My twin’s toon is still down so he had me drop him off at the North Dike of Willard Bay while I went to Mantua.
Mantua - Arrived at 4pm and set sail for my old bluegill/LMB hole. As I showed up I saw a LMB swim away from me. I caught 27 bluegill using a worm 10 inches under a bobber and a spilt shot weight half way in between. It took me about 30 mins to realize they wanted “action” so super slow reeling was the ticket. Once I figured that out I was getting them every cast. At 6:15pm the wind kicked up hard and was white capping so I barley made it in. I saw several shore anglers on the pier nailing bluegills and 20 inch trout.
A Mantua Bluegill on the pontoon
From my twin…
“Willard Bay- Arrived at the North Dike of Willard Bay around 3pm. While walking the dike I watched as a large fish swam by the corner. Threw a white jig under a bobber with a nightcrawler attatched, and on the 2nd rig threw a 3 beaded size 2 hook with a split shot weight and a nightcrawler attatched. With no bites on either rig I moved on toward the Willard Outlet. While walking along I decided to try a spot along the way. Threw out the bobber/jig rig and it never got a strike. Not happy with the lack of action on the beaded rig I put on a 1/8 white Roostertail spinner, with a worm attatched. As I was retrieving I watched as 4 Bluegills were following and bam…got a hook up. After a few more Bluegills I watched as a fish darted out of the rocks and bit the spinner…my 1st ever Green Sunfish. After hours of catching/watching the Bluegills I caught a 2nd Green Sunfish. Around 6pm the wind switched and my spinner rig was able to cast out further. After letting the spinner sink 10 or so seconds, a felt a huge taker on the end of my line. Hoping for a wiper, it was a nice Channel Catfish. After catching another Bluegill, I let my spinner sink again and I felt something bigger than a Bluegill on the line. As I was fighting it in a saw it boil and jump. Thinking it may be a SMB I was dissapointed to find out it was a small 7 inch Channel Catfish. Overall I caught 10 Bluegills, 2 Green Sunfish and 2 Channel Catfish.”
We decied to use the Cleaning station at Willard. While we were there we ran into 2 lurkers of BFT and the UWN that recognized us. Hey we’re famous! They did well at Mantua until the wind forced them off as well, even with an anchor.
A Dragon Fly on the end of the pole.
Watching the clouds was the highlight for the 1st hour at Willard Bay.
The 1st and certainly not the last Bluegill of the day.
They were pretty secretive about it, even though they asked and got an answer of what I was using. I saw a bobber and a white jig and green jigs all tipped with a nightcrawler. They were mostly getting bluegills but they did get 3 trout while I was there and they said they caught a bunch of trout while I was not there.
Others fishing the inlet in the past couple of weeks told me a worm on a hook is all it took. I have seen some fly guys getting them too.
I have tried a few times in the inlet with worms and once I got a big one’s attention with a blue fox black spinner size #2 tipped with a nightcrawler but it never took it. You can see the brutes crusing the inlet with a few bluegills in there too. Still I have yet to get a trout there. I didn’t even try last time.
Do you think I could take my ten year old and he would be able to hook into something? I only ask because I have heard is very mossy and kind of tough for kids we have an aluminum boat will that make a difference?
VERY mossy this time of year. But from the shore you can catch bluegills all day long with a bobber and worm, or even by pitching [b]chartreuse[/b] colored jigs…not a big deal.
There’s some big 'bows left over in there from the last stocking…but many have been caught and kept already. Not sure when the next stocking will happen, and how big the trout will be.
Not tough at all. In fact the weeds in the water have gone down a bit! The only issue could be with a prop on a boat. Still very easy to catch for kids. Cast up against the shore and if you don’t get a strike within a few minutes move on and look for a new spot.
Personally that place seems really tough for a shore angler. I would not shore fish it!
Worm and bobber works extremely well so I must ask “can it get any easier?”
Personally that place seems really tough for a shore angler. I would not shore fish it!
I don’t blame you. But I’ve fished it from both the bank and pontoon, and while you can obviously cover more ground in the boat, there have been many times I have done extremely well just from the bank, and sometimes even better than the pontoon.
And believe it or not, that pond used to be 10 X better as far as quality AND quantity is concerned.
It really isn’t that bad. I keep to a bay that the boaters generally stay away from. Still the boaters out in the main area is minimal thanks to the 25 boat max. Seriously no chop at Mantua! I cannot get my ass up early, so I prefer late afternoons and evenings for fishing.
Places like Pineview can make you sea sick the chop is so bad. Even early on a weekday! Second worse would be Willard Bay and I hear that Jordanelle is just as bad as Pineview too.
I will be there in the afternoon/evening. Maybe we will run into each other. My twin and an fellow BFT’er will be out at Willard Bay. May you lines go straight and your baskets be full of fish, especially for $5!
So - you ARE charged the launch fee for a float tube/toon then? Even launching from the far docks?
And FYI - there is no speed limit. There’s an older map that TD put out with the limit listed, but it’s been lifted. I do believe there is a 25 boat limit, don’t know that that counts floats.
I got it straight from the local lawman - no speed limit Proximity - yes - especially if you harrass the big $40K wakeboard boats with your oh so threatening little fishing boat.
Does Barney work at Willard Bay as well? Might have seen him there today. What is the name on the badge?
I think the overzealous officer to whom we refer as “Barney” is employed by the city of Mantua. He is well known for writing citations for minor infractions (3 miles over the speed limit, etc.). He cruises around the dikes looking for folks who are illegally parked and harassing people at the ramp who he thinks might be taking too long. But he never says boo to the power squadron folks who make it miserable for anglers in small boats or float tubes.
Don’t know his badge number or real name. I have not been “lucky” enough to get “face time” with him. I sometimes wonder if he is on a personal campaign to drive off the “flatlanders” and help keep his little Eden pristine. I know he has ruined a lot of days on the water for some folks I know…and their kids. He is an obnoxious doofus. (got more colorful descriptions but not on a family forum.
If you want the more colorful descriptions, I am pretty sure Coyote could come up with some terms for you Word of advice for all you out there, make sure you have your trim set exactly right when you are in the no wake zone. If your prop is throwing just a little water, than you are obviously going too fast and going to hurt those expensive boats.
The speed limit is on the side streets. Not on the water. Barney will get you.
Word of advice for all you out there, make sure you have your trim set exactly right when you are in the no wake zone. If your prop is throwing just a little water, than you are obviously going too fast and going to hurt those expensive boats.