Ira and I launched at the South marina around 8 am. When we arrived the entire parking lot at the bottom was full with cones and state police doing training in their cars. We had to drive around the parking lot, toward the camp ground to get to the marina. After we launched we headed over to Tubedude’s old favorite tubing area and picked up a couple of cats but it was slow, so we kept moving toward Freeway Bay picking up a couple more fish, including a 12" perch. Once we got over to The Freeway Bay area we found some active fish and picked up a few more cats, including a 25 and one that was almost 26", plus another 12" perch and a 12" SM bass. No power boats. Got off the water around 2pm
Seems like an odd place for patrol training. No other large parking lots in the area to use, or they just figured Willard wouldn’t be busy?
I think that’s exactly it, they did not think many people would be using it. When we returned from fishing there was 5 or 6 boat trailers in the upper parking lot. So the lower parking lot was totally open to their training.
interesting place to do some training, but probably provides the space they need to spread out. Did you chase any wallees? or just go after cats?
The 1st year I was in state I ran down to Willard’s north marina during the off season middle of the week to check out the launch ramp and lake. I pulled into the launch area and looked around and then pulled over near where the AIS dunk tank is now and see this Tahoe type SUV coming down the parking lot in the day use area with a cop chasing it with its lights on. The connection driveway between the the area I was in and the day use area was barricaded off, so the Tahoe gets to the end of the lot near the cleaning station and 3 guys bail out, all wearing masks and carrying pistols. The cops come to a stop and get out yelling at the guys who are headed for the trees on that little peninsula between the ramp and north day use area, so I’m about to get out of there and notice a vehicle with a person walking up to my truck, he’s wearing a badge and sidearm so new he was a cop. He then tells me that they are running training drills in the day use area and everyone is a cop. So apparently they use Willard’s parking lots for all sort s of training activities.
Glad you guys had some action during the fishing adventure
Walleye are very hard to come by, this time of the year at Willard, even the eye experts have a tough time catching them this time of the year, until a lot more of the shad die off, just too much food in the water.
That’s a good day. Good to hear you’re getting some nice cats and perch.
Thanks Paul, we were very surprised we caught more than one perch and a bass to boot, very unusual.
Wow, that’s interesting, I bet you were a little concerned about being there, until that cop came up and told you what was going on, I know I would have been.