipers in Willard. In those days the lake was choked with both crappies and walleyes. Also lots of bluegills.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Most crappie anglers in those days fished around the end of the small dock up in the end of the marina. And the fish were often suspended only a couple of feet below the ice. Plain white tubes or curly tails...with or without waxies...took lots of crappies then. Sometimes schools of crappies would cruise around out in the more open areas and you could actually see them going through below your hole. Less commonly they would suspend a foot or two above the bottom. In the days before good ice sonars it was always a challenge to find the fish...even though there were more of them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Used to be grundles of walleyes in the marinas under the ice. But, they were spooky and seemed to hit best right at daybreak and again right at dark. I liked to sneak quietly onto the ice just before it got light, drill a few holes and then tiptoe from hole to hole before the happy horde joined me on the ice. I usually just jigged a 1/4 oz. silver Kastmaster or a special mylar jig...bouncing them off the bottom and then bringing them up a bit. With just the right action you could usually count on banging a few small wallies on any given morning. Seldom over about 16 inches but every once in a while a big ol' mama would stretch your string. And quite a few stray cats...especially if you tipped with crawler.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The main channel has been dredged and is deeper now than in former years. Maximum depth during high water is about 17 to 18 feet. So by looking at the high water mark on the rocks you should be able to figure what your deepest spots might be. Wipers usually like at least 15 feet in the winter but sometimes cruise through at mid depth. Crappies can be at any depths but last winter the 13 - 15 foot zone seemed to be best. Perch come up into the shallower water looking for small shad or the fry of their own and other species. They also cruise mud flats looking for midge larvae at times.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In short, most of the species move around a lot, looking for food. If you can find the little channels they use as highways you can set up and wait for them to swim through. Or, you can drill a bunch of holes and go hole hopping from time to time to try to locate fish. Just don't stomp on the ice as you move around and once you have your holes drilled, leave your auger alone. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Fish inside a closed system (marina) seem to be more sensitive to unusual noises. And noise in a "bowl" bounces back off the sides from all directions. Fish have sensitive lateral lines and have to rely on their senses to avoid predators so they get nervous when there is a lot of activity.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have had more than one trip spoiled by a rowdy group of noisy ice stompers. I have been catching lots of fish from the school of marks on my sonar and then others crash onto the ice...and head in my direction (always). In seconds my sonar clears up and the fishing is over. It pays to go early, fish quietly and try to avoid fishing near others if you can avoid it. That's tough on Utah's hard hit waters.[/#0000ff]
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