Willard today

[wiperhunter2]

Ira and I got up to the North marina today and met up with Alan around 6:30 am. We were on the water and fishing a few minutes later. We started off just north of Freeway bay and picked up three eyes, using BBers, before the action slowed, so we moved to the East run of the Openness. We were marking a ton of fish there but for the most part, they were not interested but we did pick up 4 more eyes and a wiper, the largest eye was over 20". We finally switched over to trolling cranks and headed back to Freeway bay, where we picked up two more eyes. Water temps was 61 degrees and it could have gotten up a little more than that before we left but I did not notice.  Nice day on the water today with good friends, so it was a great day.

[oldguy]

Ira and I got up to the North marina today and met up with Alan around 6:30 am. We were on the water and fishing a few minutes later. We started off just north of Freeway bay and picked up three eyes, using BBers, before the action slowed, so we moved to the East run of the Openness. We were marking a ton of fish there but for the most part, they were not interested but we did pick up 4 more eyes and a wiper, the largest eye was over 20". We finally switched over to trolling cranks and headed back to Freeway bay, where we picked up two more eyes. Water temps was 61 degrees and it could have gotten up a little more than that before we left but I did not notice.  Nice day on the water today with good friends, so it was a great day.

Thanks for sharing Curt any special color of crank?

[Mildog]

Great job, sounds like you guys had a good day! Had to work a bit but sounds like you figured them out and got into some nice fish. Good report, thanks for posting!

[lovetofish]

Thanks for the report. Have you heard of anyone catching any Crappie. Do you know if they have started spawning yet.

[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for the report. Have you heard of anyone catching any Crappie. Do you know if they have started spawning yet.

I haven't heard of anyone catching any crappie at Willard and from the lack of people there on shore, in the marina, it's not the time yet. I think the water temps are still a little cool. As warm as the temps will be getting later this week, it could be very soon.

[wiperhunter2]

Great job, sounds like you guys had a good day! Had to work a bit but sounds like you figured them out and got into some nice fish. Good report, thanks for posting!

The catching is turning on but the really good catching are not quit here yet.

[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for sharing Curt any special color of crank?

We caught them a several colors, I got mine on my chartreuse apex, Alan was using a stripped flicker shad, I'm not sure what Ira caught his on.

[Paddler]

Lots of small walleye this year.  When I was up last Friday a couple came to the cleaning station to clean some fish.  They had a couple of nice walleye and a half dozen that looked to be 12"-14".  They were gutting and scaling them in preparation for cooking them whole.  They also had some small wipers.

I release everything under 16", figure they need to grow a bit.  By the way, all of the fish I've kept were fat, really excellent condition.

I'm heading up sometime today, hopefully the warmer weather will help the bite.

[wiperhunter2]

Lots of small walleye this year.  When I was up last Friday a couple came to the cleaning station to clean some fish.  They had a couple of nice walleye and a half dozen that looked to be 12"-14".  They were gutting and scaling them in preparation for cooking them whole.  They also had some small wipers.

I release everything under 16", figure they need to grow a bit.  By the way, all of the fish I've kept were fat, really excellent condition.

I'm heading up sometime today, hopefully the warmer weather will help the bite.

Yes, lots of little ones this year, our smallest were 14" but most averaged 16", those big 20 inchers, dwarf the smaller ones and agreed, lots of fat inside them. Within the next month, most of those fat deposits will be gone, that's when the big crank bite starts in earnest. I release all wipers, just don't care for their taste. Hope you are doing good out there today. It will be interesting to hear what the water temps get up to today.

[Paddler]

Water temp 67F to start, rose to 70F later. It started out pretty good. First fish, an 18.5" walleye, then one just barely under 20". Thought I was in for a great day. Both caught in Freeway Bay on an SR7 in walleye trolled 80' off the board. My third fish was just under 16" so I released it. It slowed down, so I trolled west along the edge of the Feedlot flat, by the Island to the North Dike, trolled west again, then ran to the South Dike, east along it, then set my AP to go back to the North Marina, which took me along the south side of the Island. I caught exactly one small wiper for several hours of trolling, on an SR5 flat lined.

