06-28-2020, 09:42 PM
(06-28-2020, 08:49 PM)Therapist Wrote: Question about WB ? I don't get up there much with Utah Lake and other waters next door, but I do remember that years ago, we would work the rip rap up there with cranks in the spring after the crappie ( and now SMB & perch) spawn.for the cat fish. Does anyone do that now ?? we used standard bass baits, mostly medium and deep cranks in crawdad colors. Nothing hits a crank like a catfish. Initial strike is like a runaway freight train. Fight is not real dogged, but that initial strike will take the rod out of your hands. Just wondering if you WB regulars work that riprap ??Yeah, the WB kitties have always been rock huggers...when water levels are high enough for them to use the rocks both for spawning and feeding. And yes, the kitties are still vicious crank munchers...both along the rocks and out in the main lake where they now cruise for shad just like the wipers and walleyes.
In our former days on that lake...BS&W (before shad and wipers)...the abundant crappies were a primary forage species. They tended to stay near the rocks...as did the also plentiful green sunfish and crawdads. That meant that you could work along the rocks with a wide range of baits and lures...even flies...and get multiple species. But after the spring fling...and most species had spawned...the cats went on the prowl. Bassers who flung cranks had a ball with the feisty cats. These days they are just as likely to connect to a smallie as a kittie. And there are times and places when wipers show up and chomp cranks along the banks too.
Lotsa good diving cranks and lipless cranks for cats in Willard. Some with orange in them seem to get more attention. Big Gitzit tube jigs in crawdad colors work well too.
Fortunately for the kitties, there are far more Willard anglers who head out to the wide open spaces on the lake in search of wipers and walleyes. If it weren't for them I am sure the cats would get a lot more attention.