09-10-2018, 11:38 PM
[#0000FF]First of all, I ain't a "elitist". I don't just chase catfish and disdain anything else. Actually, the lures, baits and techniques I use catch all species in Willard. I have lots of pictures of crappies, wipers and walleyes with my "standard" baits and lures hanging out of their kissers. Most fish in that pond make a living on the same forage base so they also hit the same lures and baits. Of course you may have to vary your presentations to appeal more to one species or another.
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[#0000FF]But...when the numbers of wipers and walleyes are at the current low levels I am plenty happy to get tugs from catfish. They hit hard, fight hard and eat good.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Most of the (very few) skunk days I have had on Willard have been while "washing lures" while riding in someone's boat...fishing for wipers and/or walleyes. And my best days of fishing for both species have happened while fishing my ubiquitous stuff and lucking into some active fish of those species. I'm always properly grateful when that happens and do not take it for granted.
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[#0000FF]Wiper numbers are abysmally low. Walleye numbers are (supposedly) better, but with the warm weather and abundant food (shad) the walleyes are just not actively foraging during daylight hours. And they don't have to chase the silly stuff anglers put in front of them to stay healthy.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I do anticipate (hope for) some better fishing during October and into November...for ABC (anything besides catfish).
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[#0000FF]But...when the numbers of wipers and walleyes are at the current low levels I am plenty happy to get tugs from catfish. They hit hard, fight hard and eat good.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Most of the (very few) skunk days I have had on Willard have been while "washing lures" while riding in someone's boat...fishing for wipers and/or walleyes. And my best days of fishing for both species have happened while fishing my ubiquitous stuff and lucking into some active fish of those species. I'm always properly grateful when that happens and do not take it for granted.
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[#0000FF]Wiper numbers are abysmally low. Walleye numbers are (supposedly) better, but with the warm weather and abundant food (shad) the walleyes are just not actively foraging during daylight hours. And they don't have to chase the silly stuff anglers put in front of them to stay healthy.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I do anticipate (hope for) some better fishing during October and into November...for ABC (anything besides catfish).
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