More Willard Wipers

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]TubeBabe still has not caught a wiper this year, so we changed our plans from Jordanelle to Willard...AGAIN. Launched our tubes at the N. Marina about 6:30. Calm, partly cloudy with nice pictures for launching. Water temp 79 at launch. Up a few degrees from our last trip. Water level also down a few inches since our last trip. Still plenty of water to launch almost any size boat, but if it keeps dropping that might change.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Did the usual. Dragged a minnow on one rod and threw a succession of crankbaits and plastics with the other rod. Nary a bump on hardbaits. Threw a 2" pearl tube jig onto a hump out in the middle of nowhere and got the lovely SMACK of a wiper. Zing zing went the drag. Smileyface on me. The first of two 19 inchers. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The second came on a minnow fished on the bottom in 12 feet of water about 15 minutes after the first one. That was all we got for wipers today. Fished minnows on bottom, under a bobber and dropshot style. Only kitties after the first two wipers. But, as usual, TubeBabe and I got a good bit of exercise with those "whiskery wipers". Only kept a few each and threw back a bunch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It had been fairly calm all morning, with breezes shifting first from one direction and then from another. Completely different from the forecast...as usual.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]About 10 AM we noticed another "floatation craft" coming out of the marina. A small pontoon. Did not recognize the angler. But, he evidently recognized the "infamous one" and kicked over to chat...first with TubeBabe and then with me...after TB assured him I would not give him the same welcome that I would a PWC operator.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Anglerdan and I had a good visit and I "downloaded" some info and custom rigging tips...including one of my little red hook thingies. Anglerdan promptly caught a nice little cookie kitty on it. Darn. I actually get it right once in a while.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A semi strong "Willard ripple" from the west started coming up about 11 and we had to be back in SLC early, so we bagged it and left Anglerdan to finish off his limit by his ownself. Hope he did well.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water temp was over 82 as we kicked into the marina. Good timing. A lineup of boats and PWCs were starting to hit the ramp. I may have saved a marriage by helping get a boat launched. If I do that any more I am liable to lose my Utah license.[/#0000ff]
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[tubeN2]

Nice report as usual and way to go on Wyping some Cookies.

I found out that we have some Wypers in one of my local lakes too. On your next trip down here, we will have to play with some.[cool]
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[Majja]

HE LIVES ... welcome back.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Love to catch wipers...even foo foo California ones. What lake is it and how big do they grow in there?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Willard is a fairly shallow lake by wiper standards and with a short growning season they seldom get over about 5 to 6 pounds. State record was caught last year...10 pounds, but that is a rarity.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Over in Colorado there are several wiper ponds that kick out fish over 20 pounds. That would put a serious bend in your bluegill rod.[/#0000ff]
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[Majja]

That would be fun a 20lb wiper ... WOOOO HOOOO So are any of these Colorado Lakes very Close as fas as Colorado Standards are concearned?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]No "Close" wiper lakes that I know of. The best is Pueblo Reservoir but there are several out in the "prairie" too. Nee Noshe used to have the state record, but I think it is now from Pueblo.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can Google them.[/#0000ff]
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[Floatin_n_Maine]

Those sure look fun to catch. Wish we had em' up here in Maine.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, you have plenty of great fishing in Maine. Wipers would be a nice addition, but we don't have a lot of the great trout, bass and salmon fishing you guys have.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I guess there is no place in the country that has everything for everybody. And, us humans are never satisfied, no matter how good we have it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The wipers are usually planted as a "controllable" species. They are sterile hybrids that are not likely to permanantly change the ecology of a given water. They generally plant them to control an overpopulation of "nuisance" species...like chubs or shiners. Wipers are eating machines that grow fast and provide great sport and then die out in 5 or 6 years.. But, in a balanced water they are seldom needed and can do more harm than good.[/#0000ff]
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