10-25-2017, 09:24 PM
[#0000FF]Launched my red ride at the Willard north marina just after 7:30...still darkish. Thought about trying inside the harbor first, since I have done well on fall harbor dwellers in the past...with water levels as high as they currently are. But opted for heading out and trying for an early 'eye outside along the channel edges.
Met up with WiperHunter and WiperSlayer heading out in their boat just after I cleared the harbor. They went north. Another boat headed south shortly after. Not many boats on Willard today although it sounded like we were under airboat siege out on the marshes. Didn't hear much shooting though.
No walleyes, wipers or crappies were harmed in the making of this report. But quite a few kitties came to play...and saved the day...as usual.
Threw a lot of plastic and some lipless cranks early, while dragging a minnow on a flig (floating jig). Got a couple of taps on the plastics. Nothing on hardbaits. Got lots of interest on the minnow adorned fligs. Got the first cookie cutter kitty by 8 am...on a fire tiger flig. That was the hot color until after the sun hit the water. Then they showed an interest in silver with blue back.
I worked quite a bit of water. Saw lots of shad all the way from shallow (8') out to the deepest I worked...in 17'. I got a few hits in 14' of water but most of my action came from about 11'-12' depths. The Wiper crew later reported they had caught quite a few cats in about 15'.
About mid morning I saw a familiar blue pontube cruising toward me. Turned out to be fellow BFTer Ahi. Good to see you again John. Hope the donated minnows and fligs got you into a few more fish after I left.
Once it became clear the kitties were playful I decided to keep a limit for the smoker. Released about a half dozen but did keep eight. Biggest came on a blue flig and actually fought pretty good for 53 degree water. Started out 52 but got all the up to 53 by noonish.
Beautiful weather today. Catching the fish was just a bonus. Mighta been nicer with a couple of toothy critters or stripy ones thrown in. At least I didn't have to suffer the smell of a stripy black and white furry critter. Love them skunk-repellent kitties.
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Met up with WiperHunter and WiperSlayer heading out in their boat just after I cleared the harbor. They went north. Another boat headed south shortly after. Not many boats on Willard today although it sounded like we were under airboat siege out on the marshes. Didn't hear much shooting though.
No walleyes, wipers or crappies were harmed in the making of this report. But quite a few kitties came to play...and saved the day...as usual.
Threw a lot of plastic and some lipless cranks early, while dragging a minnow on a flig (floating jig). Got a couple of taps on the plastics. Nothing on hardbaits. Got lots of interest on the minnow adorned fligs. Got the first cookie cutter kitty by 8 am...on a fire tiger flig. That was the hot color until after the sun hit the water. Then they showed an interest in silver with blue back.
I worked quite a bit of water. Saw lots of shad all the way from shallow (8') out to the deepest I worked...in 17'. I got a few hits in 14' of water but most of my action came from about 11'-12' depths. The Wiper crew later reported they had caught quite a few cats in about 15'.
About mid morning I saw a familiar blue pontube cruising toward me. Turned out to be fellow BFTer Ahi. Good to see you again John. Hope the donated minnows and fligs got you into a few more fish after I left.
Once it became clear the kitties were playful I decided to keep a limit for the smoker. Released about a half dozen but did keep eight. Biggest came on a blue flig and actually fought pretty good for 53 degree water. Started out 52 but got all the up to 53 by noonish.
Beautiful weather today. Catching the fish was just a bonus. Mighta been nicer with a couple of toothy critters or stripy ones thrown in. At least I didn't have to suffer the smell of a stripy black and white furry critter. Love them skunk-repellent kitties.
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