Willard, nice day but.........

[Tin-Can]

......no fish [] Except for getting skunked, again, my report today would look much like Tube dude's the other day.

But one plus to pass on........the south marina cleaning station is up, open, and running.

One negative: The east side dock needs to be pulled in again. About a good 8-10 ft "moat" between the dock walk way and dry pavement.

A copycat comment: Most water I think I have ever seen in Willard. South marina area 6-8 fow at the dock, quickly gets to almost 15 fow. The channel is 17 to 20 fow, at the buoy line about 14 fow, and even out in freeway bay 20 fow plus.

In several spots I can stand up on the rear deck of my boat and almost see over the dike wall.
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[BURLEY]

I hit Willard from the North at around 7 am and trolled South. Marked large fish almost everywhere, but bites were few. Touched the Island and headed back Northwest. First bites about 10am 1/4 mile from island with a double walleye hookup. Around 16 & 18 inches. Put on ice. Trolled toward light pole and west dike. 12 noon before next bite, but it was a 28 inch walleye. All were caught on deep diving crank baits in both crawdad pattern and shad pattern in 25 fow trolling 2.3-3.0 mph. Tried rattletraps and soft plastics with no luck. I was after wipers, but will gladly take eyes instead. Better eating by far. Left the bay around 2 pm. Used smelly-jelly shrimp attractant. No boils. Bugs were thick as normal. Glad they don't bite, but what a mess. keep your mouth shut and drinks covered. Water temp 62-66 degrees.
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[Hook_set]

I have been wanting to go to Willard Bay for wiper. Thanks for the fishing report, I will hold off for a few weeks.
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[EyLayo]

Bummer no pics of the big one. Do you notice much difference between scent or not on your crankbaits?
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[EyLayo]

Thanks for checking on the cleaning station. Now we just need a reason to use it.
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[Tin-Can]

Was one guy using it when I was getting my boat road ready. Looked like he had a few Catfish. And he left it clean and empty.....thanks to whomever he was. []
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[fishgiver]

We trolled past the island and along the west dike but got no love. Used bottom bouncer and #5 crank at varying speeds .
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[BURLEY]

I repeated the trip yesterday and didn't do as well. No bites until I got North of light pole. caught one 16" walleye and a fat 20" wiper. We probably crossed paths a couple times. I have a red Tracker with a tall bimini top. The netting is only to provide a little shade while anchored.

[inline boat01.jpg]
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[doitall5000]

Really like your boat. I to have a 16 ft. Bass tracker with a new top on it. But my boat is 20 years old, not so pretty.
How do you like the top? Does it get in the way when fishing?
Which way do you lay it down.?
I plan on willard this Wednesday let me know if your around then.
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[BURLEY]

Thanks. I bought the 56" tall top so that my 6 foot friends could stand under it. 6'4" from floor to top. I positioned it so that it can lay either backwards or forwards. Take care to position it so that your raised motor doesn't hit it. When folded forward, it rests on the raised trolling motor on one side and the gunnel on the other. I have the Tracker Pro-Guide 16, not sure how it would be on the Bass Tracker. I removed the back side straps and put just a single strap in the center. This gets in the way a lot less than the side straps. When we hook a sturgeon, I undo the single back strap and the top falls forward out of the way. The top is a must have while fishing anchored in the sun. Probably 15-20 degrees cooler plus it keeps the floor cool.
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[BURLEY]

Wednesday is a no go, daughter is having surgery.
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[Tin-Can]

I like that netting on your shade top. Would love to put something like that on my top, but able to go all the way around. Kind of like having skeeter netting over a hammock when I was deployed to some of the more "buggy" locals in the world. Would sure be nice when slow drifting or anchored out on Willard. May help reduce the Deer fly and Horse fly bites when I'm on the Bear River also. My 14' Lund has a high top so I can stand under it, but that screen looks quite handy.

Did you make that, or purchase it somewhere?
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[BURLEY]

It was camo netting that I got from Smith & Edwards that I used for a ground blind during my archery hunting years. I used it here so that I could have some shade, but still be able to watch rods through it. I sewed a 1" loop on the top and bottom that a cord goes through and the bottom is tied down as necessary in an easy to release knot. I use a similar piece of netting that I sew into a sock type head net to keep the gnats at bay while fishing Willard.
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[Tin-Can]

Thanks for that info Burley. Just may have to give it a try.[inline "(05a) Bimini top stowed in boot.jpg"]

I don't have a photo of my top up and opened. But this is how it is stowed. With it just behind the front bench, it has never blown up while traveling. Now I have it secure to those bow cleats with para-cord, so it always stays put.
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