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Just got back from another decent trip to willard. Had a blind man, a young girl, and her dad ... a newbie to Willard. We caught an even dozen between 7:00 and Noon. The fish weren't in the same places today as they were Friday. We had to spend the last hour and a half up in Freeway Bay where our count quickly went from 7 fish to 12 fish. I have no doubt that if we were to stay another 2-3 hours, we would have doubled our count.
Freeway bay is always a good bet to get some wipers but they are generally smaller.
Boy, those wipers are small this year! And they didn't take the same lures as on Friday ... go figure. Long, white lures with ANY color on the back (as long as they were mostly white side and belly) were the ticket for the wipers. The walleye took standard fare walleye lures today.
No pictures today ... same ole ... same ole.
Ran into WiperMack. Good to see ya.
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Good on you, Old_ Coot.
I took my son there yesterday and we got the skunk.
We used standard bottom bouncers and worm harnesses at the Island and Freeway Bay.
I need to find something new to try.
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Oh my my ... I remember once trying bottom bouncers. I sure wasn't any good at it. Seems like I catch enough walleyes just pulling crank baits targeting wiper. Today, we boated (and are eating) five nice eyes ... again, just targeting wiper.
EDIT / UPDATE :
Now that I re-read my original post I said that I used standard walleye lures. For me, that is the Rapalla Tail Dancers in size 5 - 7.
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Folks....what is the best boat ramp to use at Willard? Haven't been there for 20 years, just looking to get some wiper fishing in. How much is the day pass there?
Thanks for any info....
Madmax
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There is only one choice at the moment, the ramps (3) at the south marina. They all work. Day pass is $10.
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It doesn't affect me or my kayak, but I hear that the northern-most of the three ramps at the South Marina can be hazardous to lower units/props because of shallow rocks. If I had an outboard, I'd use the middle or southern ramp only.
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I've used all 3 and had no issues. But my boat is small (16.5' with a 50hp ob). If using the northern most ramp just hug the south side of it. Same for the southern most ramp, hug the north side of it.
On another question... I'm still trying to figure out the Wiper. What colors, sizes, and shapes of crankbaits are you guys using to target them? And at what trolling speed and depth? And what time of day? I"ve been out 3 times in the past 2 weeks and caught a few walleye, but only 1 Wiper. It was in freeway bay on a Cotton Cordell Super Spot lipless, wounded shad color, 1/4 oz (2-1/4" long), trolling about 1.5 mph. I've tried many other types and colors of cranks - Berkley Flicker Shad, Wally Divers, various Rapalas, both shallow and deep divers. Mostly shad imitation shapes & colors. All my trips out there have been in the PM after work. Maybe AM is better?
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Thanks for the info...i just read that boating is restricted to the southern half...due to the diesel cleanup. Maybe ill wait.......
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Not true. Most of the lake is open. Only a small area around the north marina is closed.
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[font "Calibri"]Just wanted to thank the guy that I saw at the South Marina last Friday (5/24) he was cleaning his fish and referred me to this website. I had been to Willard and had not had any luck the last few trips, he was nice enough to show the best way to fillet, then showed me his set up, informed me of trolling speed and length of line. I went to Sportsman’s Warehouse and bought the lures (or close enough to them) and caught 3 good sized Wiper yesterday in about 30 min….Thanks for the tips and information!![/font]
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I would recomend that you bump up your speed to around 2.5 mph using GPS for accuracy. Beginning in late June (when water temps reach around 70), you will want to go even faster at 3.5 mph.
As for lures, the ones you indicated you have tried really should work ok of the wipers. Again, I think you need to bump up your speed.
What I like for lures are ones with shiny white sides and bellies.
I'll send you a copy of my Willard Wiper notes in a PM. Watch for it.
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Welcome to the site Caster. Old_Coot might be the one that gave you the advise on what to use.
WH2
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Thanks for the info on the lake.....will see what the weather brings tomorrow
MadMax
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Guess this old dog need to learn some new tricks.
Thanks for the help.
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Welcome to the site Caster. It was good to talk with you. And even better that you improved your odds. Hang around this site a bit and you'll see that there is plenty to lerarn from many a good fishermen/women here.
EDIT:
Looks like I need to "learn" how to spell "lerarn".
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