willard s.marina ice

[mike4cobra]

Has anyone ever fished the south marina at willard through the ice? With the gate being open it would be nice if they piled up in there like the north.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]It used to be pretty good...before they began closing it during the winter. Caught quite a few small walleyes in the middle of the marina, straight out from the docks. Also quite a few crappies both next to the docks and in the open. Sometimes the crappies would cruise by just under the ice and you could look down the hole and see them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I know of a couple of guys who trudged in from the outside parking area last winter and scored some fish. Also some caught in the "scour hole" where the inlet pours in through the baffles. A big deep hole there.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I plan to hit it this winter through the ice and it is usually about the first spot on the lake to open in the spring so I can launch my tube. Been fishable in February the last two years. Plenty of kitties but not much else. [/#0000ff]
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[toadly]

I went by there after work to have a look around and found the South Marina capped. Pretty sure its not thick enough to fish yet. I didn't bring my ice stuff, maybe in a week or so.
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[wiperhunter2]

Before the South was closed and many years ago when there was a big population of crappie in Willard, a friend caught a monster there that was 17". Right after that there was some folks doing some illegal netting there and the lake is just now recovering from that carnage[unimpressed][unimpressed]. There were many being caught at that time up to 16" but that was the largest crappie I ever heard of coming through the ice. Your Dad might even remember the guy.
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[mike4cobra]

Thanks for the info guys. It is definately the shortest drive for me and I can hit it for quite a few hours before work on weekdays to beat the crowds. I planned on fishing it anyway, just wanted to see what I was in for. Why is it the crappie congregate in the marinas in winter? Is there something that draws them there or is it just an easy place for us people to locate them?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I believe that anytime you ask a question that begins with the word why...there is usually not a good answer. That is especially true of people and fish questions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The best theory I have is "STRUCTURE". With the exception of wipers, most fish in Willard like to hang around something that provides shelter, cover for ambush or just "edge"...something to relate to. Early in the winter the marinas are first to freeze and fish gravitate to the overhead cover of the ice. As many of us have discovered, fishing lures right next to the growing ice sheet can be very productive. After the whole lake freezes a lot of fish stay inside if there are rocks, brush, docks or other things that qualify as structure. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The other attraction might be the bottom dwelling invertebrates. There are several mud flats around the lake that are breeding grounds for the abundant midges. Those places attract almost all species whenever they are having trouble finding enough food from other sources. The midges are thick and they are easy to slurp up in numbers...and nutritious. I have caught crappies, cats and even small walleyes that were stuffed with midge larvae. And the calm conditions inside harbors allow sediments to form the muddy bottom favored by midge larvae.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A key to good fishing inside the harbors is depth. In low water years there is not enough depth to keep the fish happy and they migrate to the deeper holes in the main lake. But since they have dredged out the channels of both harbors at Willard there is usually enough depth at least in some spots to hold fish almost anytime.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]All that being said, the marinas do not hold as many fish after the main lake freezes over. Just as at Utah Lake, the fish usually disperse when there is ice on the main lake...especially if they are getting hammered by ice fishermen. Some fish stay inside all winter but you will often do better by trudging out to known humps and bumps where you found fish in open water conditions. A few anglers had some great days at several spots outside the north marina last winter. [/#0000ff]
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[mike4cobra]

