Willard Perch Search...With Video 11-29-21

[wyoguy]

I got some inside info that there were some perch showing up off the south marina at Willard.  Since the low water conditions are keeping it “boat free” I figured it might be my chance to score a few footlongs without having to bounce off the boats…like at the north marina.  Got that part right.  Didn’t see ANY boats on the lake all morning.
 
I got launched about 7:30 am.  Cold.  26 degree air temp…rising to 51 by 1 pm departure.  Glad I brought some little hand warmers.  Water temp just under 37 degrees in the shallow marina but almost 38 in the open lake…rising to 40 by departure time.  Good perch temps.

 
Based upon the intel I had received, I motored out to an area a ways from the marina entrance and started dragging fligs baited with chub minnow pieces.  Didn’t see much on sonar but kept moving around.  Picked up my first perch just after 8.  Thought it was gonna be gangbusters.  NOT.  No other perch in the next hour, but did score one chilly catfish. 


Kept looking for a school of perch but only saw singles here and there. (No married ones)  Had a couple of “pop n drops” and then nothing.  Just before heading out to another potential spot to the north, I went bendo on a buglemouth (carp).  It was fun until I saw the big golden scales.  Fortunately, he decided to give me my flig back before I put the net under him.  Good for both of us.
 
I finally motored down off the feed lot structure visible from the water.  Often do well down there earlier in the year…when water levels are higher and there are more active fish species.  Saw a couple of perchlike marks on sonar and put out my offerings.  Over the next hour and a half I picked up two more nice perch and two more catfish.  Worth the move.  Sorta.
 

After a long period of nothing on TV and nothing on my line I motored back to the channel outside the marina.  Another half hour there produced my smallest perch of the day…a 10 inch male.  Gave myself another half hour to score…or bag it.  I bagged it.  Water still like glass all over the lake and no boat noises.  Not all bad.  And even though I didn’t load up on big perch it was a good day,  I’ve had better days…and worse.


  


LINK TO VIDEO

Weii Pat, you may not have got a grundle but you got some good ones!