Not skunked at Willard, barely

[Tin-Can]

[sly] Couldn't resist stealing the subject line of another BFT member....[]
Launched out of south marina yesterday at 0730, was rather windy, but was hoping it would calm as the sun came up and warmed up the air. Wind out of almost due north, so headed into it angling out toward the feed lot and coffer dam. Got there with 2 or three other boats in general area. Dropped bait lines off and moved every 30 minutes or so to several spots of past production. Wind still fairly rough. Just deciding to head back to marina and wait out the wind, and got one almost unnoticed tug on a worm line. Brought in one small Mud Cat, released. got back into south marina, where at least 2 other boats and a kayak had decided to do the same. Didn't see either catch anything, but a bank tangler on the point next to the east side ramp brought in at least 2 Wiper while I was anchored just off of the No Boat buoy at the channel. Decided to call it a day about 1200. Except for the wind, was a beautiful day on Willard yesterday. Will try again tomorrow.
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[r2u2]

I haven't seen or heard of mud cats out there for many years. At that time an older lady was trying to explain to me how good they are to eat and how to care for them. A long time ago!
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]That's such a "near miss" you could almost call it either way. But I have had my share of days when it was a "narrer squeek" between the smell of skunk and the smell of fish slime...no matter how small. Pride is not a common trait among fisherfolk.

In the "olden days" the ecology of Willard was quite different. The "holy trinity" was walleyes, crappies and channel cats. But there were a few largemouth and smallmouth bass and hordes of bluegills and green sunfish. While there were never a lot of bullheads, it was not uncommon to pick up one here or there while soaking bait for channels or pitching small jigs for crappies. And a lot of them were "yeller bellies".

Since the introduction of shad and wipers the whole dynamic has changed. Plenty of shad for the predators...but only for a few months in the summer, before the shad get too big to eat. That means the hungry mouths have to settle for other groceries. The "other" category means the young of all species...including their own. But especially young crappies, bluegills, perch and even catfish. Since bullheads do not grow as fast or as large as channel cats they end up on the menu for wipers and walleyes more often than in the past. Hence, not many bullheads caught anymore.
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[Tin-Can]

Well that's the first "mudder" I've caught out of WB this year. Got lots at Benson, and several last year at UL. I know they are as good to eat as Channels if you are careful filleting out he tail sections. But I haven't gotten any big enough to make that worth the work.
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