Prime Time at Willard

[obifishkenobi]

I got out this morning with Mike MWScott72, Juma and Brad. We launched just after 6am from the South Marina and headed to the light pole. We worked from there to the south west corner and back putting 1 limit of eyes in the boat by 10am then made a move to Pelican Beach working out into the openness picking up a wiper and a couple walleyes. At noon Brad had to leave and we ran him back to the south marina and headed back out to where we left off and it was like a switch flipped and the three of us that where still out there limited out on walleye by 1:15 and started throwing back walleyes hoping to get a few more wipers, that did not pan out, we did get 1 jumbo perch before we pulled lines at 1:45pm. Most of the damage was done on bottom bouncers going 1.7-1.9 mph we also caught several on a number 6 purple shad rap. If I had to say what colors worked best I would say Chartreuse or gold but when the fish turned on it didn't matter. We initially where fishing really long 125' set backs but during the hot fishing we would let the lines out until they contacted the bottom let out a couple more feet and put them in the rod holder.

[Redrebel]

I got out this morning with Mike MWScott72, Juma and Brad. We launched just after 6am from the South Marina and headed to the light pole. We worked from there to the south west corner and back putting 1 limit of eyes in the boat by 10am then made a move to Pelican Beach working out into the openness picking up a wiper and a couple walleyes. At noon Brad had to leave and we ran him back to the south marina and headed back out to where we left off and it was like a switch flipped and the three of us that where still out there limited out on walleye by 1:15 and started throwing back walleyes hoping to get a few more wipers, that did not pan out, we did get 1 jumbo perch before we pulled lines at 1:45pm. Most of the damage was done on bottom bouncers going 1.7-1.9 mph we also caught several on a number 6 purple shad rap. If I had to say what colors worked best I would say Chartreuse or gold but when the fish turned on it didn't matter. We initially where fishing really long 125' set backs but during the hot fishing we would let the lines out until they contacted the bottom let out a couple more feet and put them in the rod holder.

Looks like a great day for you guys. Hoping to get out there soon. The red rebel has been out of commission for a little while.

[brookie]

Hey Shawn, looks like you and Juma and Mike had it dialed in. I broke my trolling motor the last week on Willard - it's been in the shop being fixed. Just got it back this afternoon (really fast 24 hr service) and back on the boat. I may need to take at least one more run up there before I turn my attention back to kokanee.
I did fish Jordanelle yesterday trying to see if I could fix the motor with a hard reset, but it didn't work. So I fished for a while with the trolling plate and the big motor. Only caught 2 in the rain, a nice brown and a 16" wiper both on kokanee gear.

[oldguy]

I got out this morning with Mike MWScott72, Juma and Brad. We launched just after 6am from the South Marina and headed to the light pole. We worked from there to the south west corner and back putting 1 limit of eyes in the boat by 10am then made a move to Pelican Beach working out into the openness picking up a wiper and a couple walleyes. At noon Brad had to leave and we ran him back to the south marina and headed back out to where we left off and it was like a switch flipped and the three of us that where still out there limited out on walleye by 1:15 and started throwing back walleyes hoping to get a few more wipers, that did not pan out, we did get 1 jumbo perch before we pulled lines at 1:45pm. Most of the damage was done on bottom bouncers going 1.7-1.9 mph we also caught several on a number 6 purple shad rap. If I had to say what colors worked best I would say Chartreuse or gold but when the fish turned on it didn't matter. We initially where fishing really long 125' set backs but during the hot fishing we would let the lines out until they contacted the bottom let out a couple more feet and put them in the rod holder.

Looks like a great day for you guys. Hoping to get out there soon. The red rebel has been out of commission for a little while.

Me too still trying to get motor fixed but as soon as i do look out. Nice job shawn

[Troutster]

Thanks for the report. Did you need to use planer boards or just strait back? Also do you troll with a gas kicker or use the bow electric? I’m new to trolling and trying to figure it out. Thanks!

[obifishkenobi]

Thanks for the report. Did you need to use planer boards or just strait back?  Also do you troll with a gas kicker or use the bow electric?  I’m new to trolling and trying to figure it out. Thanks!

I ran 6 lines 4 with bottom bouncers one off each side and one on each corner facing strait back and 2 with crank baits on planer boards. The only reason I use planer boards is just to be able to fish more lines if I was only fishing four lines I wouldn’t use them they are kind of a pain to use.  I fished just with my bow mount trolling motor for the first half of the day but started using my gas kicker in conjunction with it the second half to conserve battery.

[dubob]

Also do you troll with a gas kicker or use the bow electric?  I’m new to trolling and trying to figure it out. Thanks!

