07-17-2006, 11:17 AM
[cool][#0000ff]Glad you got a few fish. The channel cats in Willard are almost like a separate species. They certainly act differently than the stereotypes most people have for them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Willard Bay is full now, and the water stays fairly clear. The primary forage species in the lake are the gizzard shad. All predators key on them and follow them around the lake. The channel cats actually become sight feeders under these conditions and can even be found rolling on the shad right on the surface, along with wipers during a boil. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, their willingness to hit lures goes way back. I have been catching channel cats on lures and flies from Willard Bay since the mid 70's. As long as there is some good visibility, you can score on a wide variety of lures and colors. These days, shad-imitating lures work best. But, depending on water temperature and clarity, black, white, chartreuse or other more highly visible colors might work better.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As far as bait is concerned, throw away your stink baits and some of the other catfish stuff when you fish Willard. Stick with worms, shrimp, FRESH carp meat and fresh (frozen) minnows. If you are going to touch them up with scent, use anchovy or shad oil. Crawdad also works, since a lot of the cats forage for 'dads in the rocks.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of the "wierd" baits that DOES work for Willard cats is pieces of wieners. They love them. Cheaper than shrimp and they stay on the hook well too. Plain works well, but the garlic and cheese varieties can be great.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The cats used to hit much better at night on Willard. These days we seem to do better after the sun hits the water. Again, that is probably something to do with the sight feeding thing. However, the bigger cats will often feed better after dark, especially early and late in the year, when the water temps are warmer at the end of the day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Back to lures. If you are fishing off the rocks, and want to throw lures, be sure to use light heads on your plastics or you will donate a lot to the rocks. I usually use a 1/16 oz. head on a size 2/0 hook with a 3" twister or shad body plastic. During low light conditions you can pick up walleyes, wipers and cats on the same lures.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have done well with Rapalas in several colors. I prefer the size 5 or 7 countdown models...in silver with dark (black or blue) back, gold with dark back or even the hot orange with gold and white. That can be dynamite sometimes. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Producer line of lures work well too. Prism Shad is a favorite, but several other colors will work also.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The main thing is to first find the fish and then to make the right presentation. Experiment with depths and retrieve speed.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]About depth. I use sonar on my float tube and I really use it to help find the fish. On some days the cats will be in water as shallow as 6-8 feet, right next to the rocks. On other days they will be out in 16 - 20 feet. Recently I have been having my best luck in about 14 feet of water. Not sure whether it is a visibility or temperature thing, but you have to go with what the cats prefer. Once you find the zone, you can usually harvest a few fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope this helps.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Willard Bay is full now, and the water stays fairly clear. The primary forage species in the lake are the gizzard shad. All predators key on them and follow them around the lake. The channel cats actually become sight feeders under these conditions and can even be found rolling on the shad right on the surface, along with wipers during a boil. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Actually, their willingness to hit lures goes way back. I have been catching channel cats on lures and flies from Willard Bay since the mid 70's. As long as there is some good visibility, you can score on a wide variety of lures and colors. These days, shad-imitating lures work best. But, depending on water temperature and clarity, black, white, chartreuse or other more highly visible colors might work better.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As far as bait is concerned, throw away your stink baits and some of the other catfish stuff when you fish Willard. Stick with worms, shrimp, FRESH carp meat and fresh (frozen) minnows. If you are going to touch them up with scent, use anchovy or shad oil. Crawdad also works, since a lot of the cats forage for 'dads in the rocks.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One of the "wierd" baits that DOES work for Willard cats is pieces of wieners. They love them. Cheaper than shrimp and they stay on the hook well too. Plain works well, but the garlic and cheese varieties can be great.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The cats used to hit much better at night on Willard. These days we seem to do better after the sun hits the water. Again, that is probably something to do with the sight feeding thing. However, the bigger cats will often feed better after dark, especially early and late in the year, when the water temps are warmer at the end of the day.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Back to lures. If you are fishing off the rocks, and want to throw lures, be sure to use light heads on your plastics or you will donate a lot to the rocks. I usually use a 1/16 oz. head on a size 2/0 hook with a 3" twister or shad body plastic. During low light conditions you can pick up walleyes, wipers and cats on the same lures.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have done well with Rapalas in several colors. I prefer the size 5 or 7 countdown models...in silver with dark (black or blue) back, gold with dark back or even the hot orange with gold and white. That can be dynamite sometimes. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The Producer line of lures work well too. Prism Shad is a favorite, but several other colors will work also.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The main thing is to first find the fish and then to make the right presentation. Experiment with depths and retrieve speed.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]About depth. I use sonar on my float tube and I really use it to help find the fish. On some days the cats will be in water as shallow as 6-8 feet, right next to the rocks. On other days they will be out in 16 - 20 feet. Recently I have been having my best luck in about 14 feet of water. Not sure whether it is a visibility or temperature thing, but you have to go with what the cats prefer. Once you find the zone, you can usually harvest a few fish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Hope this helps.[/#0000ff]
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