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Gents,
I recently relocated to Utah from Michigan and I couldn't wait to buy a boat and get out on the water. I picked up a boat about a week ago now and I've been out to Willard on 3 occasions and got skunked each and every time. Not even a single hit... I need some wisdom! I've read all of the Willard Bay posts this forum has and aligned my tackle selection accordingly...still nothing. Is anyone interested in taking me out? I'll supply the boat, grub, and "sodas" if needed. I just need to know what I'm doing wrong... or if it still just a little early for the Wiper bite to be on. I live in Pleasant View and am available most nights and weekends. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Welcome to Utah and thanks for posting. If I was available I would gladly join you. Hopefully, you receive some help quickly. You might post the details of how you are fishing and we might be able to make some suggestions. One general suggestion is that if there is a group of boats fishing a concentrated area you can be pretty sure that they are either catching fish in that area or have been really recently.
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If you've been fishing the past week, you've picked the worst week yet this spring to start at Willard. This recent cold snap and low pressure will shut down fishing quicker than anything at Willard. It's been a couple good days in a row now and more to come, the fish should be getting active again. Tomorrow and Friday look to be days that should produce well. Don't give up yet. Willard is a tough one to figure out sometimes, even for those of us that have been fishing it for years.
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Ok good, so It sounds like I'm not the only one that has had difficulty locating the fish. As I was going out yesterday evening someone coming into the south marina had said they'd picked up 7 wiper and 2 walleye by trolling the southwest corner with shad crankbaits. I immediately sped over, trolled nearly an identical lure, and didn't get a hit for >2 hours. At the same time I was pitching shad crankbaits up towards the shoreline hoping to find them in the shallows.
In the days prior I've tried mussels, worms, and ofcourse wetted nearly every shad or orange colored crankbait in my tackle box. I've made my way around a little bit in the 3 times I've been out thus far, with last night finding my way over to the feed lot hoping to pull one out of the weedline. Speaking of, what are all the fish I see and hear in the weeds? Looks like it could have been catfish, but I had to of spotted a minimum of 20 dorsal fins and heard them splashing violently the entire time I was over there.
Anyways, I think my fault could lie in my tactics. I'm conditioned to fish the same way I did in Michigan for walleye and small mouth and that included jigging and banging a crankbait on the rocks near the shoreline. I'm finding it tough to find a groove with not getting a single hit on anything I've used. Is morning typically better than the evenings? I see many of you have gone out from 8-noon in the past few days and did fairly well. I'm hoping to maybe find my way out there tomorrow morning.
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Are you using silver and black backed cranks? If not you may want to try that coloration... I like the glass shad as well... Also afternoons are typically better fishing this time of year due to the warming of the water... Good luck... J
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Yes, the cranks I'm using are all the pearl or metallic sides with either black or dark blue backs. All of them have some sort of rattle to them as well.
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The fish you saw and heard splashing were likely carp.
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[quote BlueNitro]
I immediately sped over, trolled nearly an identical lure, and didn't get a hit for >2 hours. At the same time I was pitching shad crankbaits up towards the shoreline hoping to find them in the shallows.
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If you are able to cast shad crankbaits at the same time you are trolling you may be trolling too slow for wipers.
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BlueNitro, I will be heading out this evening with another new person to Willard Bay. Your very welcome to join us as I live in Ogden not far from you. I have a feeling you may be trolling to slow, and possibly to deep. Those cranks should work. There are a lot of guys on here that are better then I am at Willard but if I don't put 20 + fish in the boat I consider it a slow day.
Last week before the weather blew in I was getting most of my wiper only 5' down. So they were fairly high in the water column, same with the crappie. Walleye seemed to be deeper though.
Let me know if you would like to go out. You can also PM me.
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I've found that I do the best when the water temp is 55 degree's or better on a good sunny day with a little wind trolling a size 5 or size 7 rattlin rapala.
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I'll second or third the speed deal. Wiper take it fast, like at times 3.5 mph. I usually start around 3 mph. Seems way too fast, but give it a try. Later J
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Welcome BlueNitro, Willard is the most changeable place I have fished in 50 years. It can be a real challenge, and I think that is what keeps most of us stubborn old guys going back. Tomorrow and Friday should be good days, at least better than the past 4 or 5. I use lipless cranks (Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps, Rapala, Cotton Cordell, and others) I control their depth by the boat troll speed. Had a guy tell me over 10 years ago at Willard, if your not catching Wiper, speed up. Have actually caught them at 4,.00 MPH and a bit faster, especially when the water temp gets up to about 65 and better.
I'm hoping to get on the water Friday morning, so maybe we will cross paths.
P.S. Sometimes a totally unexpected color also catches Wiper. Attached photo is from late March, my first Wiper this year and it hit a Chrome and Chartreuse 2 inch Rat-L-Trap being slow trolled off the bottom. And the Cat fish too. And that is a change for me cause I usually use 3" Rat-l-traps.[:/]
Anyway, good luck. [fishin]
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
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Welcome aboard Blue! All great advice above! All I can add is don't always just troll along the shoreline...You will see a lot of boats up near the shore, but I actually have my best luck out in some random spots 1/2 mile+ off the shore! The main reason I troll 3+mph is so that I can cover more area in less time. Once you find them, there is a good chance you will be on them for a while in that same area. Come check out the Flotilla on the 7th out there and you will meet a bunch of great fishermen and fisherwomen with a huge cash of fishing knowledge and are more willing to share!
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Wow, I really appreciate all of the insight! I'll be headed out again tonight to hopefully break the skunk streak! After hearing what everyone is saying here, I agree that my troll speed has been far too slow. Can't wait to get on the water tonight! Wish me luck!!
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I'll be out there this evening with Fat Biker.... Alumacraft 16ft. with three on board, most likely Freeway Bay. Give us a wave...
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I'm going to be on the water tomorrow around 1 til maybe sunset... good luck everyone, hit me up if your out tomorrow!
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Well, thanks to jurkneyes, I believe I now possess the wisdom of catching wiper on Willard. We had to of put at least 40 Wiper in the boat last night in addition to 3 monster crappie. A very successful night to say the least. I really appreciate all the help and tips you guys have provided me over the past couple days. Keep them lines tight! I'll see you on the water!
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Awesome job! I'm headed out in a couple hours, I hope I can get into them like you did! Were you able to hook up on some while casting/retrieving?
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Don't start feeling smug, Blue. Willard was just teasing you and will likely throw you the biggest skunk ever on your next trip. That's just how the lady is: fickle and cruel.
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^^^ I wish there was a "like" button for this comment!
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