Willard Wednesday 8/21

[smokepoles]

Had planned to hit either Echo or Hyrum today for bass. But both are low and dropping, according to reports. Hit Willard instead. Arrived at 7 to see "footer" waves rolling from the SE. Launched and motored over to the far dikes to see if I could drift parallel to them. Not quite. Had to spend a lot of time bumping the trolling motor to stay off the rocks, but had a dink smallie in the boat within s few minutes. They always find a Ned rig irresistible. 

Lost the Ned on a rock and tied on a mini spinner bait. Just as the wind really picked up, went serious bendo. (Why do I always catch the monsters on my smallest rods?) Fought it and the wind until both of us were exhausted. Finally got offshore enough to get the big cat in the net. Didn't tape him, but looked to be well over 26" based on my net rim. 

Couldn't hold a direct line back to the north marina because of the whitecaps breaking over my gunwale. Angled in parallel to the waves and then angled to the buoys. My Tracker Classic is NOT a big wave boat. Still got soaked. 

The cleaning station bozos left it clogged again. I got it partly cleared by repeatedly dropping my cat's carcass in until some of the clog broke. Still not perfectly cleared. Best I could do. What few fishing boats had launched were all coming in, but one skier was launching as I left. I never did notice water temps and ignored my fish finders. Home by 11.

Indeed Hyrum is low but can still easily launch as clear from the power squad who was out early the last couple days, maybe getting in last horrah before school gets in full swing here in Cache Valley or to beat the afternoon t-storms that have been popping up.  Still, the fish are somewhere in what water there is  .  Guess you pick your poison - find the wind waves on Willard or the power squad bathtub of Hyrum.