Driving back from Pineview, I noticed 2 ice fishermen on Willard. Has anyone ever done good n Willard ice fishing?
Was it near the north marina? Ive been wanting to get out there..
FF462
yes it was at the north marina. Both were fishing out of the marina.
In a word, no. I have never heard of anyone ever catching more than one or two fish while ice fishing at Willard[unsure].
Years ago we got into the Walleye through the ice at the North Marina, But the catching is usually not very good.
With this low water the Marina wouldn’t be my first choice.
Good luck!
James
Back in the day we used to do decent for eyes through the ice…not so any more.
I may have to give it a try, I would loves to get into some 'eyes!
Yrs ago we also use to get the crappie out of there like we do the pearch at the rock. I would love to go out there, Might just have to go give it a try.
I would go out along that west side if it was me. Gonna take a little work to do it. But could prove to be worth it.
**Willard is in my sights too. I have fished it since the 70s, both open water and through the ice. As others have said, it “USE TO BE GOOD”. **
Before wipers, the ecology of Willard was much different. No gizzard shad, no wipers, few smallies or perch. The primary forage base for the predators was small crappies and there were hordes of crappie in the lake. The feeding habits of the walleyes and catfish reflected their dependence upon crappies. Crappies tended to stay around the rocks and inside the harbors, around structure. So that is where the big fish came to get their groceries. Most of the best fishing in the lake was around the edges. It was like a big desert out in the middle.
Most years all of the fish started moving inside the marinas toward the end of November. Lots of crappies and small walleyes on jigs below a bobber in open water. Lots of catfish inside both on bait and on jigs. And, once the marinas froze, there were lots of people on the ice fishing for the abundant crappies and walleyes…and catching a few cats from time to time. Some people tried drilling holes and fishing outside the marinas but nobody ever did as well as those who fished inside.
Those were the days of continuous high water. We never had the radical drawdowns that Willard has seen over the past few years…either from drought or dike repairs. There was always plenty of water in the marinas and plenty of fish for ice fishermen.
Gizzard shad and wipers changed everything. Gizzard shad eat all of the algae and zooplankton baby crappies need to live on until they get big enough to eat larger invertebrates or minnows. Crappie fry that survive that early stage are usually slurped up by wipers or walleyes. Not much “recruitment” on crappies these days. And, since gizzard shad have become the main forage species, all of the predators have changed their habits too. Gizzard shad roam the entire lake, feeding on the “soup”. Predators follow them and feed on them throughout the entire water column. Not unusual to find both walleyes and catfish feeding near the top, in clear water conditions, when they are feeding on shad.
Gizzard shad do not crowd into the marinas in the winter, but look for the deepest spot in the lake to spend the winter. No shad, no wipers, walleyes or other predators. Also, no water…no nothin’. Even when there is a good depth inside the marinas, the fishing is not what it used to be. Still some occasional good crappie catches…and some perch. Even a few cats and wipers. But, not like the hundred fish days of old.
Last year there were some catfish caught in the deep part of the north marina channel, but it was deeper then. Not too optimistic about finding much in the channel unless it comes up a couple of feet. There are some deep pockets straight out off the entrance of the north marina, but there are also some shallow humps that come to within a couple of feet of the surface. Find a deep hole and you might find something.
As has been suggested, finding and fishing the deepest trenches on the west side of Willard is likely to be the best shot at putting something on the ice. While the amazingly abundant perch are mostly scattered during the months when the lake is murky (they are sight oriented), they find each other and school up more in the winter, under the ice, when the water clears up. If you find a school of perch you can catch some toads.
The best bets for wipers, walleyes and catfish under the ice is to fish a weightless bait right on the bottom or just above it. Rig up with a whole crawler, dead minnow or chunk of cut bait. Leave the bail open on your reel and watch for the line to start moving off. Then, reel up your other rod (to prevent tangles) and set the hook on your bait rod. The fish do not fight as hard under the ice, but they will bite and when you hook them they make big sweeps.
The bad news, for walleye fans, is that Willard lost a lot of both its walleyes and wipers when they pulled the plug and let the lake drain out through the outlet. There is no screen there to keep the fish in the lake and countless walleyes responded to the current and were sucked out into the salt marshes below. Thousands of wipers disappeared too, but they can be restocked as needed. It might be awhile for the walleyes to recover.
In short, there are probably a lot better places to drill and chill this winter than Willard. But, there is a kind of fascination in trying to find that “secret honey hole” where bajillions of surviving fish are all schooled up together, just waiting for the right presentation. I know I would like to find it.
yeah i agree with tubebude many other spots to drill an chill this winter but the whole idea of drillin a few holes an hittin the jackpot could easily happen due to the very very low waters that plagued it this year.. i live 12 miles from the bay .. fish an visit it regularly .. last time i checked on the ice was the 26th of dec i went out the south west corner an took a gander.drilled 1 whole appr 10 yds off 4-6 in of ice there.. walked out 50yds more same thing and not 1 sign of anyone fishin the area.. i will be hittin it fri afternoon till 7 or 8pm.. my plan is to sneak out to some deeper water pre drill some holes come back to the shoreline area fish 4 a few then sneak back out the deeper holes an hope to catch an eye or 2 or whatever it may be..fishamaniac801