+- Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum)
+-- Forum: Utah Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=386)
+--- Forum: Utah Fishing General (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=58)
+--- Thread: How to fish Willard currently? (/showthread.php?tid=1106089)
How to fish Willard currently? - twoblueeyes78 - 08-29-2025
I'mlearning to fish Willard. I'm going to post what I've learned and could use your help confirming, then help From what I've been reading and hearing from you guys is that the shad are here. This means wiper and walleye are not really biting. I'm guessing this because most people are pulling perch, bass catfish, and crappie. Do I understand that correctly?
It sounds like right now most people are pulling fligs tipped with meat at about .5mph. This is slower than the fast speeds I see earlier. It's this how fast I should be trolling right now? Should I also use crankbaits (flicker shad) or not so much right now because of the species available.
RE: How to fish Willard currently? - wiperhunter2 - 08-30-2025
(08-29-2025, 06:26 PM)twoblueeyes78 Wrote: I'mlearning to fish Willard. I'm going to post what I've learned and could use your help confirming, then help From what I've been reading and hearing from you guys is that the shad are here. This means wiper and walleye are not really biting. I'm guessing this because most people are pulling perch, bass catfish, and crappie. Do I understand that correctly?
It sounds like right now most people are pulling fligs tipped with meat at about .5mph. This is slower than the fast speeds I see earlier. It's this how fast I should be trolling right now? Should I also use crankbaits (flicker shad) or not so much right now because of the species available.
What you are saying is correct about the shad and because of them, the walleye catching is poor. If you are not opposed to bait fishing, wipers can be caught using mussels, fish on the bottom while stationary, if you can find the right location. It's not that you can't catch fish, trolling faster than .5 mph but it can take days of looking for them before you might catch fish with that method. After years of trial and error many of us have found the slow method is best and cats are the most likely catch with this method. Flicker shad are not that productive this time of the year, it is possible but not very likely. Without a doubt slow trolling using floating jig heads will be the most productive but even then, the location is key.
RE: How to fish Willard currently? - obifishkenobi - 09-04-2025
(08-29-2025, 06:26 PM)twoblueeyes78 Wrote: I'mlearning to fish Willard. I'm going to post what I've learned and could use your help confirming, then help From what I've been reading and hearing from you guys is that the shad are here. This means wiper and walleye are not really biting. I'm guessing this because most people are pulling perch, bass catfish, and crappie. Do I understand that correctly?
It sounds like right now most people are pulling fligs tipped with meat at about .5mph. This is slower than the fast speeds I see earlier. It's this how fast I should be trolling right now? Should I also use crankbaits (flicker shad) or not so much right now because of the species available.
Willard is an amazing fishery, that is very seasonal dependent. Shad are the primary forage for all of the species in Willard which you have you have sited. I can tell you all about it if you want to fish with me I’ll be out there tomorrow and Saturday if you want to join me. The short answer to your question is that a specialist that is dedicated to a species can target their favorite species year round with varying success. But I am a generalist that likes to catch fish and targets whatever is most likely to produce good numbers. Willard is wide open for almost all species in Mid May to Mid June. The rest of the year catfish are the most likely to cooperate, so we target them with fligs and sometimes catch other species such as perch and wipers. Cranks are not your best option this time of year unless you stumble across a school of wipers on the feed. Tube dude has done a bunch of write ups on Willard hopefully he will respond and repost his Library on Willard. If you want to get out send me a pm.