Why did the fish and game open up the river going into Willard Bay ?? It has been closed during the spawn for years ..And I think that was a very good idea . Do they want all the walleyes out of there ?
I said it before and I’ll say it again, nobody should get their panties in a twist over people fishing a spot legally. Everyone should be happy when access opens up to anglers, because the trend over the last 30-40 years has been the opposite. Most places are now closed to anglers, we should rejoice when they let us fish in places we couldn’t before.
Snaggers and those who keep over their limit should be punished, and with high enough fines that they think twice about going back. Repeat offenders should have even higher penalties.
The laws are pretty simple and so is enforcing them. Let’s hope they are vigilant.
I can read the future: The officials will NOT enforce the laws sufficiently, they won’t show up at 3:00AM to check on the place…and the snaggers will get a ton of attention and in a year or two the spot will be closed again. Everyone will blame the snaggers and the idiots who keep over their limit. Welll not me. It is a two way street - the officials in charge must uphold and enforce the law. They knew opening this spot back up would attract illegal activity, they shouldn’t be surprised or have any excuses… they knew this was coming. Let’s see if they step up to the plate and enforce the laws or just let the place turn into a zoo.
There is an insect that hatches in willard in may and june (water temp 55-65) that the walleye and wipers go nuts over. Its a little green guy that they stuff their guts with. I think its funny when I whack a walleye with bunch stuck on its teeth still wiggling around. I would think fly fishermen would be able to out fish every
Does it have a wiggling action? lol
**Probably emerging midge larvae. They are thick over some of the mud flats and all species gorge on them. DWR studies show that wipers and walleyes both have to rely on invertebrates for a high percentage of their food intake during the first two quarters of the year. The shad don’t spawn until June and their fry are not big enough to eat until later in July. So bug larvae and crawdads are on the menu.
I’m guessing we won’t be seeing you wave a flyrod anytime soon though.
Now, down in Utah Lake, I actually did catch walleyes on topwater flies…back in the early sixties. I was night fishing a popper for largemouths in the reeds off the mouth of the Provo River. Water was less than 2 feet deep. I heard some splashes in even shallower water but thought they were probably carp. However, when I laid a little deerhair popper in the rings of a recent splash it got smacked. I set the hook and was amazed to see a walleye at the end of my line. There were some big mayflies hatching in the shallows and the toothy critters were in there sucking them in. First and only time it has happened. Although I had a (fairly reliable) report of someone else catching them on the lower Provo while fishing a floating hopper imitation for browns.
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On the contrary, I have been thinking of fly fishing walleye when they are in shallow water(less than 3ft). Seems when I sight fish them even an unweighted plastic will spook when it hits the water. I may have to trade a boat rride to a fly fisher for some lessons[;)]
I would love to try. I got a couple patterns I would love to try.
**If they are over a clean bottom you can also fish a fly on a dropshot rig…with the weight on a foot long dropper and the fly riding out about 3 feet behind. Just cast far enough beyond the fish to avoid spooking and then drag the (light) weight and fly in front of the fish.
I have some small blue and white flies I have used for years as droppers above a jig…or with the dropshot setup. Caught lots of cats, crappies and walleyes on them.
Or…you can have the Fly Lady show ya how to wave a fairy wand. Just be careful she doesn’t bring Baxter aboard. You will no longer be captain of your boat.
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Back before the trashing scum forced access to be closed below Yuba dam I caught a lot of walleye on a big double renegade fly with a red tail. Fished it behind a bubble just like I did at Strawberry. Only time it worked though was in the fall after they’d shut the river down for the winter.
TBD,
I also attended the seminar and I think the chuckles when you asked the question are because fly fishing for walleye is not the most “proven” technique. Most of the folks in attendance were looking for the best methods to productively catch walleye.
If it were a catfishing seminar - you’d be listening to guys telling you how to make the stinkiest bait, or the best piece of cut bait, not the best dry fly pattern. Has anyone ever caught a catfish on a fly - sure.
That said, one guy answered you “something that looks like a minnow” which I believe is the good answer. Walleye are meat eating (minnow munching) machines.
So if you wish to try for walleye by fly casting - more power to you, it will be a challenge, but that may be fun. If you want to have walleye filets for dinner, I’d follow some other techniques.
Losing a whole bunch of your big spawning Females is really hard on a fishery. If they were going to open it up, the least they should of done is put a slot on it where most of the females would of went back. Hopefully there are lots of other spawning areas besides that one. Fishon
Losing a whole bunch of your big spawning Females is really hard on a fishery. If they were going to open it up, the least they should of done is put a slot on it where most of the females would of went back. Hopefully there are lots of other spawning areas besides that one. Fishon
You mean like this?
Willard Bay Reservoir and inlet channel, Box Elder County
• Limit 10 crappie.
• Limit 6 walleye, only 1 walleye may be over
24 inches.
• Limit 3 wiper.
• Possession of gizzard shad, dead or alive, is
unlawful.
Thanks, Hopefully people will bring tape measures and handle the big females released gingerly…Fishon
[fishin] The problem with that is the fish i am talking about are almost on the shore. The only answer Ive had is to pitch on shore and quietly drag back in the water. Needless to say this results in alot of lost tackle. Gets real expensive with cranks. One place I would love to try the fly thing is boysen res in wyoming. The walleye up there run the shiners right in to the shore. Fun to watch but hard to fish.
**Sounds like it might be a good investment of time and money to set up a decent walleye flyfishing rig and learn how to make some delicate presentations.
There are times and places for all kinds of gear. It would be tough to bottom bounce a crawler with a 6 weight fly rod…but that same rod could put you into a lot of shallow fish when heavier gear only spooks them. And it is a lot of fun to fight fish on the long rod too.
Be sure to get good qualified assistance on putting together a rod/reel/line package. If you get one that does not work well together it will be more frustrating than rewarding. And once you have your gear, put in some time practicing…the right way…to be able to make good presentations without having to fight with your unfamiliar tackle.
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