Skunked as planned (Willard)

**Yet another Willard report!

And okay, I hadn’t planned on getting skunked, just so much as expected it. Ain’t I such an optimist? [angelic]

Location:****
North Marina - just a few feet south of the boat launch
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Arrive:*****
6:45 P.M.
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Depart:*
8:00 P.M.
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Weather:*
Until about 7 P.M. it was very windy! Mostly cloudy.
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Air temperature:*****
60F (at departure time…forgot to check when I arrived)
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Water temperature:*
55F (at departure time…forgot to check when I arrived)
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Water quality:*
Murky at shore, then got a blue tint about 50 feet out
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Other Fishers:*
A boat was catching some. Another shore angler at about 7:30 was across the bay from me, on the little outcropping/peninsula, but I couldn’t tell if he got anything.
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Baits:*
‘cured’ chicken gizzards & catfish power bait (“blood” flavor)
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Lures:*
Small Fry Spinner…neon green

It was very windy. I was actually thinking of going back home, while setting up. But I figured I was already out there, started getting my gear ready, I might as well tough it out. The water wasn’t just choppy, there were waves about a foot tall. Some carp were rolling around (just out of casting distance! grump), which settled down with the wind…only about half a dozen rollers in the hour after the wind quit.

I only tried the chicken gizzards (which I forgot to put in the freezer on my last trip (Tuesday, I think), so they were a bit extra stinky…I guess that doesn’t make them any better, because they didn’t get any bites), until I got my lure pole set up. Then I put on some of the blood power bait, and let that sit in the water while I had to mess with setting up my lure pole. I got the lure pole all tangled up at first, but eventually got it all straitened out and my lure on at about 7:30.

I’m used to bait with sinkers. Got a feel for how the lure casts out. Maybe I need a little tiny sinker on that too, because I could only get it to go out about 50 feet …though that’s about same as my bait casting. Maybe I’m just a pitiful caster!

I’ma go take a bath now. That blood junk smells like wet dog, when it’s on your hands.**

thats always rough man. ive been thinking about heading to willard sometime, i just moved here few years back and just got back into my fishing trips. im sorry to here you got skunded man, ogden was the same way the other day, lost $20 worth of lures, worse day fishing ever. better luck next time man!

Hey Man…She’s not a man…

Thought you’d like to know…

**LOL
Don’t worry, I’m not offended. I just figured it was the “person in general, defaulted to masculine” kind of thing.
I call people “dude” all the time, even if they’re females!

I plan on going out again on Monday…maybe same spot. I really want a carp! Just once!

**

I’d suggest getting away from the “prepared” packaged baits like your using and just take some good old fashioned nightcrawlers. Hang 'em under a bobber if it’s not to windy or just let them lay on the bottom with a couple sinkers if the breeze is blowing to much for bobbers.

You will increase your odds of catching fish ten-fold.

Promise.

Fish that will eat a nightcrawler at willard: Crappie,Carp,Catfish,Perch,Smallmouth Bass,Wiper,Walleye…

Here is a big carp I got from Willard 2 weeks ago. Caught the guy in X-Rapala 11. I will try to hit Willard again, to see if I can get walleye, wiper, or cat at least.