04-25-2011, 11:22 AM
[cool][#0000ff]First of all, welcome to the board.[/#0000ff]
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[cool][#ff0000]Edit: Sorry. I keep doing this. Did not read the UL since we were talking about Willard. So after dumping all that stuff about Willard I will add a PDF file about fishing UL walleyes. Hope it helps.[/#ff0000]
[#ff0000]I get so
.[/#ff0000]
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[#0000ff]Second of all, you probably already realize that there are no "easy" solutions to fishing for walleyes. They are tough to find and catch even if you have a boat with all the latest electronics. Fishing for them from shore is a matter of good guesswork, good technique and good luck.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Right now it can be especially difficult because the fish are in a transition stage...from spawning to post spawn. The good news is that some of the best walleye fishing of the year is soon to come. When the fish go on their post spawn feeding binge it becomes a lot easier for most folks to catch them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are already more walleyes being caught around the lake. Most are being caught by serious walleye specialists...or guys who are trolling for wipers in the traditional spots with proven lures. However, there are more and more being caught near the rock dikes too. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are several areas around the perimeter of Willard where "bank tanglers" find a few willing wallies. One of the best is along the north dike. You can park in front of the gate for a $3 daily fee if you do not have a park pass. Then start at the "outlet"...where there are the concrete structures on the dike. Keep working your way out along the rocks...casting out parallel to shore or fanning your cast...until you find a fish or two. Then duplicate what works.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fishing "low and slow" is necessary to catch walleyes. Throw plastic twisters, tubes or shad bodies in 3" to 4" sizes...with 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. heads. White, pearl or chartreuse are the better colors. As the fish get more active you will do well with diving crankbaits...in silver, white, chartreuse or crawdad colors. You want to imitate shad or crawdads.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can also catch a walleye or two by fishing bait. If you have a two-pole permit you can set up one bait rod while you fish with lures. Use a whole minnow or nightcrawler on the bottom...or suspended just above the bottom with a slip sinker rig.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are a lot of other places around the lake where you can sometimes find walleyes close enough to the rocks to make fishing for them worthwhile. When the annual spawning closure ends in the inlet for the south marina...about the 1st of May...you can catch lingering walleyes up near the baffles and all the way down the channel. Lots of places to cast from shore but brushy and snaggy next to shore.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Inside the south marina you can fish off the dikes or even inside the marina early and late in the day before it gets too busy with boat traffic. Lot of walleyes caught by accident in there by folks fishing for crappies or wipers. You can also walk out on the dikes to fish the corner as the channel goes into the main lake...or along the dike as suggest for the north dike. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The next popular area is the SW corner. That is a free access point if you don't have a pass. Take the perimeter road (see map) and park down below the dike. Go up over it and start rock-hopping and casting. When the fish are in you might have a lot of company. Good place for wipers too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Then there is the NW corner...at the light pole. You need a tough vehicle with high clearance and good suspension to get out over the "war zone" road. This road is well maintained to the SW corner but not along the west dike. But there are often both walleyes and wipers to be had out there. Good fishing for cats too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[cool][#ff0000]Edit: Sorry. I keep doing this. Did not read the UL since we were talking about Willard. So after dumping all that stuff about Willard I will add a PDF file about fishing UL walleyes. Hope it helps.[/#ff0000]
[#ff0000]I get so
.[/#ff0000] [#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Second of all, you probably already realize that there are no "easy" solutions to fishing for walleyes. They are tough to find and catch even if you have a boat with all the latest electronics. Fishing for them from shore is a matter of good guesswork, good technique and good luck.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Right now it can be especially difficult because the fish are in a transition stage...from spawning to post spawn. The good news is that some of the best walleye fishing of the year is soon to come. When the fish go on their post spawn feeding binge it becomes a lot easier for most folks to catch them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are already more walleyes being caught around the lake. Most are being caught by serious walleye specialists...or guys who are trolling for wipers in the traditional spots with proven lures. However, there are more and more being caught near the rock dikes too. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are several areas around the perimeter of Willard where "bank tanglers" find a few willing wallies. One of the best is along the north dike. You can park in front of the gate for a $3 daily fee if you do not have a park pass. Then start at the "outlet"...where there are the concrete structures on the dike. Keep working your way out along the rocks...casting out parallel to shore or fanning your cast...until you find a fish or two. Then duplicate what works.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Fishing "low and slow" is necessary to catch walleyes. Throw plastic twisters, tubes or shad bodies in 3" to 4" sizes...with 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. heads. White, pearl or chartreuse are the better colors. As the fish get more active you will do well with diving crankbaits...in silver, white, chartreuse or crawdad colors. You want to imitate shad or crawdads.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You can also catch a walleye or two by fishing bait. If you have a two-pole permit you can set up one bait rod while you fish with lures. Use a whole minnow or nightcrawler on the bottom...or suspended just above the bottom with a slip sinker rig.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are a lot of other places around the lake where you can sometimes find walleyes close enough to the rocks to make fishing for them worthwhile. When the annual spawning closure ends in the inlet for the south marina...about the 1st of May...you can catch lingering walleyes up near the baffles and all the way down the channel. Lots of places to cast from shore but brushy and snaggy next to shore.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Inside the south marina you can fish off the dikes or even inside the marina early and late in the day before it gets too busy with boat traffic. Lot of walleyes caught by accident in there by folks fishing for crappies or wipers. You can also walk out on the dikes to fish the corner as the channel goes into the main lake...or along the dike as suggest for the north dike. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The next popular area is the SW corner. That is a free access point if you don't have a pass. Take the perimeter road (see map) and park down below the dike. Go up over it and start rock-hopping and casting. When the fish are in you might have a lot of company. Good place for wipers too.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Then there is the NW corner...at the light pole. You need a tough vehicle with high clearance and good suspension to get out over the "war zone" road. This road is well maintained to the SW corner but not along the west dike. But there are often both walleyes and wipers to be had out there. Good fishing for cats too.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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