Ya know, I used to think structure was at a premium out at willard, untill I put the structure scan unit on the boat. That lake has always been tough to figure out but it seems tougher actually seeing all of the structure there is. Its usually pretty easy on lakes with alot of contour (like starvation) to figure out how the fish are relating to the structure. The fish seem to relate to the structure at willard the same but on a much larger scale. I watched a buch of walleye and wiper hold off a 2ft contour no more than 25 yds long early this spring. It was easy pickens for about 3 hours then nothing. It was cool watching them disperse 150ft off both sides with the side scan. But what held em there and what made em leave? I may never figure that lake out[frown]. But... I am building a pretty cool contour map with the side scan. I have the whole screen loaded with waypoints to differnt rock piles, sunken logs (a bunch right out of the s.marina), ridges and ledges. Maybe I'll see ya out there TD ice fishin and we can swap willard 'theorys'[cool].
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]If you have figured out how to send PMs...without a side scan...stay in touch and we can meet up out there when the conditions get right. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Very interesting about the amount of structure in Willard. One of the things I semi-learned a long time ago is that in the absence of radical structure the fish become more attuned to minor changes in bottom contour and even a small trench or hump can have great appeal.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That has always been one of the great appeals of fishing...to me. No matter how much you learn and think you know you continue to learn new things on almost every trip. Sometimes I wonder how I ever managed to catch anything at all even a few years ago. And other times I think I get TOO smart and outsmart myself.[/#0000ff]
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[PACKFAN]

I fished it years ago when I first got stationed here in the mid 70's. Like TD said a few small walleye and some crappie with a gill now and then. I had a 1972 Ford Bronco in those days and even drove it out on the ice there one winter. I've even driven across Hyrum in an F250 back in the early 90's one weekend but that was the only time. The South Marina use to get pounded pretty heavy back in those days when you could drive in, not too many places a guy could legally ice fish back in those days around here.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Yeah, I remember fishing it in the mid 70's. As you say, it was only one of about 3 or 4 [/#0000ff][#0000ff]lakes that allowed ice fishing. Trout lakes were off limits until they finally opened Deer Creek in the early 80's. And then you had to throw the trout back.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here is a pic from about 1978...at first ice on the south marina. Reece Stein was a "roving fielder" for Channel 5 and was out taking pictures of the crazy people actually fishing through the ice.[/#0000ff]
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[inline "REESE - ICE CRAPPIE SHOW.jpg"]

[#0000ff]In those days most guys pounded holes in the ice with axes or spud bars. Very few actual ice augers...and no power augers at all. Also, no tents, no Vexilars, no heaters, no sleds. Pretty much bare bones. Rods were the same ones used for trout after the "opener"...and no two rod permits.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, there were plenty of fish caught. Makes ya wonder how we did it...and why we can't get along without all the fancy gear and technology these days.[/#0000ff]
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[cadresults]

Pat:

That is a neat pic of Willard and also, some interesting history. I remember when Utah first went to "Year Round Fishing". I was living at home at the time, and I went down to Hyrum Dam. There was an old timer fishing through the ice. I had never seen anyone do it before.

It was pretty amazing to me. All I had was an axe, and I would always get wet when I first broke through the ice!

I believe it was that same year, I watched a guy pull an 8lb rainbow out of there, through the ice. I remember a few of us standing there in dis-belief when the fish came through that hole!!

Even in the early 90's, i think I was one of the first people to own an ice hut lol....
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Thanks for the questions - thanks for the answers. I'm sure the "pressure" on the S.Marina will be different this year, with the gates open. I've always seemed to spot a bunch of big clusters just around the buoy to the inlet. From there toward the harbor mouth. Also the back corner by the bathroom - seemed to run into perch and gills along there.

There are a lot of weeds along the edges of the inlet. I don't suppose there's any restrictions during ice-season, until the Walleye spawn in spring? Is the ice safe by the baffles? I'd expect there still flow there in winter, or does that get shut off?

Look forward to trying it. Missed that one last trip to the harbors before the froze up. Need to make sure the catch'm before the whole lake freezes over.

Keep us informed how the conditions progress. Be glad to hear how you do - sounds like your in for a bunch of fishn!

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]The restriction on the inlet channel is for motorized boats...not fishing. Other than the closure during the walleye spawn you can fish it from bank or float tube.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Last winter the ice got very thick all the way up the channel. Attached are a couple of pics I took on February 9, at the baffles. Flowing water runs under the ice...which was about 12" thick only a few feet away from the edge of the inflow. There were holes drilled all over out in the channel...but I did not have gear that day...just a camera.[/#0000ff]
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