Success at Willard Bay

For 4 years now my brother-in-law and I have been jabbering about taking the boat up to Willard Bay to hunt Walleye and Wiper. Neither of us had ever caught a Wiper and Saturday we decided to realize this ever discussed ambition. We started out fishing just south of the submerged island with bottom bouncers and worm harnesses. We immediately marked a sizable stack of fish, dropped a marker buoy, and proceeded to catch 3 Walleye and 2 Crappie.

It was not long before reinforcements started arriving, but it did not seem like they were showing up to help. Within 20 minutes there were a dozen other boats closing in on my marker. The nerve of some people, trying to crowd me out of my own spot. After all I did have my name on it, yeah... um... technically it was written on the back of my marker which was floating on the spot. After 35 minutes without another bite we decided it was best to relocate. I started on a N.W. bearing trolling toward the West dike. Soon we began hooking into Walleye. The catch rate tapered off from earlier excitement  but the fish were definitely of greater size.

After reeling in 4 sizable Walleye and 2 Crappie the boy looked like he needed a break. In fact, he did not complain too much when I lovingly recommended that I should take the next one.  

As the afternoon started to settle in we had put 2 limits of Walleye in the boat but no Wiper. We decided unless we got serious now we were likely going home without checking Wiper off our species list. We trolled over to the S.E. side of the island. Then it happened, like I hooked a truck in oncoming traffic, my line started flying of my spool. I thought for sure this was it. After about a 15 minute fight I saw what appeared be a 40 lb fire breathing beast from the depths. Before the fish was netted, my brother-in-law leaned over and congratulated me on catching my first Wiper. I immediately knew I was in trouble. Before I could mutter the words "take it back" the fish came off the line and disappeared into the stained water. Don't get me wrong, I don't normally consider myself a superstitious man. But then again I don't exactly act normal when I am fishing.

To add insult to injury my brother-in-law landed the next fish and it was a Wiper. Time was running out and I was getting nervous. After releasing another Walleye we landed 2 more Wiper, one for me and one for the boy. I can now vouch for the athleticism of this hybrid. When they hit, there is no question as to what it is on the end of the line. To sum it up in one word, "Exciting!"

There was never a prouder moment than watching my son show up all the other guys around the fish cleaning station. I usually remind my boy that it's not polite to brag... But not today.

Final Tally:

13 Walleye

3 Wiper

2 Crappie