So, after passing the Island, I picked up and ran back to Freeway Bay, and almost immediately hooked a double, the same SR7 plus a Flicker Minnoe 7 in Slick Mouse. Both 15" and under, so released. Hooked another double on my way in, both less than 16".

That's the first time I've caught fish in one location but nowhere else. Beautiful day, all in all, but I'm not too good with an electric fillet knife.

[BoatBallast]

Are you seeing any wipers? Last year they seemed pretty small. I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

[wiperhunter2]

Water temp 67F to start, rose to 70F later.  It started out pretty good.  First fish, an 18.5" walleye, then one just barely under 20".  Thought I was in for a great day.  Both caught in Freeway Bay on an SR7 in walleye trolled 80' off the board.  My third fish was just under 16" so I released it.  It slowed down, so I trolled west along the edge of the Feedlot flat, by the Island to the North Dike, trolled west again, then ran to the South Dike, east along it, then set my AP to go back to the North Marina, which took me along the south side of the Island.  I caught exactly one small wiper for several hours of trolling, on an SR5 flat lined. 

So, after passing the Island, I picked up and ran back to Freeway Bay, and almost immediately hooked a double, the same SR7 plus a Flicker Minnoe 7 in Slick Mouse.  Both 15" and under, so released.  Hooked another double on my way in, both less than 16". 

That's the first time I've caught fish in one location but nowhere else.  Beautiful day, all in all, but I'm not too good with an electric fillet knife.

It's going to improve and likely be better all over the lake, we are just not there yet. Can't say I've ever heard of a Slick Mouse, what does it look like? Is this the same lure? Thanks for the report.

[oldguy]

Water temp 67F to start, rose to 70F later.  It started out pretty good.  First fish, an 18.5" walleye, then one just barely under 20".  Thought I was in for a great day.  Both caught in Freeway Bay on an SR7 in walleye trolled 80' off the board.  My third fish was just under 16" so I released it.  It slowed down, so I trolled west along the edge of the Feedlot flat, by the Island to the North Dike, trolled west again, then ran to the South Dike, east along it, then set my AP to go back to the North Marina, which took me along the south side of the Island.  I caught exactly one small wiper for several hours of trolling, on an SR5 flat lined. 

So, after passing the Island, I picked up and ran back to Freeway Bay, and almost immediately hooked a double, the same SR7 plus a Flicker Minnoe 7 in Slick Mouse.  Both 15" and under, so released.  Hooked another double on my way in, both less than 16". 

That's the first time I've caught fish in one location but nowhere else.  Beautiful day, all in all, but I'm not too good with an electric fillet knife.

It's going to improve and likely be better all over the lake, we are just not there yet. Can't say I've ever heard of a Slick Mouse, what does it look like? Is this the same lure? Thanks for the report.

Yes Curt that is the slick mouse color.

[Paddler]

Weird name, but that's what Berkley calls it on their website:

https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products...1005489291

They run a bit deeper than Shad Raps. According to the package insert it runs down about 10' with 60' of line out, and 13' with 100' out. SR7s run about 9.6' down with 80' behind the boards.

The package insert is a bit hidden.

[wiperhunter2]

Thanks guys, I use one similar to that but it's more of a purple color.

[wiperhunter2]

Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

All the ones we are catching are smaller, no bigger than 16" but around 14".

[Paddler]

Thanks guys, I use one similar to that but it's more of a purple color.

This one?:

https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products...1005128843

It's called Prime Time.  It wasn't ready yesterday when I ran it.

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Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

All the ones we are catching are smaller, no bigger than 16" but around 14".

I caught a half dozen or so yesterday, all small.  A couple were cleaning a few last night, all small, too.

[wiperhunter2]

Thanks guys, I use one similar to that but it's more of a purple color.

This one?:

https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products...1005128843

It's called Prime Time.  It wasn't ready yesterday when I ran it.

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No, this is the one I was talking about but I have that one as well.

[BoatBallast]

Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

All the ones we are catching are smaller, no bigger than 16" but around 14".

Thanks.

The black/silver Flicker Shad has treated me the best at Willard.

[Bubman1]

Are you seeing any wipers?  Last year they seemed pretty small.  I'm wondering if they grew a little bit.

I'm catching quite a few in this range