*Hello out there, I was fishing the open water on Willard yesturday. Not much happened though. The north end ice is going fast with warm days and some wind the marina will be ready for launching boats. The outlet is almost clear of ice also. It was nice to actually cast a line insted of droping a line.
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That’s good to hear! Thanks for the update.. Does anyone know if you can get into the south marina yet? It seems like they open it later than the north marina every year.
Unless they change the date, the south marina will not open for another month or so. Here is a link to a post TD made last year on April 4th and it was still closed then.
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=490740;search_string=Willard%20Bay;#490740
WH2
Thanks for the reply!
do you guys know if the water is going to be up again this year? I remember guys talking about how detrimental low water is in that lake to the sight-hunting wipers
Yes the water level will be high again this year, mainly because in never dropped very much last year. Because of the lack of water in the mountains this year that could change in the last part of the summer because of water being taken out of the lake but my guess is we will see a full lake in the spring and early summer. We should have a great year at willard and might even see a new state record wiper caught.
I seamed to to better when it was low on the wipers than, I did last year. It seamed they had a few more places to go hang with the water being up like 10+ feet.
Did you see the shad spawn last year?
Last year was one of those years, I feel the lake is out of balance right now, not enough wipers, and way to many shad, this year will be better the wiper should be pushing 20" + this year that where 16" last year, and the bigger fish seem more organized when it come to boiling on the shad and just schooling all year long. and I agree with WH2 another state record will be caught this year, there was allot of food over the winter for the bigger fish to grow a few inches. My guess is I wont catch it but I am going to sure the hell try. , The walleye and the crappie will be bigger and both should have had great spawn last year including some more perch and smallies in the mix. hopefully all the predators put a dent in the shad over the winter and we have some hungry fish this spring.
I will have to agree with you. I remember seeing huge balls of shade on the finder all over the lake. The walleyes and wipers had no reason to be aggressive. But with the stocking reports of 2008 and 2009, and the submerged cover that makes good breeding for the crappie and perch I think the shad will be thinned out a little. If not thats ok too because like you said catchin um might be few and far between but what we do catch they will be big!
A little info from the past 5 years.
If you guys remember a post about them stocking 500000 sack fry every year, that info was wrong with the exception of 2006,I would say all them small 14-16" wipers we where catching last year where from that year. So we should be seeing some healthy 18-20" fish this year as a typical catch.the last two years they planted half that. So if people catch limit’s and take them home they will be reduced quickly and where looking at poor fishing in 2011-2012 with small fish again. I am guilty of eating the wipers my self, but usually only take about two limits of fish a year out of Willard with the rest being returned to grow and be caught again.we need to leave a good healthy population of bigger wipers to reduce the shad population that are in the 4-6 inch range or they will over populate and fishing will be poor for years to come. Just my 2 cents on the matter,what do you all think.
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 180000 1.53" 07/07/2004
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 169980 .76" 08/07/2005
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 400000 2.92" 05/15/2006 WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 199920 1.21" 07/20/2006
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 150000 1.84" 07/01/2007
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 200000 1.08" 07/29/2008
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 12903 2.7" 08/06/2009 WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 81732 1.64"
I would say all them small 14-16" wipers we where catching last year where from that year.
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 12903 2.7" 08/06/2009 [.img]http://wildlife.utah.gov/i/clear.gif[/img] WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 81732 1.64" 08/06/2009 [.img]http://wildlife.utah.gov/i/clear.gif[/img] WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 81732 1.64" 08/06/2009 [.img]http://wildlife.utah.gov/i/clear.gif[/img] WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 81732 1.64" 08/06/2009
![http://wildlife.utah.gov/i/clear.gif[/img]](http://wildlife.utah.gov/i/clear.gif%5B/img%5D){kind=link}
Hey Tony,
I think over the winter the wipers and other fish that prey on the shad, have really thinned them out. This spring we should see some boils like in years past when the water is clear. That might not happen until the end of next month but when the water starts warming I think the fishing will be awesome until the shad spawn and the fry fill the water again.
So you think the 14-16" wipers we were catching last year were planted in 2006? That sounds about right, if I remember correctly they grow about 4-5" a year and from your list it looks like they planted 599,920 that year. Without a doubt that is the most they have planted in a lot of years There is always a few carry over fish from prior years, like the one you caught last year. If just a few of those surived the winter, my guess would be there is a wiper close to 30" and 10 lbs swiming out there this year. Sure hope someone on the site catches it !
