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Hey all I am interested in going up to Willard to shore fish for some cats. I was hoping someone could give me a few pointers of where to cast at.
I can go over night or during the day. I REALLY want some catfish, they are my favorite to catch and see but I've had one 17 inch channel cat all season from Bountiful Pond.
And are there any crawdads in the Willard bay? like enough that it's worth bringing out my traps while I fish.
So any pointers or held would be great TY
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Hopefully will be going tonight for overnight fishing. Can someone give me some details on the cost and such to fish at Willard overnight? thanks
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[cool][#0000ff]You can find a lot of what you are looking for by visiting the [url "http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/willard-bay"]Willard State Parks Website[/url] (LINK)[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Attaching a labeled map. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you don't want to pay the State Park fees there are spots all around the rock dikes...to the south of the south marina...where you can park free and hike up over the dike and fish off the rocks. Good fishing for catfish all around the lake this time of year. But if you are not getting bit, move a few yards down the dike and try a new area. They do often gather in some places more than others. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Also, fish both close in to the rocks...under a bobber...and further out on the bottom. Use worms, minnows, carp meat, perch meat or even anchovies or mackerel. Heck, there are a lot of kitties taken on pieces of hot dogs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One good spot outside the park is along the north dike, just past the gate. There is a day use fee of $3 but I think that will let you fish at night there too without additional charge. Inside the parks you must pay extra for staying overnight.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Bring lots of skeeter juice, a headlamp with a red lens and have fun.[/#0000ff]
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Wow thanks a ton for the information and the map. That was more then i was expecting but perfect thanks so much. Have you ever tried crawdad lures in willard? I heard they work well but never tried personally. Is there even Dad's in Willard? haha
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[cool][#0000ff]Almost any diving crankbait works well along the rocky shorelines...for cats, wipers, walleyes, smallies, etc. Everything in Willard eats mudbugs and there are a lot of them during the years of higher water when the water stays up in the rocks. But, there are not many places where there are enough to count on catching a bunch with traps. They stay back in the cover to keep from being on the menu for the predators.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you can find a few crawdads they are definitely worth using for bait. I have found them in the innards of just about every species of fish in the lake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, you don't need to risk losing high dollar hardbaits. Craw colored tubes and grubs work just as well if you put them in the right place and work them right. Count on some snags. Tip them with crawlers (smell like crawdads) and/or shoot on some crawdad scent for extra attraction. Use light heads to reduce the number of snags. In fact, you can even fish tubes and twisters weightless right next to the rocks and rig them Texas style for added snag resistance.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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