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Hey you Willard folks,
The Xplore OUTDOORS section o the Ogden Standard continues to post that fishing in Willard is good for those who gain access from the south dike. I haven't seen any posts to substantiate this on our forum! Where do they get this? Any info./reports? Is it worth a try with a tube or from shore? Any info. would be appreciated.
[unsure]Leaky
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If I had to guess, I would say that the wiper fishing is all but over for the year. The recent snow storms and cold weather has dropped the reservoir temp greatly.
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Bryce calls us every week for a report on what is fishing good,he also has some other sources he adds to that,this week we didn,t say anything about willard.they may have left the report from a couple weeks ago in.
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I think Teroy is right, the good catching is over for the year. In the last few years when the water temp drops down into the 50* range the catching slows way down. About a month ago the temp was between 54 and 58 and we were only catching one fish per outing. The S/W corner was the best place to catch fish with a lot of the smaller wipers being caught but that was at least 6 weeks ago. WH2
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ON the topic of willard bay, I looking at it this way!!! Since there was low fishing pressure, I am anxiously awaiting for next spring and early summer to catch myself a state record Wiper. I dont want to sound selfish, but I am nominating myself for that honor next spring!!! just kidding, but I believe willard is done for the year. Get ready for some big fish next year!!!! Pray for snow to fill it up.
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while you are praying, pray that winter kill doesnt affect them too much!
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huh, I'm not waiting for spring, with the cold weather this year I hope it will freeze over quick so I can ice the wipers as I've done so in years past.
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As low as that water is on Willard, I don't think this is the year to wish for it to freeze over -- could result in major fish kill.
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As long as the river is flowing, Willard won't winter kill. Look at some of the small shallow lakes above 10,000 ft that don't winter kill. It would take a winter of century to kill off Willard, but the worst would be almost every lake in the state wouldn't have any fish left either.
Quit worring over something that will never happen.
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I believe the key for most fish is the oxygen content. Even if there is 3 feet of snow on top of the ice, the fish will be fine as long as there is enough oxygen. Oxygen is dissolved in the water. There are a couple of ways that the oxygen content can be increased:
1. On open water, oxygen from the air dissolves into the water at the surface(in very warm water not much can be dissolved). When there's ice on the water, this is practically nonexistent.
2. Rivers, streams, and underwater streams feeding the lake will add oxygen to the water, especially fast-moving water which contains more dissolved oxygen.
3. Aquatic plants produce oxygen and release it into the water while in the process of photosynthesis. This is the one area that would be affected by having too much snow on the ice. Plants will not get any sunlight, and will stop producing oxygen. Because of this they will eventually die. Bacteria then begin to break them down. During this breakdown process, bacteria consume large amounts of dissolved oxygen further reducing the oxygen content in the water. This is more detrimental then they lack of production from the plants. However, if there is a good supply of water coming into and going out of the reservoir or lake (especially coming in), then there will be no problem with a lack of oxygen. The bugs in the water will survive just fine until Spring, since most aquatic insects are in a larval or egg state during the winter many in a sort of "hibernation".
Bottom line, I don't think there will be any fish kill problem during the winter at Willard. Even in the high Uintahs where lakes can have extremely thick ice on them, the only ones that winter kill are the ones with inadequate or nonexistent inflow or outflow of water. If 2 lakes have the same thickness of ice on them, with the same 3 feet of snow on top of them (in the Uintahs), and one winter kills and one doesn't, you can bet it is because of a lack of water flowing in and/or out of the one that winterkilled. If those lakes can handle it with that much snow on them, for sure Willard will be able to handle it.
Sorry for the long dissertation, it's unlike me! Whew! [blush]
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I got to tell you I learned alot about winter kill on this thread.
] The basic problem is a large amount of algae etc. produced during the summer, dying in the fall and winter and then decomposing, using up the oxygen in the process. But you said that.