06-28-2011, 09:53 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Contrary to what some "naysayers" may have you believe, wipers are caught all year long by flyrodders...using flylines and flies. Not dry flies, but larger white or silver streamers or buggers. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]With today's new technology in lines and ongoing discovery of new presentation techniques there are literally no fish within the top 50 feet of the water column that cannot be taken on a fly. Heck, there are even a few "specialists" who use leadcore line on fly rods and dredge up macks from way down there.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]More important than the tackle you use is your knowledge of wipers and what they are doing at any given time of the year. Be at the right place to intercept them...and present the right flies...the right way...and you should be able to expect some hookups. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those who overgeneralize and claim that you can only catch them at one time of the year with one kind of presentation...topwater at boil time...show a complete lack of knowledge about wiperology and about fly fishing in general.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As far as spooking the wipers with one type of boat vs another, that is not often a problem. True, you will sometimes do better while trolling if you run your lures off to the side of the boat with a planer board. But a high percentage of all wipers caught on Willard are caught by unsophisticated lure washers who simply drag lures until they catch a fish...or go home. At times the wipers act like salt water wahoo and will hit lures within feet of the prop wash. At other times you have to fish over a hundred feet of line between the boat and the lure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When the fish are active and chasing food they pay no attention to stationary watercraft. They may actually bounce off the sides of your boat while chasing shad. I have had them just about jump into my float tube with me. However, the bozos who think it is clever to run through a boil wide open while others are fishing it...well, they need to be taught the downside of eunuchry.
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[#0000ff]Gas motors will usually not cost you many strikes. Electric trolling motors are quieter but not as efficient for trolling for hours at the high speeds often necessary for catching wipers. Fin power alone will get you to a targeting fishing area but will not allow you to cover much water...and trying to troll at 3.5 mph will give you a hernia...or hisnia.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The best program for flyfishing wipers from shore is to get in as much time as possible from mid April to around the end of May...varying by each year. When water temps approach 65 the wipers go into spawn mode and cruise the banks and look for moving water...or agitated water. That is your second best shot at getting a wiper on a fly...in fairly shallow water...close to shore. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The absolute best is during the boils. But that takes a combination of good timing and good luck. Wipers go where the groceries are and the little shad fry schools can get blown all over the lake. They might be thick along one section of dike in the morning and out over open water by afternoon...or vice versa. You have to watch the birds and be ready to rocket to a new boil before the fish go down. Some boils last for hours. Others are a few tail slaps and it's over.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you are a tuber or tooner you can sometimes enjoy wide open wiper mania inside the north marina while all the power squadron have blasted off for parts unknown in the main lake. I have had days when I caught wiper after wiper...all by my lonesome...while casting into very skinny water right next to the shoreline. Of course I have had plenty of the other kind too...with only a few silly kitties to keep me busy. Those "inside" days usually coincide with the outside boils. Same deal. The wipers come inside to chow down both on shad fry and baby carp that are also present inside by late July and into August.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There is no guarantee that you will catch more fish from a tube or toon. But, by using your fins to help move you slowly into position...and maintain hands free control...you can focus on fishing rather than controlling your boat.
[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]With today's new technology in lines and ongoing discovery of new presentation techniques there are literally no fish within the top 50 feet of the water column that cannot be taken on a fly. Heck, there are even a few "specialists" who use leadcore line on fly rods and dredge up macks from way down there.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]More important than the tackle you use is your knowledge of wipers and what they are doing at any given time of the year. Be at the right place to intercept them...and present the right flies...the right way...and you should be able to expect some hookups. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Those who overgeneralize and claim that you can only catch them at one time of the year with one kind of presentation...topwater at boil time...show a complete lack of knowledge about wiperology and about fly fishing in general.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As far as spooking the wipers with one type of boat vs another, that is not often a problem. True, you will sometimes do better while trolling if you run your lures off to the side of the boat with a planer board. But a high percentage of all wipers caught on Willard are caught by unsophisticated lure washers who simply drag lures until they catch a fish...or go home. At times the wipers act like salt water wahoo and will hit lures within feet of the prop wash. At other times you have to fish over a hundred feet of line between the boat and the lure.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When the fish are active and chasing food they pay no attention to stationary watercraft. They may actually bounce off the sides of your boat while chasing shad. I have had them just about jump into my float tube with me. However, the bozos who think it is clever to run through a boil wide open while others are fishing it...well, they need to be taught the downside of eunuchry.
[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Gas motors will usually not cost you many strikes. Electric trolling motors are quieter but not as efficient for trolling for hours at the high speeds often necessary for catching wipers. Fin power alone will get you to a targeting fishing area but will not allow you to cover much water...and trying to troll at 3.5 mph will give you a hernia...or hisnia.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The best program for flyfishing wipers from shore is to get in as much time as possible from mid April to around the end of May...varying by each year. When water temps approach 65 the wipers go into spawn mode and cruise the banks and look for moving water...or agitated water. That is your second best shot at getting a wiper on a fly...in fairly shallow water...close to shore. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The absolute best is during the boils. But that takes a combination of good timing and good luck. Wipers go where the groceries are and the little shad fry schools can get blown all over the lake. They might be thick along one section of dike in the morning and out over open water by afternoon...or vice versa. You have to watch the birds and be ready to rocket to a new boil before the fish go down. Some boils last for hours. Others are a few tail slaps and it's over.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you are a tuber or tooner you can sometimes enjoy wide open wiper mania inside the north marina while all the power squadron have blasted off for parts unknown in the main lake. I have had days when I caught wiper after wiper...all by my lonesome...while casting into very skinny water right next to the shoreline. Of course I have had plenty of the other kind too...with only a few silly kitties to keep me busy. Those "inside" days usually coincide with the outside boils. Same deal. The wipers come inside to chow down both on shad fry and baby carp that are also present inside by late July and into August.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There is no guarantee that you will catch more fish from a tube or toon. But, by using your fins to help move you slowly into position...and maintain hands free control...you can focus on fishing rather than controlling your boat.
[/#0000ff]
[signature]