06-01-2014, 06:57 PM
Kory, Randy and I fished Willard yesterday. Had to wait a few minutes for the gate to automatically open, at 6:00 AM, at the north marina. Got launched and was going to try the now-famous crappie spot outside of the marina, but alas the wind was just too strong to effectively fish for them.
Started heading towards the island trolling for walleye and wiper. Kory and Randy picked up an occasional one as we proceeded south. Got in the parade of boats trolling west of the island and picked up a couple walleye there. I decided it was not fun fishing with so many other boats, so I headed south again.
I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to catch a fish when I finally hooked up. Landed the largest perch I have ever caught, at 13 inches. We picked up a few more fish in the area and then started trolling towards the west dike. No action for awhile until something strong hit my pole and broke off my should-be-replaced-soon line. The planer board was still attached so we motored back and retrieved it, to only have the fish break off for a second time.
Pulled in the lines and motored over to the west dike. Using the electric trolling motor, we slowly headed north casting jigs along the west dike. I was surprised to see the water so low that none of the large rocks were in the water. Only Kory caught anything along the west dike -- a smallmouth bass.
Reeled in again and motored close to the light pole. Threw out the trolling lines again and we trolled about 1/2 of the way across without so much as a nibble. I told Randy it was ok if he wanted to troll away from the dike. He did so, and after only traveling a short distance we came across an active school of wipers, with an occasional walleye thrown it. They were still hitting when we had to leave around 3:30.
Fun day, with great fishing friends, especially after I finally started catching my share of fish.
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Started heading towards the island trolling for walleye and wiper. Kory and Randy picked up an occasional one as we proceeded south. Got in the parade of boats trolling west of the island and picked up a couple walleye there. I decided it was not fun fishing with so many other boats, so I headed south again.
I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to catch a fish when I finally hooked up. Landed the largest perch I have ever caught, at 13 inches. We picked up a few more fish in the area and then started trolling towards the west dike. No action for awhile until something strong hit my pole and broke off my should-be-replaced-soon line. The planer board was still attached so we motored back and retrieved it, to only have the fish break off for a second time.
Pulled in the lines and motored over to the west dike. Using the electric trolling motor, we slowly headed north casting jigs along the west dike. I was surprised to see the water so low that none of the large rocks were in the water. Only Kory caught anything along the west dike -- a smallmouth bass.
Reeled in again and motored close to the light pole. Threw out the trolling lines again and we trolled about 1/2 of the way across without so much as a nibble. I told Randy it was ok if he wanted to troll away from the dike. He did so, and after only traveling a short distance we came across an active school of wipers, with an occasional walleye thrown it. They were still hitting when we had to leave around 3:30.
Fun day, with great fishing friends, especially after I finally started catching my share of fish.
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