Willard Wondering

[Troutster]

Hit Willard yesterday afternoon. Gave a guy a ride over to his boat. His wife got it stuck on the sand bar just S of the ramp in the N Marina.  It was one of the direct drive, can’t raise the prop boats. They were able to just push it off. Closer to the ramp it’s 3.9 to 5 ft deep. Deeper in the channel on the way out.  The ramp is now only 2 boats wide. Baracades keep you to the middle.  The dock is still there but will only accommodate 1 boat per side. I went over to the west end and got skunked.  The water is great for swimming, no bugs (until the sun went down), not many ski/wake boats braving the shallow launch so really pleasant, besides catching zippo.

Sounds like the big "suckout" is putting a hurtin' on the water levels.  Don't look good for fall perchin'.  But if you can still get out of the harbors then the actual fishing could be good  It has been in the past and low water tends to concentrate the fish a bit more.  Wait and see.

The decline in fishing action is pretty much standard for this time of year.  By now the shad spawned in the spring are all at least a couple of inches...to over 3"...in length.  And there are clouds of them all over the lake.  The predators have plenty to eat without chasing anglers' gaudy stuff being dragged at mach 3.

This is when us low-lifes start draggin' baited fligs for catfish.  They ain't purty but they still bite, they fight good and they eat good.  Pride has no place among serious anglers.

 I just watched your 8-17-24 video at Willard slaying the cats.  I have seen several other of your videos fishing with fligs and I’m impressed. Those things flat out work.  I watched the how to make a flig video… Not sure I want to make them. Dang!  At what speed do you pull those?