New Ride, New Season -- Willard

[RockyRaab]

I traded in the old Durabledango for a Toyota Highlander recently. Finally got a roof rack and other stuff I needed to get my kayak on top.

Here's Sport all loaded up:



Took her to Willard for her initiation. Managed to hook and land a nice 18" wiper (which I failed to photograph before cleaning it. Fresh fish for dinner, the season began without a skunk aboard, and all is right with the world.


Oh, met two pontooners who lurk here at BFT but haven't joined yet. One of them had caught two smallies on a crankbait and the other got (but missed) a vicious strike on a big streamer fly while we chatted. Nice guys, those two!

The North Marina was 2' deep in most places, including the floating docks, but 8' in the channel. Don't wander around if you launch a power boat there! Water was pretty clear for Willard, and the temps were 63° in the shallows and 58-59° in the main lake. Most depths were 12-13'. The place I call the Catfish Hump between the marina and the outflow had sticks poking up above the wavelets - and only 2' deep.

Had one strike in the warm shallows along the north dike, but the clever booger raced right at me faster than I could crank and disdainfully spat my Gulp minnow as he went under my 'yak. I got the wiper pulling a deep diver in the channel out from the marina in 13' of water. No doubt about THAT hit!

Wiper en pappillote in the oven as we speak!
[signature]

[Watershadow]

Nice setup Rocky...hey I'm between boats and I'm fishing out of a canoe. I have all week off and will be fishing Willard a little next week...would you be willing to give me a couple of pointers on where to go and use in Willard, out of a canoe? PM me if you want...thanks!
[signature]

[RockyRaab]

I might be able to do that. If the weather calms down, it should be getting better, too.

I'm no expert by any means, and any "tips" I might offer might even be counterproductive. But I'm always willing to 'yak! (In both senses.)
[signature]

[Cuda_12]

I suggest a flotilla.

[CoyoteSpinner]

Both look like nice rides. The Highlander's really taken on a whole new look. Do they have a Hybrid out there?

I don't speak French - care to enlighten? Que es " en pappillote" ?

[RockyRaab]

It means "in paper" and it uses a parchment paper bag to bake in. Fish, veggies, a dab of butter -- oh yeah.

A flotilla sounds fine to me!
[signature]

[Kayak_angler23]

Nice ride(s) Rocky...is that a Hobie i see? Willard is a rather shallow res yeah? There are smallies but what about LMB? What's the structure like there if you don't mind me asking.
[signature]

[WaveWolf]

[#484848]Nice ...... You should be on the water in a few minutes.[/#484848]
[#484848][/#484848]
[#484848]I was out there and I saw the two pontooners in the marina basin. Did they catch the smallies there, or out on the main lake?[/#484848]
[#484848][/#484848]
[#484848]Can you buy parchment bags or do you make your own?[/#484848]
[#484848][/#484848]
[#484848][/#484848]
[signature]

[RockyRaab]

Yes, that's a Hobie Pro Angler 14, and I think I was the first one in Utah to own one. There are still only a few of them here.

Willard is a big, shallow puddle with little structure to speak of except some humps and islands. When it's full, the rocky dikes offer fish some cover, but when the water is low, there's darn little. It is managed as an irrigation water supply, so levels fluctuate a lot over the year.

I'm sure there must be a largemouth or three in there either by accident or bucket biology, but the main species are walleye, wipers, crappie, perch, smallmouth, and channel catfish. And a gazillion tons of carp. The DWR planted gizzard shad there to serve as finny food, but you cannot possess any of them, live or dead.

You can buy parchment paper in rolls in the baking section of your local grocery store. It holds in steam and doesn't melt.
[signature]

[CoyoteSpinner]

That's what I was guessing. Have some but mine are called Pergamino, guess lost in translation. "Bolsas para cocinar". Done foil pouches while camping. The BEST were a banana boat - chocolate, marshmallows - tossed on a fire. Good stuff Maynard!

Yup - Willard is like Rocky - in that it's rocky. There's maybe some muddy shoreline areas, but not much for ledges and such. But don't forget the Christmas Trees!

I believe some of the structure is due to remnants of the roads they used to construct the pool. TD's got some good maps of the lake, and marinas.

[inline willardbay.jpg]

[inline map-willard-bay01.jpg]

[inline "WILLARD BAY LABELED.jpg"]

[Kayak_angler23]

Thanks for the info and maps, they will surely help out. I've only seen Willard from the road but it looks like there are gates to get in? Are there any put ins where you don't have to pay to launch?
[signature]

[fishinfool]

You can put in at the southwest corner if you have a canoe dolly, other than that you will have to pay to play.

fnf[cool]
[signature]

[Kayak_angler23]

i do have a dolly for my yaks. thanks for the info.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]There are toll gates at both the north and south marinas. But there are several spots around the dike where you can park and go up over the dike and fish along the shoreline (rocks). At the SW corner there is a sloping road and a cleared area on the other side that makes it easier to carry tubes, toons or yaks for launching. The road beyond the SW corner can be really nasty but goes around to the NW corner...also known as the light pole area. That is a bit tougher to get up and over for launching...especially when the water is up into the rocks. But the fishing is often good in that area.

Use the attached maps to do some driving and searching. Then you can figure out whether or not the spots are friendly enough to try them.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]