Willard today with The Slayer

[wiperhunter2]

We likely had three others on but this was the only perch we got in. As far as wipers this year it will be more of the same as the last four years. Since the DWR went in another direction and are now putting all their efforts in making Willard a walleye fishery, wipers will take a back seat to the eyes as far as numbers being cauht there. From planting a millon wipers a year in it's hayday, to now only planting a few hundred thousand, that tells the tail. So while there are and will continue to be wipers in Willard, their numbers are 1/4 of what they once were. Don't get me wrong, while I love the fight of a wiper, walleye are much better eating IMO. The  thing is, unless we start getting a lot of water pouing into Willard this will likely be a short season this year. In an average year 6 to 7 ft of water is taken out of Willard during the season and just from that if we lose 6 ft of water we will not be able to launch a boat by the middle of Summer, so you better get out there early this year before things get ugly.

Thanks for your update on willard,  it's going to be a difficult year. I'm wondering if the midlake island is exposed? Hope they have some bouys on it.  Did you get an open water temperature? 
I'm looking for a trip next week.

No, The Island is not out of the water, it never came out of the water last Fall and the water level has come up almost 2 ft since then. The lake temps on the East side got up to a little over 42 degrees yesterday. They usually don't put bouys on the island, this early in the year but maybe in the next month, they will put them out. If you don't have The Island marked on your GPS, it's a good idea to get it marked, so you will know exactly where it is, for the early and last season trips out there.