Tubing Willard?

[pleasantmisery]

I've read a few posts about fishing Willard from a float tube or from the shore, and with the water level dropping I been thinking about giving it a try.
I've always trolled out by the light pole or along the east dike.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions about where to put a tube in, or any tips for getting into fish without having to paddle all over the place.
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[TubeDude]

[url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][cool][/url][#0000ff]With the water level dropping rapidly, you will soon need either a cartop boat, pontoon, kayak or float tube to fish anywhere but off the shore at Willard. As a dedicated tubaholic, I can't say that I miss the power squadron (PWCs and skiers), but hate to see fellow BFT wiper chasers kept off the water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The good news is that you can launch almost anywhere around the perimeter of the dike where there is road access to the base of the dike. You do have to negotiate the rocks to get down to the water, but with the water level being lower than the bottom of the rocks, there are many sandy beaches ideal for launching floatation craft. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The rough dirt road that runs around the south and west sides of the dikes will allow you to drive to the area of the light pole. I have launched and fished that area from a tube successfully, even when the water was higher and I had to launch from the rocks.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]BE CAREFUL when you are going down those rocks. Pick your way carefully, and do not try to take everything in one trip. Carry everything up to the top of the dike from your vehicle, where you can keep watch on it. Then, take your gear down in two or three trips. Same thing for the return.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You cannot troll to locate the fish as well from a float tube, but there are usually some hanging in the usual areas. If you fish methodically, and keep changing lures and techniques, you will usually hook something. Of course, having a sonar on your craft will aid in your search for fish. And, if you are lucky enough to have a couple of boils within kicking range, you can get into some great topwater, without idiot water skiers running over the top of you.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Won't be long now until Willard is the exclusive domain of "flotation fishermen".[/#0000ff]
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[pleasantmisery]

Awesome post.
Thanks for the tips.
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[mateo]

I was out at Willard last night in my pontoon. I was going to try to get around paying the $9.00 entrance fee by launching at the inlet channel, but that's gated now. There's no water in the south marina except for some puddles. There's really not much water in the north marina either, but there's enough for boats to launch.
They seemed to be having trouble getting in and out of the marina, but the jet ski's weren't.

All in all it was a pretty quiet evening. A few boats, a few jet ski's, and one small catfish on a rapala. I tried trolling prism shad but didn't have any takers.

I started having the same thought process that you're having. I'd be better off taking my tube and launching off the dike. The pontoon with the motor and the battery would be a recipe for a broken leg at the least, but i think it'd be manageable with the tube.

Good luck when you go.
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[fishinfool]

Yada,yada.[url "javascript: addTag('')"][img]../../images/gforum/.gif[/img][/url]
Rub it in tube dude.
I was out there last week and the light pole area is where I would fish also,if I was going to tube it.

Just kidding with ya tubedude,you always have great posts.thanks.

later,FNF
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[TubeDude]

[url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][cool][/url][blue]Hey fool, I can take it. I'm a big boy...too big.[/blue]
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[blue]For those who do not know my past, I was probably one of the first "donut dunkers" to hit Willard, back in the mid 70's. I have tubed just about the entire perimeter of Willard, trying to learn it in the days before good sonar. Also in the days before smallmouth, perch and wipers.[/blue]
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[blue]I did a lot of fishing for crappies, walleyes and cats...days and nights. Some nights I would be the only soul on the whole lake, and catching fish all night long. Of course, there used to be water in that pond too.[/blue]
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[blue]It is that the water users and the drought have teamed up to reduce poor old Willard Bay to the shape it is in today. Perhaps the only positive thing about the whole disaster is that the lake has been turned into an ideal lake for float tubing. That's what we look for...water that is not as easily fished by boat or from the shore.[/blue]
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[blue]Maybe a good fall flotilla of BFT float tubers would be in order when I get back up there after the first of August. It would be a hoot to get a team of tubers up there keeping the wipers exercised since they can't be chasing down trolled Producers. I'd be willing to bet that if we could scare up some extra tubing gear that the diehard boaters might even be tempted to go afloat...on the off chance they could hook a fish or two.[/blue]
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