If you have both an electric up front and a gas kicker behind, use them both.  Aline the gas motor to push you straight forward and to be the main force to set your speed forward.  Use the electric to steer the boat.  Pushing with the kicker, allows your electric to operate at a lower current draw from its battery(s) and extend your time trolling.  If you decide you need to troll at a slower speed than the kicker is giving you at idle, then you may have to just use the electric to both pull and steer.

[Mildog]

Is the road construction between the freeway and south Marina finished. A couple weeks back, My boat and trailer got covered with mud from the water they were putting down to keep the dust down.
Thanks for great report and any info on road work!

[2knots]

Well done, the “switch” for the bite this week was crazy with multiple takedowns taking place.

[obifishkenobi]

Is the road construction between the freeway and south Marina finished. A couple weeks back, My boat and trailer got covered with mud from the water they were putting down to keep the dust down.
Thanks for great report and any info on road work!

No the construction is still going on.

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Is the road construction between the freeway and south Marina finished. A couple weeks back, My boat and trailer got covered with mud from the water they were putting down to keep the dust down.
Thanks for great report and any info on road work!

No the construction is still going on.

[MrShane]

To follow up with what Bob said asking if your gas kicker was pushing you too fast at idle, but you still want to steer with electric while conserving battery, don’t forget you can slow speed from kicker even at idle if you make your kicker less effective.
One way is to use a lower numerically numbered prop.
But the easiest way to shave a few tenths from kicker speed is to simply make your kicker less effective by trimming it up so that prop is not pushing you straight forward anymore.
Just be mindful to watch tattle-tell that you are not robbing your kicker of precious cooling water.

[wiperhunter2]

To follow up with what Bob said asking if your gas kicker was pushing you too fast at idle, but you still want to steer with electric while conserving battery, don’t forget you can slow speed from kicker even at idle if you make your kicker less effective.
One way is to use a lower numerically numbered prop.
But the easiest way to shave a few tenths from kicker speed is to simply make your kicker less effective by trimming it up so that prop is not pushing you straight forward anymore.
Just be mindful to watch tattle-tell that you are not robbing your kicker of precious cooling water.

Thats an interesting idea Shane, something I had never considered but then again, I've never needed to go shower than the kicker would push. Mainly because I've always had an electric trolling motor for going that slow but for those that don't, that's a great idea, thanks for sharing that info.

[MWScott72]

It was fun getting out with Shawn, and Juma, and Brad. Good people make fishing easy, and and when the catching decides to cooperate, it can make for a simply fantastic day. So it was on Friday! It’s been a while since the eyes cooperated like that. They simply would not be denied entry to the fish box…especially after we dropped Brad off. I do need to work on my hook sets though. Struggled mightily for the first half of the day, but after a quick tutorial by Shawn on how to get the rods out of the holders more efficiently, it was better for the afternoon bite. Looking forward to some fine eating - those eyes don’t fight workers a darn but they sure are fine table
fare!

[Paddler]

To follow up with what Bob said asking if your gas kicker was pushing you too fast at idle, but you still want to steer with electric while conserving battery, don’t forget you can slow speed from kicker even at idle if you make your kicker less effective.
One way is to use a lower numerically numbered prop.
But the easiest way to shave a few tenths from kicker speed is to simply make your kicker less effective by trimming it up so that prop is not pushing you straight forward anymore.
Just be mindful to watch tattle-tell that you are not robbing your kicker of precious cooling water.

Or one could just take the kicker out of gear.  It should still put out enough amps to keep your bow mount batteries charged?  You might even get a bit of push due to the through prop exhaust. 

I don't have either, but have Mercury's Troll Control for my main, which allows me to increase or decrease my main in 10RPM increments.  If I keep it at 660RPM it keeps my battery a bit over 13V.  That puts me at about 2.5-2.6MPH.  Any slower than that requires drift socks.

[MrShane]

Troll Control should let you adjust rpm’s by increments of 50.
Have they changed it to adjust in increments of 10 now?
Majority of boats do not have charging circuit from kicker (12 volts) connected to trolling motor batteries (usually 2-3 batteries connected in series for 24/36 volt electric motors).
I’m sure there is an outlier or two out there with kicker wired to charge one 12 volt electric motor.
Jon, do you have an electric motor on front of your boat?
The joy and ease of ‘pulling’ a boat through the water vs. ‘pushing’ a boat through the water for trolling purposes is just something that has to be experienced!