In the last two listings you posted of wiper planted last year, is that correct or did you just put the same number a few extra times?[:/]
I was just looking at the Willard web cam and the north marina launch ramp appears ice free, I bet some brave sole will be launching in the next week or so, playing chicken with the ice out there. Seems to happen every year[crazy].
those were the stocking reports I was thinking of. I still think with the poor catch rate from last year means there are alot of wipers still in willard feeding on the shad.
Wh2, Those where pulled directly from the stocking reports that can be viewed all the way back to 2002 i think. on the DWR website.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/fishing/stocking.html
I feel we are going to see boils as soon as the water hits around 70 degrees, there should be plenty of shad from last year to promote the fish to school up the shad that should be around 3-4" 's by now and site fishing should be good until the shad fry hatch. mainly morning and evenings with a few day time boils on cloudy days. anyone trolling the dikes are going to do the best I think with the remaining larger shad in the rocks trying to survive also the weed beds should be good on the south end and north end.
I predict the west dike is going to be the hot spot this year with the light pole one of the best spots and the outlet being the second best. freeway bay always seems to have the juveniles piling up on the flat.The noth end humps should hold good numbers during the day and them fish will go in shallow on windy days and morning and evenings depending on the power squadron and pressure. I learned a few things last year towards the end that will change the way I fish for wipers this year I think Old_coot, MGB/Rak, including you and Ira and some of the others that always do well in the spring already use these tactics to put fish in the boat when it is slow for others. Will see what happens.[fishin][;)]
I have been looking at the cam for the last week and you are right someone will get out there lets just hope they keep an eye on the ice pack and no one gets hurt or loses there life.
Bluemohawk,
I agree with you still plenty of wipers in Willard with big old belly’s to boot. with what I saw last year it should be a great year for catching big healthy wipers.hope the walleye’s start showing up I caught very few last year which makes me think they didn’t do to well the past three years spawning,also they have had plenty to eat last year.so that may be a big part of the catch ratio.
Can you give us the site for the Willard web cam? Thanx 
her you go, you will need java on your computer to veiw and use the camera,
http://www.livelakeview.com/lakes/willardbay/
Yea, I read the figures on their site, it must be a misprint. I’ve never heard of them planting three times, in one location, on the same day, the same exact number of fish. WIPER 81732 1.64" 08/06/2009
70* is the magic number but they will start before then, once it hits 65* we will start seeing some surface activity this year, maybe even earlier. I would bet by the end of next month someone will start seeing boils or maybe just surface activity. I guess it all depends on how fast the water warms but a few years back, I remember Brody and a few others seeing boils long before the water hit 70* Should be a very interesting year.
Yea, I think so to it must be a misprint, I am betting it was suppose to say.
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 12903 2.7" 08/06/2009
WILLARD BAY RES Box Elder WIPER 81732 1.64" 08/06/2009
Well I wouldn’t doubt that he did see boils. He is on the water allot more than I am. and you know as well as me one day can be fast and furious the next you wonder if there is a fish in the lake.
I talked with him last week and he has is boat out of storage and hit bear lake already. As soon as ice comes off the lake I’m sure he will be out there fishing.[fishin]
I just hope the fish school up better this year, I never did have more than a few days I could troll the same area and keep picking up fish.
will see what happens, the wind today opened that hole one the north end up a bit more, is the water open out from the outlet channel quite a ways? does any one know?
The north end of the bay is opening up real fast. There is a good 20 mile an hour wind in Brigham right now. Looks like it is open from the marina north. Can’t wait for the wiper fishing. Love it!!!
http://www.eprofishing.com/epf/wx.asp?id=MUTWLD&filter=BPTUFRI
My wiper fishing last year was dismal to say the least. Every where I looked, pods of small shad. The wipers were there, but very small pods of them, just attacking the shad at random.
The good news for me was I dialed in the Crappie pretty good and with the water levels I expect there was a good spawn. I’m really looking forward to some good crappie fishing again this year and for the next few years.
The north end of the bay is opening up real fast. There is a good 20 mile an hour wind in Brigham right now. Looks like it is open from the marina north. Can’t wait for the wiper fishing. Love it!!!
Now hope you learned your lesson last year to stay off until that ice is gone. [;)] I’m just messin with you but you had a few close calls last year.
Man it has opened up allot from yesterday, and its going to open up twice as fast now that it can get some wave action going, BLOW WIND! BLOW![fishin] been watching all morning and the wind is doing great right now most the north end will be open today. you can see the big piece outside the marina really moving around.