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Willard Nov 2, 2013
#1
SkunkedAgain, I have never been on Cutler, but I have seen Cats caught there and in the river that were quite respectable size. Since Willard is the only place I have caught Cats on a trolled lure, it is the only body of water I can speak to with any experience. I don't care much for any of the commercial stink baits. Never had a lot of luck with them, and they are well named, they stink ! [Wink]

Went to Willard yesterday. Toted my chair, poles, tackle box, thermos of coffee, and bag of worms from the top of the ramp (north) area all the way out to the exposed curve of land on the north side of marina outlet. Got my chair set up, my coffee poured, and my first line baited up with a night crawler, and cast out about 20 - 30 yards. Been out in that area in my boat and know it's about 4-7 feet deep there. Just set the pole down on top of my tackle box and started baiting up the second pole, and first one jiggled a bit, then slammed down and line stripped off the reel like a boat had gone by and snagged it. Got a handle on it, tightened up the drag some, and the pole started to bend pretty good, and the line was running north , parallel to the shore line. At first I thought I had hooked a Carp, but got the fish in on the shallows and could see one of WB cookie cutter Cats. Nice fillet and fry size, and since I released all my catches last week, I had come prepared to keep a few yesterday. Since the second pole was baited and ready, I cast it out in same general area, and commenced to get the first one off the hook and on to the stringer. Barely got the stringer tied to the leg of my chair and starting to pour my first cup of hot coffee, and WHAM !, there went the second pole. Another cookie cutter Cat, and on the stringer. Great start. 2 Cats on the stringer in 10 minutes, had not even had chance to set down or take first drink of coffee. Finally got both lines re baited and set out, got my backside in my chair, and was enjoying sun now coming up above the mountains and a cup of coffee, and SLAM, # 3 hit. Definitely not of the cookie cutter variety. Not the biggest in the lake, but respectable size, and lots of fight. Got him on the stringer, and then had another 2 hours of calm and quiet. During that interval, 2 fishing boats came out of the north marina, and headed west .
Had my 4th nibble about 1130, and was back to the cookie cutters. Wasn't but about 45 minutes after that, the wind came up very suddenly from the south and the boats were coming back in, I decided that 1/2 of a limit was good for the day. Took those Cats home and they now are residents of my deep freeze for the next fish fry. I don't usually worry too much about the weight of fish, but had to put the bigger one on the scale before I filleted it, Just shy of 5 lbs.
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
    Or so it says on my license plate holder
                                 
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#2
Willard was where I caught my first trolling channel cat and I decided if they hit there I'll bet they will on Cutler. So after lots of trial and errors and lost rigs TD helped me out with some tips that made it work. Glad you had a great day on the bay. Those cats really slowed down for me so that was a great day. Way to go. Later J
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#3
I was going to ask if you were a member on BFT when I talked to you yesterday. I remembered you were fishing in that general area a week ago and I was wondering if it could be you, now I know. I did not get out too early because the catching has been so slow but the main reason for my trip was to test out a new trolling motor. I did end up with on 18" cat but the wind put an end to the catching pretty quick. I'll have to say the cat I caught gave me a good fight. Good going on your catch, especially the big one.
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#4
hey that sink looks just like mine...... minus the fish. LOL
Good job humpy
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#5
WH2, was that you I talked to at the ramp Saturday? There were 2 guys in a old red and white Four Winns (? I think) launching, and you had the Crestliner (?) tied up at the dock?
I had been out there almost 2 hours by then. I fill 2 thermoses of coffee, but with all the other stuff, could only carry one on the first trip out to that point. So when it was finished I brought it in to swap with the second one, and brought in my outer coat and quilted coveralls as it was warming up nice. By then I had caught the first 3 including the big one.


Nice to put a face and a boat with the BFT screen name. Have seen you at WB quite a few times.
I will try to fish there again this Friday or Saturday maybe, if the weather allows.
[signature]
"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
    Or so it says on my license plate holder
                                 
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#6
Yes, that was me and my boat was tied up to the dock but it is not a Crestliner, here is my boat.
[url "javascript:;"][Image: boatpicsnew_002.jpg][/url]

Depending on the weather, I might be there as well, if I'm by my self again, maybe you can just jump in my boat and you can show me some hot spots a little out from the shore?
By the way, I'm sorry but I detatched your Willard report from the other thread and changed the title. I'm the one that moves the old post to the arcives and in most years, good post like yours are few and far between for Willard in Nov. Thanks for understanding.
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#7
I was wondering what happened to my reply there earlier today, then I figured I must have not pushed send... Now I know it was just moved to a new home... Later J
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#8
WH2. OK not a Crestliner. Couldn't see it too good from where I was. But a nice boat anyway. I had a 2004 Lund 1700 Pro Sport for a couple years. All the aluminum fishin boats in the 17' to 20' range look pretty close to the same from a distance.
Don't know about showing you any hot spots at WB. I'm sure you have fished there more than I have. And just about the time I think I have something figured out, it changes. WB is probably one of the most consistently exasperating places I've ever fished. But on the other hand, it can feel quite rewarding when you finally get everything to click just right and you have a good day.
[signature]
"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
    Or so it says on my license plate holder
                                 
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#9
Nice kitty collection there. Sounds like a fun way to start the day. How early did you start? That ones a lunk, two footer or so?

Gotta love and hate it have two poles runnung at once, and not enuf hands to manage em all! Gets the blood pumping!

Thanks for the report.
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#10
CS, I got out to WB that Sat. about 745 AM. Was enough lite to see, but sun wasn't fully up over the mountains. After using the outhouse (yep, bathrooms were closed and locked) and getting my stuff all gathered up, then walking from the parking lot to the point I was fishing off of, it was about 825 when I got line in the water. First 3 hits were all in first 30 minutes.
The largest Cat was 4.12 lbs. and just at 21" but Fat.
[signature]
"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
    Or so it says on my license plate holder
                                 
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