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I’m new to boat fishing at Willard. I have been able to get a few wipers each time out this past month using rattle trap (lipless) crankbaits (silver and Black, blue and silver, and green and yellow). I’ve also caught a few on a bleeding olive jointed rapala. However, yesterday I couldn’t get a wiper bite in almost 6 hours of trolling. I did manage to get a couple catfish on the olive rapala. My question to all of you more experienced Willard fisherman is this... what is you favorite lure to troll at Willard? I appreciate any suggestions you have for me, targeting Wipers and Walleye from a boat.
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Rapala shad raps size 5 and 7, any blue, purple, black, silver. Berkley flicker shad size 5 and 7, same colors. Don't judge your success by yesterday. It was rough for everyone. I got 0 wipers yesterday but our boat has gotten 38 for the season. No one I talked to yesterday did well for wipers.[fishon]
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Ditto for the Flicker Shad. Works on everything there.
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I have heard people using bottom bouncers and worm harnesses also. Plenty of people catch on those at Willard, but I personally haven't tried that method. Heard silver and blues are good on those also. [fishon]
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Very helpful. I have caught couple on the silver and black flicker shad also. Haven’t tried the blue and silver one yet. I did just pick up a red one. Not sure if that will work. I’m trolling about 2.3-2.5 mph. Is that the right speed?
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I've caught a few with LiveTarget crawfish lures.
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Depends who is trolling them. They can be trolled as slow as 2 mph and as high as 3.2 mph. I have pulled in that range depending on the day.
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Thanks, I’ve heard the wipers sometimes like it fast. I haven’t tried over 3 mph before. For the walleye I might be too fast. I can’t get my boat below 1.8 mph. I’m thinking about adding a trolling plate or getting drift sock.
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Walleye will bite it going fast too. At least they have this year. [fishon]
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That would be awesome. I’ve only boated a couple this year at about 2 mph on the flicker shad. I would love to get more of them. Do you use a down or bottom bouncers or just long line with planer boards?
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Planer boards for that lake. [fishon]
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As I produce no motor noise at all, I don't need planer boards. I troll Flicker Shads at up to 2.5 mph, but switch to a RatlTrap above that. When I'm ambitious (or dumb) enough to troll two rods, I'll tie on one of each. The Flicker dives deeper, so that covers two depth ranges.
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How far behind the planner boards do you run your lures?
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Depends on your bait and fish your after. Just run the bait where you want to fish . Then attach the planner board.
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That makes sense. I don’t have line counter reels so it is a little guess work for me and I’m really a newbie at trolling (just got a boat this year). I’ve been a fly fisherman my whole life so I’m really just figuring this out. I appreciate everyone’s advice and any tips to help me catch a few more wipers and walleye is appreciated.
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