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[cool]My fishing buddy Dale(sealfish) came out with a new toy so that we could both do willow. We get to willow by 12 noon sunday with our light camping gear, his kayak and new toy an inflatable pontoon boat with oars. We set camp after lunch(saw lots of trout at the fishing pier) and then set up the gear. It took a bit but we were able to get the pontoon and his kayak in the water.I start rowing the pontoon boat and find it awkward. Always hit my legs with the oars. We get moving and start trolling AC plugs. I am rowing for 30 min. and my pole starts dancing. The fish felt strong but not big. Finally get the net from Dale and swing up a 5.5lb striper. He hit a 9" ac plug. We go up stream and find a small beach to stop. As it was getting dark we head out again going downstream with me in the kayak and Dale in his new toy. Dale finds it difficult also but uses the fins instead to motor it. He gets a strike on his large ac but the big fish spits it in a few seconds.
No more fish so back to camp after cleaning the fish. Nice campground w/showers. Can't sleep good,too warm. Up at 5am for another session. All for nada. Packed up and out before noon. Great adventure and we will attack again.
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Nice fish. It may be smaller by Willow standards, but SOMETHING is always better than NOTHING when it comes to Willow. That I know, for sure. Nice report and pics, BigE. Thanks for posting yet another quality report.
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We wanted a little adventure and sure got one! I'm on the lookout now for a lighter pair or oars and also in the future a trolling motor to deal with that pontoon boat but once we stuck to fins it was ok but too bad we couldn't get further up and down river.
Beautiful up there! Campgrounds were very nice but too damn hot at night.
Glad you got one but next time it's my turn I'm getting tired of you schooling me.
Thanks man had a great adventure hope we can do it in a couple months and bring the wife along, as long as it's not 100 degrees at night.
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[cool]Thanks guys,it was a fun trip. Yea Dale it would go better with a trolling motor. Cruise up river and float down. And don't worry you will catch here again and maybe school me....maybe.Lol.
Yeah Whizzle I do like the blowups but this guy just grabbed the plug while it was just under the surface and ran. As far as photos maybe I should stick it straight out like they do in other photos.Ha.
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Digging the pics! Makes me a little home sick. You guys all need to post more pics please ha ha!
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Good ol Dan! Hit me up next time you're in town - we'll hit the lake.
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very cool. thanks for the report and pics. i've been dying to try willow beach out for years! but never could get myself out there. always stuck to mead or just stayed in vegas.
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[cool]No. We got past the hatchery and beached it for awhile before heading back. That pontoon was a bear to row! Even Dale had a hell of a time. He may put a trolling motor on it in the near future. A kayak will get you further up river with not as much effort as that pontoon. The next day we hung around the hatchery area.
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The river flow is not enough to be a bother in a kayak. You could easily paddle up or downstream a good few miles.
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