Willard boat ramp and catfish

[TubeDude]

Pat,
Are you talking about the point adjacent to the channel? I tried that spot as well and only had one bite, looked like a juvenile cat. My fish were caught north of there in about 3 to 4 feet of water, I think, it took 2 seconds for a 1 ounce sinker to hit bottom. A fisherman in a pontoon ran over my baited hook on his way to fishy pastures, I thought about asking him how deep it was but I couldn't think of a nice way to ask.

Yes.  From that point you can fish due west...in the "trough" that runs parallel to the shore for a ways.  Or, you can cast out into the channel.  Just gotta find where the fish are.  And as you discovered, they ain't always in deeper water.



A "diplomatic" inquiry to a clueless fellow angler..."Hey, since you are right on top of my line, would you mind telling me how deep the water is there?"  A snarky reply is worthy of a rock skipping contest.

By the way, there is a similar slightly deeper trough just offshore from Eagle Beach...toward the NE corner.  It can be several feet deep fairly close to shore and the area does tend to attract bait items and predators.  A good place to fish fligs or a baited jig below a bobber.

It is going to be interesting to see how the fishing develops as the water levels continue to drop.  I have had experience with some extreme low water years in the past and they can be either good or bad.  Duh.  It is helpful to know the bottom contours and to be able to employ good electronics to find where the fish are hanging out.  I have seen schools of crappie hanging in water less than 2' deep in late fall.  And I have caught late fall wipers in water barely 3' deep.  But the best late fall fishing for me has been finding schools of big perch in only a few feet of water on some of the humps outside Eagle Beach.  Bring it on.  Have tube, will travel.