Decided to head out this morning in the float tube for the first time. Got it all rigged up with some pole holders, that to my suprise, worked out a LOT better then I ever expected them to!
7am, hit the parking lot that goes out the north dike, and decided to head towards the marina. Jigging tubes and dragging a chub TD style. Prob 15 minutes in, the good ol’ Glitter red/chartuse tube jig was performing nicely. least for one which was more then I could’ve hoped for! Brought in a good size catfish. Another 20 minutes after, caught another smaller kitty on the chub. Then for the rest of the day got a good exercise in by motoring around that whole area and not getting anything else! But I’m extremely happy with 2, given that I’ve never caught/fished for cats before so! Thanks TD and BFT’s for all the good advice.
No fish finder so no Idea on the depth or the water temp. I do know there was a butt load of other people out there fishing along the dike was well as people trolling. Didn’t see to many people reeling anything in tho?
Nice maiden voyage with all the new tricks. Glad you got to stretch your string a little. Pretty tough sometimes in this changing weather.
Fun to play with those kitties in an air-filled “speedboat”. Right?
When you are fishing without sonar and someone asks “What depth”…you just say “Can’t see the bottom”. And when they ask “What temperature” you just say “Cool to the touch”. Danged fools wanna get all teckical about stuff. As long as the fish don’t mind, we shouldn’t neither.
That north marina is a good place to drag minnows in late summer. Once the small shad move in there are almost always some wipers in there, as well as lots more catfish…and usually some crappies and even some smallmouth and walleyes. Good tubin’ spot.
Did you see the glint of red and chartreuse jigs on the other guys’ rods? I heerd tell that is a popular color up there these days.
It was definitely a different experience float tubing it but, it’s a blast for for! Easy to get addicted! lol My tube is kinda a pain but. Time to start saving pennies for a different one. I picked it up for a good price from another BFT’er to try it out and see what’s it’s like verses from the bank! I’d tube it ANY DAY over fishing from the bank! Fish I would’ve bought one sooner, but never to late!
I actually didn’t see to many other people up close! They were either in their boat trolling by me or walking up the dike. But as I said to ya Thursday, Wednesday night that’s all EVERYONE had on. I tired out the tandem rig you even mentioned. No hits but, outcome was good! Practice makes perfect right
I have no real idea of the ecosystem in Willard as of right now. Still trying to look and see where would be the best places to fish and what to use. That north marina just seemed to have the easiest spot to get a tube in, without paying $10 to drive in so.
“That north marina just seemed to have the easiest spot to get a tube in, without paying $10 to drive in so.”
Not sure where you launched but if you launched in the north marina you get dinged for the $10. Are you sure you didn’t hike down off the north dike parking area?
Now that you have had a taste of tubing you can lust after a higher floating and more spacious tube…with open ends for easier launching. Come on over to the float tubing board to get a look at some of the rides we have pictured on that board.
Nice maiden voyage with all the new tricks. Glad you got to stretch your string a little. Pretty tough sometimes in this changing weather.