04-26-2022, 02:14 PM
(04-26-2022, 01:41 PM)wiperhunter2 Wrote: Glad a few kitties came out to play yesterday for you Pat. Looks like the water was much clearer for you compared to last weeks report. This time of year the catching can sure be on and off.I think the fishermen are ready before the fish are this year. At least a two week lag over "normal" in terms of water temps. My logs show that until the water temps stay above 55...and move ever higher...that is when the wipers move in closer to shore for their annual foolishness...and when the post spawn walleyes go on the chew.
We put all our eggs in one basket yesterday by counting on a good bite on the faster troll and that did not prove to be a smart move. We are planning another trip out on Weds with 2knots and will for sure be bringing fligs on that trip and fishing much slower. One good thing to report, we were marking a lot of suspended fish between the Island and Freeway way, so they were there, we just could not make the conection, even though we tried just about all our normal go to Willard lures. We think it was likely just a slow day but from past experience, we also know that when the water level changes it also changes the way the fish bite and it can take a few trips to dial in the new pattern, at least for trolling cranks. Maybe a couple more days of stable weather will make a difference as well.
Right now the mussel dunkers (wiper bank tanglers) have brief flurries of activity...but only when late afternoon water temps get the inshore zone warm enough for the wipers to move in. Otherwise, they seem to stay out in deeper water...suspended and not active...until conditions improve. Anglers who look back on their reports and say "Hey, I caught wipers on Flickr Shads at this time 2 years ago" don't make the connection that the water was a lot warmer at this time two years ago.
I'm guessing that our Willard get together will be during an ideal time. Wipers should be active and whatever crappies are left should be playing also. And if you got crawler harness rigs, the walleye should vote for those too. I'm thinking that the anglers amongst us will do well on that day. (Weather permitting)