04-25-2022, 04:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-25-2022, 04:37 PM by obifishkenobi.)
My Willard basics include
1-2 oz. bottom bouncers with worm harness rigs, I purchase at Sportsman's, my favorite colors are perch and purple perch patterns. they will catch Walleye, Wipers and Catfish. this tactic works great middle of May to the Middle of June. Several years ago there was a post about fishing them at a high rate of speed 2-3 mph as apposed to the more traditional .5-1 mph. I have done best fishing them fast in this late spring early summer window. I will generally run a bottom bouncer set up off each side and crankbaits off of the rear corners of my boat.
Lipless crank baits like 1/2oz. Rattletraps and #5 Rattlin Raps, popular, colors are chrome with black or blue back, Fire tiger and Perch patterns, they will catch all three species but Wipers and catfish most likely. fish them 1.5-3mph making lots of turns.
Shad Raps and Flicker shad, #5 and #7 size, in fire tiger, shad, crawfish, purple are also a good option. same as lipless lots of turns.
Soaking mussels can also be an effective tactic for catching wipers. I will troll cranks until I find a group of fish or one of my favorite drops, hump, bump or hole then set anchor and fish cooked Muscles on a number 4 hook with no weight.
Flig There are a number of Flig experts on the board and they can expound on their rigging and fishing technique.
1-2 oz. bottom bouncers with worm harness rigs, I purchase at Sportsman's, my favorite colors are perch and purple perch patterns. they will catch Walleye, Wipers and Catfish. this tactic works great middle of May to the Middle of June. Several years ago there was a post about fishing them at a high rate of speed 2-3 mph as apposed to the more traditional .5-1 mph. I have done best fishing them fast in this late spring early summer window. I will generally run a bottom bouncer set up off each side and crankbaits off of the rear corners of my boat.
Lipless crank baits like 1/2oz. Rattletraps and #5 Rattlin Raps, popular, colors are chrome with black or blue back, Fire tiger and Perch patterns, they will catch all three species but Wipers and catfish most likely. fish them 1.5-3mph making lots of turns.
Shad Raps and Flicker shad, #5 and #7 size, in fire tiger, shad, crawfish, purple are also a good option. same as lipless lots of turns.
Soaking mussels can also be an effective tactic for catching wipers. I will troll cranks until I find a group of fish or one of my favorite drops, hump, bump or hole then set anchor and fish cooked Muscles on a number 4 hook with no weight.
Flig There are a number of Flig experts on the board and they can expound on their rigging and fishing technique.