Cool Cats at Willard 10-23-07

[TubeDude]

[cool][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1][size 3][blue][font "Times New Roman"]I needed a fishin’ fix. Three weeks is too long without fishing. TubeBabe was gonna be busy and nobody else chimed in so I went solo. Needed a brainbroom anyway, with all the “activity” lately.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Arrived at the North Marina about 7 AM. Air temp 35. Left auger in car but wore my gloves. Launched about 7:30. Glad for the neoprenes. Water temp 48 in the shallow marina and 49.4 outside. Water somewhere between cappuccino and chocolate milk. Ugly. Light northerly breeze that stayed steady all morning.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Surprised to see that the water level has not dropped noticeably since last month. Guess maybe it is stabilized. Only two feet deep off the end of the ramp, but drops quickly to 4’. Channel stays about 5’-6’ until the shallow 2’ bar across the mouth of the entrance. Also very uneven bottom. There is 8’-10’ of water for a ways past the shallow entrance, and then about 200 yards straight out there is a sizeable hump that comes up to 18”. I am attaching one pic I took while standing kneedeep on that bar to take the picture. There were also gravel bars both north and south of the channel. Some were out of the water. Some are only inches beneath the surface.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Started out by tossing small plastics as I worked out of the channel. Caught a couple of sluggish little channel cats by pitching to the bank and then bouncing it down to deeper water. Lost one nice crappie doing the same thing. No walleyes.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Once past the shallow spot, I rigged a minnow on my second rod and dragged it to prospect for walleyes or wipers. No luck on either of those, but I did score about a dozen “cookie cutter” catfish…all between 14” and 16”. Got a few more on the little pink plastic jig too.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]While dragging bait on one rod, I rotated through just about every hardbait, spinner and plastic jig I had. Tried all different sizes, colors and retrieves. Not a whack on anything except the little pink thingy…with a piece of worm on it. [/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Kept a few cookie cutters for the fryer and headed in about noon. Water temp had only risen 1 degree to just over 50. Worked the channel on the way back in and got a couple more cats on jigs. Also got to stretch my string on some carp (toothless golden walleye). Fun fun. [/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]All in all a nice day. Nary another soul on the lake or in any of the parking areas. My own private lake today…unless you count the waterfowl. Several different varieties, including some fast moving ducks trying to get away from the shooters over in the marsh. Not much shooting. I guess the bluebird morning did not have a lot of birds flying.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I did see one flock of ducks that were masquerading as pelicans. They had on their white coats and large beaks to confuse the hunters. Pretty good disguise, too. Fooled me.[/font]
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[/size][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30353;"][#333366] DAYBREAK LAUNCH.jpg [/#333366][/url](182 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30354;"][#333366] FIRST KITTY.jpg [/#333366][/url](140 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30355;"][#333366] EXPOSED BAR SOUTH.jpg [/#333366][/url](204 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30356;"][#333366] EXPOSED BAR NORTH.jpg [/#333366][/url](185 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30357;"][#333366] KNEEDEEP 200 YDS. OUT.jpg [/#333366][/url](222 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30358;"][#333366] NORTH BREEZE RIPPLE.jpg [/#333366][/url](235 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30359;"][#333366] COOKIE CUTTER KITTY.jpg [/#333366][/url](193 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30360;"][#333366] CHANNEL CHANNEL.jpg [/#333366][/url](230 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30361;"][#333366] TOOTHLESS GOLDEN WALLEYE.jpg [/#333366][/url](195 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30362;"][#333366] BASKET OF COOKIES.jpg [/#333366][/url](261 KB) [/size][/black][/font][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=30363;"][#333366] NO. MARINA LOW TIDE.jpg [/#333366][/url](148 KB) [/size][/black][/font]
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[Wildcard]

Good work as always, TD!
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[Kent]

Nice report Pat. A few years ago I was boating along (fortunately just trolling speed) in 10 feet of water, and at least 100 yards out in the north east corner of Willard, when my prop hit bottom. That gets one's attention really fast. Probably doesn't get one's heart pumping as quickly when one is on a tube?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Nope. Not too much concern about dinging a prop, tearing out my lower unit or transom when tubing. Sometimes it is a surprise though, when you think you are in deeper water and are not watching the sonar...and start kicking bottom. Your mind can play all kinds of tricks on ya...sea monsters, etc.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, today, when I found the big shallow area, I just took advantage of it to stand up and stretch. The "nether regions" get kinda tired after an extended tubing session. Still, better than a busted prop.[/#0000ff]
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[lavaman]

Fantastic pics! How long do you keep a floatin' before the ice hits? Man, that's gotta be nice and cold.

I can't believe the golden toothless wally hit a jig. Doesn't make sense to me, even though I know you could probably catch a bald eagle or a bull elk on one of your specialty goodies!

No wipers in sight?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I tube as long as there is open water...and even when there isn't [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=242396;#242396"]LINK TO ICE BREAKER[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I also don't let a little snow scare me off. [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=292989;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"]LINK TO TUBE SLEDDIN'[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you can dress right, and proceed sensibly, some of the best fishing is right before and right after ice out. You just need some good layers of warm undies and good neoprene waders. Also need boots and waders that fit right and do not constrict your feet in the cold water. I guarantee that I was warmer in my tube today than most guys would have been in a boat.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I catch lots of carpinskis on jigs. Those today were gathered in less than two feet of water, where a little creek emptied into the marina. I am sure they were waiting for food tidbits. When I cast the small jig near them they rushed it, grabbed it, put the line over their shoulder and then screamed into deeper water like a bonefish on the flats. Love to hear the drag sing and I ain't too particular what kind of fish does it. I even handled them gently and released them without the customary gillectomy.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Bald eagles are illegal to take, in any fashion...and I do not have a tubing tag for the elk. I DO try to stay within the law.[/#0000ff]
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[lavaman]

LOL @ 'tubing tag' for elk.

Those pics from your links were great. I used the timp pic (without the mist) for my wallpaper background here at work. Beautiful photo. I miss hiking up the face of that mtn. (last time I did that was back in '93 when I lived in P.G.)

You are definately a hardcore fisherman, Pat. One of the finest I know.
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[lunkerhunter2]

Glad you got out Pat. In the madness of catching all those fish did you notice any waterfowl flying around?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Only saw a couple of small groups of ducksters winging over the lake. They were hanging low and moving fast, and were far enough away that I couldn't tell what kind they were.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It must not have been a good day for the sky blasters. I didn't hear any shooting at daybreak and then only a few scattered shots after about 8:30. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lots of seagulls, terns and grebes. And, of course, those big beaked ducks.[/#0000ff]
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[orvis1]

Great detailed post as usual! Thanks for sharing.
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