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[size 2]Been trying to get out to Willard with a neighbor in the neighborhood I just moved to. Finally made it out this evening. Launched at about 4:30 and fished till after dark. Water temps were around 82*.
Tried my new lead core line setup with no success so we went back to tried and true stuff for this time of year out there. I am pretty sure that the lead core line is taking us down too deep. I suspect that the fish are looking up where the shad are running these hot summer days. But, I will definitely be back into the lead core line next year for the early walleyes.
My neighbor, Merlin, was the first to pick up a wiper. This was his first ever wiper.
[inline "Merlin's-1st-wiper.jpg"]
He got the next two and I was sure he was about to fish me into the dust! Have you ever taken someone fishing that you thought you could teach … only to find out that they can spank you all the way to the black board and make you write 100 times "Hey, this dude knows his stuff when it comes to fishing".
We seen birds diving into a boil and caught two more there. Then we trolled out to deeper water and caught a few bigger ones out west of the island.
On our way in for the night the sunset was burning as usual.
[inline Sunset.jpg]
We had boated 7 wipers, kept 4, and lost 3 (one of which took a prized prism shad).
[inline Stringer-of-wipers.jpg]
Then just before we quit, Merlin says "Let's cast out one more time for the road". Next thing I know, his real is screaming once more with another nice wiper.
Ya know your visitor had a good time when he asks you "Have you ever had a better fishing trip on Willard than this?". Tonight, I'd have to say "no".
BOY I enjoyed my company tonight. Thanks for joining me Merlin.[/size]
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I think we saw you guys coming out to the island as we(me and a fishing buddy in my tin boat) were leaving that area to fish another spot - we fished until about 6:30 pm. We were the ugly dudes in my little "greenish" tin boat and I was wearing my straw hat - Merlin's straw hat is why I think we saw you guys(As we were leaving the island area and saw you guys approaching to fish it, my buddy said " I need to get me one of those comfy looking straw hats ").
We saw boils all day long all around us. But most of the fish we caught were from trolling right behind the boils. My buddy used lead line on one of his poles(2 pole permit) and caught 5 catfish doing it - I caught one catfish with my lead line(I used other methods mostly). We were using a variety of different presentations during the day and trolling was the most successfull method for us - however, we did catch 2 wipers and one walleye and half a dozen catfish by just drifting and dragging or casting our offerings. The fish we caught were not really deep(except one catfish that was on the bottom at the deepest part of the lake), but they were in the common areas associated with what little structure there is in Willard - i.e. the trough, feed lot and island - we got nothing by casting, trolling or drifting by the rocks of the dikes or in open water. For us, the bite was consistant all day long and we seemed to have a fish on quite regularly all day long.
You know, now that you mention it, it's kind of funny - a lot of times, I have showed someone how to fish a certain method, they have regularly out fished me(especially kids). I don't get it either.
But here's the caveat - It's always been my position, if you want someone to fish with you again in your boat, or, you are in their boat, Let them out fish you ! Just a thought.
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Hey good report.
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Ralph you stud ] Sounds like a great little trip around the pond. sorry to hear about the lost prism though[unsure]. I always hate to loosing tackle. Oh well, at least you got a first timer into those wipers.
p.s. Petty and I are wondering when are we gonna have a contest for those milk shakes?
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Way to go Ralph! I'm sure that you made your neighbor's day.
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"[size 1]It's always been my position, if you want someone to fish with you again in your boat, or, you are in their boat, Let them out fish you ! Just a thought."[/size]
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[size 1]Hey Chuck, I think I will adopt that philosopy. Better to claim that when I am outfished that it was intentional on my part rather than admitting that the other person might be a better angler (LOL)![/size]
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Nice post old coot,I know Ill never forget that first wiper you got me.[  ]
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As I recall kent, you outfished me the first time we fished together in your boat. I guess that's why you haven't invited me since[sly]. Just kiddin!!!
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Chad, you recall correctly (I just looked it up and it was almost exactly a year ago -- July 31st) -- you must have really faked it good that day because lately it seems everyone outfishes me (except usually not for sturgeon -- thank goodness!). It would be a pleasure to have you on my boat again anytime (and not just because of your graciousness in allowing me to out catch ya).
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How time does fly. A year ago I would have considered myself extremely lucky to get to go fishing for an entire day, let alone at strawberry. Now that the baby is a little older and I am a little smarter, my wife allows me a slightly longer leash[sly]..
As I recall, the fishing wasn't terribly hot anyway, but you still outfished me. Boy how I would love to redeem myself on one of your sturgeon trips[ ].
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[size 1]Fishing at Strawberry was downright poor.[/size]
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[size 1]"Boy how I would love to redeem myself on one of your sturgeon trips[ ]."[/size]
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[size 1]Hold on there Chad -- outfish me on a sturgeon trip -- and you may never get back on my boat again! (LOL maybe just kiddin') Then again, it may be worth it to you because catching a 7 or 8 foot sturgeon can give one memories to last a lifetime. BTW -- I just added your name to my list of folks who want to go sturgeon fishing.[/size]
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Sounds like another great day at Willard. Like SpiderWelder, Old_Coot helped me boat my first Wiper (Thanks again Ralph! [ ]). When my dad and I went out with Old_Coot he didn't even put his line in the water. He just let us catch all the fish. It sure didn't make it too hard to out-fish him! [ ] Seriously though, Ralph is a great fishing partner that I look forward to fishing with again soon.
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Hi Ralph,
Thanks for the report and the pictures. We don't have any wipers around Vernal, just windshield wipers, and we don't need them very often.[cool] I guess that's Merlin with my straw hat on.
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[laugh]Hey Coot
Looks like someone is eating wiper tonight. Nice string keep it up.
Scottieb
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[font "Arial Black"][red][size 3] Coot, ole buddy, we are going to have to hook up one of these days. been a long time since you and I got together.[/size][/red][/font]
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[font "Arial Black"][#ff0000][size 3] AFDan52[/size][/#ff0000][/font]
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