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To follow up with what Bob said asking if your gas kicker was pushing you too fast at idle, but you still want to steer with electric while conserving battery, don’t forget you can slow speed from kicker even at idle if you make your kicker less effective.
One way is to use a lower numerically numbered prop.
But the easiest way to shave a few tenths from kicker speed is to simply make your kicker less effective by trimming it up so that prop is not pushing you straight forward anymore.
Just be mindful to watch tattle-tell that you are not robbing your kicker of precious cooling water.

Thats an interesting idea Shane, something I had never considered but then again, I've never needed to go shower than the kicker would push. Mainly because I've always had an electric trolling motor for going that slow but for those that don't, that's a great idea, thanks for sharing that info.

You are always welcome.
Hopefully it lets someone fine tune their speeds a little and maybe enjoy a bit more success.
Trying hard to get up to Willard this week, hopefully we cross paths!
Have had boat out 5 or 6 days this year, have caught nine different game species and gratefully not one trout, and by going to Willard can hopefully keep my good luck streak going and with a Wiper raise my count to ten species caught.

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To follow up with what Bob said asking if your gas kicker was pushing you too fast at idle, but you still want to steer with electric while conserving battery, don’t forget you can slow speed from kicker even at idle if you make your kicker less effective.
One way is to use a lower numerically numbered prop.
But the easiest way to shave a few tenths from kicker speed is to simply make your kicker less effective by trimming it up so that prop is not pushing you straight forward anymore.
Just be mindful to watch tattle-tell that you are not robbing your kicker of precious cooling water.

Thats an interesting idea Shane, something I had never considered but then again, I've never needed to go shower than the kicker would push. Mainly because I've always had an electric trolling motor for going that slow but for those that don't, that's a great idea, thanks for sharing that info.

You are always welcome.
Hopefully it lets someone fine tune their speeds a little and maybe enjoy a bit more success.
Trying hard to get up to Willard this week, hopefully we cross paths!
Have had boat out 5 or 6 days this year, have caught nine different game species and gratefully not one trout, and by going to Willard can hopefully keep my good luck streak going!

[Paddler]

Shane, Troll Control allows adjustments of 10RPM, and has since at least 2015 when I repowered.  It operates between 550RPM and 1000RPM, but my battery voltage drops too much at 550RPM to be very useful.

I don't have a bow mount electric, the bow of my Searunner is quite high and would require a very long shaft.  My old Alumacraft 165 Magnum did, allowing me to bottom bounce.  Since buying my Searunner in 2005 I gave up on BBing, and don't really miss it.  I could probably do it by using the drift socks I use for kokanee, which get me down to 1.4MPH, but I'd rather cover more water and get kind of antsy going slower.

As for convenience, I'm almost always on autopilot.  Nothing could be easier.  I can navigate to a waypoint, then slow to idle and drop gear on arrival. I can change direction in one degree increments by pushing a button once.  If I hold it down, it will beep twice and change direction in 10 degree increments, or use the Dodge function which is programmable, I have mine set to 30 degrees.  Gain is also adjustable.

Having AP on my main and only engine is very simple and efficient.  I can and have run 7 lines for tuna 50 miles offshore. Solo.  Every boat is a compromise, I'll invite you to come out with me one day to see my approach.

[Mildog]

Another thing that may have been mentioned on controlling kicker speed is raise or lower your main outboard to create more or less drag, that will help slow boat down without having to adjust throttle. My kicker idles down enough I can go slow enough with main trimmed up sometimes I drop it lower back into the water when going downwind instead of messing with throttle. Just another thought!

[jjannie]

Another thing that may have been mentioned on controlling kicker speed is raise or lower your main outboard to create more or less drag, that will help slow boat down without having to adjust throttle. My kicker idles down enough I can go slow enough with main trimmed up sometimes I drop it lower back into the water when going downwind instead of messing with throttle. Just another thought!

Agreed. We also use both and have no problem going slow enough most of the time, but we always check the main motor raising and lowering of it because it can assist stability if there's any wind at all.

[PACKFAN]

To follow up with what Bob said asking if your gas kicker was pushing you too fast at idle, but you still want to steer with electric while conserving battery, don’t forget you can slow speed from kicker even at idle if you make your kicker less effective.
One way is to use a lower numerically numbered prop.
But the easiest way to shave a few tenths from kicker speed is to simply make your kicker less effective by trimming it up so that prop is not pushing you straight forward anymore.
Just be mindful to watch tattle-tell that you are not robbing your kicker of precious cooling water.

I spent several days this past week fishing Willard and at found at times when the bite slowed I would kick my speed up to 2.5 MPH and the bite would pick up, I'm talking walleye not wipers which i dont keep. We were catching them both on worm harness and cranks on planer boards.

[Bubman1]

I have noticed the same thing when one stops working I switch to the other.