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Took my tube out to the south marina and launched off the end of the dike. Windy and warm day. Kicked around the marina for a bit and fought the wind out into the lake. White caps so i let it blow me back in. The ice had opened up a bit and I was able to work around the edge and take out on the ramp. Skunked. Last year I took a picture on 4 March and another one yesterday from the end of the dike. Not much difference. Wouldn't be surprised to see it blown clear this week.
Larry
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Thanks for the update. I was wondering how all this wind and warmer weather was treating the ice at Willard.
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You must have come in over the south west wall? I just took a drive out to WB south.
The access road intersection is washed out. So didn't get to the marina. The canal near Smith and Edwards is about 80% full.
Went to the north end. Still mostly ice covered, but pulling away from the edges, and some spots opening up out in main body. I bet it's pretty mushy and thin.
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
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Yes. I should of told folks. You can come in from us 89. Take a left when you see pettingills or the hotsprings trailer park.
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Thanks for the update. How is Willard to fish at ice off from a boat or float tube/pontoon?
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I'll defer to real experts to answer this one. Last year Ice was off on 4 March and my log shows my first wiper almost a month later. Probably shows how bad a fisherman I really am.
Larry
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When wipers feed they are aggressive. I just don't think they feed that often when it is super cold. I knocked the soup out of them 2 February's ago...but I've also had more feb and March skunk days than not. Look for three or four calm warm days in a row. In the spring they almost always feed regardless of the water temp under those conditions.
I my limited experience early wipers are pretty rare when the water is up in the rocks, probably just takes longer to warm the deeper water...
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Fingers crossed for ice off this week, I have a 5 day weekend for the holiday and would be great to get the boat out in Feb!!
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That didn't take long from ice to float... Thanks for the report Larry... Be fun to get back after them from the floating side of things... I'm starting to need a repair of my toon before I can go back to it, think I cracked a bladder trying to take it out in the cold, now my one toon is completely flat, so I guess I better see if I can get it patched... Wish I could find a good used one that I could pick up for not too much... I've really liked this Outcast / Sportsman's Warehouse toon, but I need a garage to keep my toys out of the sunshine so they don't deteriorate so fast... Well thanks for the report and I'm sure you'll be onto the fish soon, I tend to think you're a far better fisherman than you give yourself credit for... Good luck... J
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Well have I got a deal for you sir, I have got two pontoon boats that I haven't used for a long time and they have been stored in my basement and are in great shape. If your interested get in touch with me, I'll sell them for 75.00 each. They come with oars and fins, let me know.
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Hey that sounds great, we'll have to talk.... Thanks for the heads up on that... J
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