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I took my family to Willard this mornining to see if we could find some wipers and kittys to play... we didn't get disapointed. Water temp this morning was 66 degrees (69 degrees when we left) and water clarity is zero.. We trolled for the first 2 hrs and got a few hits on a chartruse #5 rattleing rapala. No hookups... kind of seemed walleyeish. Then we decided to anchore up and try for some kittys. We tried dead salt water mussels (I read one of Tin-Cans reports useing them...Thanks!) for the first time and that was the ticket. It started with a Wiper every 20 min and ended with one every 5 min with kittys intermixed. My kids said we should call the Wipers inland tuna because of how they act and fight on the line. I think those mussels lay down a sent trail so that the longer you stay in one spot the more the fish hone in to them with the water visibility being so low. My son had a 10 min battle with a 8lbs carp. He got quite the kick out of it and so did I watching him battle it. It was given a complimentery gillectomy then released unharmed. I love to chase boils and troll for the wipers but until the water clears up I think bait will be more productive. I will post up some pictures later today when my wife can help me (yes I am basically computer illiterate). The power squadren came out mid-day as expected but stayed to the north end of the lake. After I got my boat loaded back up I watched the power sqaudren at the ramp to get a few chuckles. Its always good entertainment!
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Nice report, good to hear a few members are able to catch wipers out there. Sounds like I better change my tactics and try bait instead of trolling. It is always fun watching inexperienced folks unloading or loading boats[crazy].
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Thanks for the update. Looking to get up there this week or next.
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Cowboy Up!
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I doubt the water clarity or level will improve this year - or at least not until winter.
I intend to hit Willard again anyway, and will likely just drift and drag bait when I do. I think I'll target those wallipercats exclusively.
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Here are some pictures.
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Sounds like you and the kids had a great day.
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Sounds and looks like you had a great day on the water with the family, thanks for posting the pictures. [fishin]
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Northman, looks like the Mussels did the job. But in typical Willard Bay fashion, I was out there yesterday (Monday) and used up an entire 1 lb. bag of them.....NADA. [:/] The night crawlers did OK, and I actually caught my first fish right out of the marina on a Rat-L-Trap (and a Cat at that)..[laugh]
Those look like some Wipers with good size shoulders. Bet they gave the kids some good runs.
Good report and great pictures......[fishin]
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
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What a difference a day can make! I couldn't find any mussels in the frozen section that weren't already flavored so I went with uncooked mussels in the shells. After I shucked them it was like trying to put snot on a hook and getting it to stick. About every 5th mussel it was a no Bueno. Then we had to cast nice and easy to keep the snot from flying off the hook. I didn't put any mussels in my mouth but their scent was so strong I know exactly what they taste like.
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I've been able to find 1 lb. bags of mussels (out of the shell) pre-cooked, but no flavor added like the boxed ones, sometimes at WinCo, sometimes at Wal-Mart. They stay on the hook (just a little better than the raw snot ...lol [laugh] ). I use t hem when I'm anchored and dropping bait off the bottom. With the mussels, I don't try to cast them at all. Just kind of a soft underhand toss to put them out from the boat a ways. Sometimes I don't even have a weight on the line. I soft toss the mussel on a large bait hook, and is sinks at a slower rate. Have had several pretty hard hits as it falls. But rarely does anything work for me 2 times in a row at Willard. Always a small variation
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
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Forest, here is a tip to try with the mussels, take them out of the shell and let them sit in the sun for an hour or so, they stay on the hook much better.[shocked]
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Yep, they sure do. I have even recently tried tying them into a small mesh material, wrapped around a treble hook, like we used to do for Catfish dough........jury is still out on that.............
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
