Gulpin' On Willard 7-27-22 (With Video)

[TubeDude]

OK, when you said small repala's  I thought about this type of small rapala:
https://www.amazon.com/Rapala-Countdown-...is-20&th=1
Great idea on dropping them to the bottom, then fast crank it back up.

Almost everybody is familiar with the old "traditional" Rapalas...plain or jointed.  And a lot of guys use the "Fat Raps".  But it is surprising how few folks know about or use the Rattlin' Raps.  I like them better than the old RatLTraps.  And the fish in Willard keep voting for them so I will too.

I've used them many times in the past, especially back in the days when those Producer lures worked so well but in recent years lipless cranks just haven't worked as well for us, although we have had some success using them for crappie both at Willard and at Pineview.

It is interesting to look back over the history of the wiper fishery the past few years.  For several years...'05 -'10 and a few years beyond...there were wipers galore.  You couldn't avoid catching them.  My wife and I had days when we kept our tubes inside the north marina and had wiper boils going on around us all morning...each catching at least 10 -20 fish apiece by throwing pearl Sassy Shads.  Then...after DWR began experimenting with "new and better" stocking programs...the fishing began to fall off.  At least for wipers.  Their new and improved walleye program has resulted in a better walleye fishery but a lot of us miss the slugfest sessions with wipers.   When was the last time you fished a wide open boil?

Funny how the favored lures have changed too...both for the fish and fishermen.   For a time those Producers were the hot lures.  For the past few years I have not been able to buy a fish on them.  Hmmmmm?  Is it the fish changing...or the fishermen?