Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ??

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mopars0
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2015/05/17 13:48:41 (permalink)

Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ??

Just wondering if anyone has heard anything about the lake problems with shad or if anyone is even trying to fish it. Might try it here soon but not sure it would be worth the trip. Just asking so thanks for any info guys ....

STEVE.
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    slabfinder
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/05/18 00:22:21 (permalink)
    They should have biologists reports available along with stocking numbers. I heard the walleye fishing was improving, if that helps. The more apex predators less shad...
    #2
    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/05/18 09:52:03 (permalink)
    Thanks Slabfinder.... Might just give it a try later this week , used to love fishing the lake , then it just started going down hill.

    STEVE.
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    bassmaster5
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/05/18 20:41:58 (permalink)
    It really depends on what you're fishing for.  I still find it to be the best bass lake in the area.  while numbers have been down significantly the past few years, the size of the average bass I caught was awesome.  This year, it's been a mix of smaller fish with the bigger ones and overall catch numbers have been way up, which tells me the lake is recovering.  As stated, the walleye fishing has improved from what I hear.  Its really the pan fish that has taken the biggest hit.  Hope this helps. 
    #4
    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/05/18 23:10:35 (permalink)
    Thanks Basaster5...mainly walleye & bass , and yes always has been an awesome bass lake. Knew the panfish has been bad . Last year was really bad for me, did get a few bass , panfish if any were small and couldn't find a walleye. Did get some slabs at Pymatuning.Then on my 5th trip out my 9.9 motor blew up, pretty much ended my season early. Got a new 20 motor and ready to go 😀...have been to Pymatuning once this year about a week ago some slabs but nothing to write home about. So figure might be time to get back to Wilhelm ... besides 100 miles round trip to Pymatuning & 50 miles to Wilhelm... Thanks again for the info.

    STEVE.
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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/05/19 00:17:09 (permalink)
    Steve, Wilhelm is practically in my backyard and I've fished that lake for many years.  In her beginning she produced some of the finest hammer handle sized Northern by the dozens.  In the 70s & 80s some bragging size bass were (5lb +) caught along with Musky, Walleye, Crappie, Gills and now, sizable Northern.  As time passed, the walleye became fewer and fewer as did the Crappie and Northern and so did the vegetation.  Places where weeds were so heavy you could practically walk over them became barren of any growth and this continues to be the case.  Bass however, continued to thrive making 5 lbs common, and 8 to 10 pounders being taken often enough that the news of such catches, just wasn't as exciting anymore.  I find it amazing; the amount of Walleyes stocked from year 2000 to 2014 vs the amount of Bass stocked over the same time period. All these fry and fingerlings stocked and the walleye fishing nowhere what it was pre 90s and before trophy Bass lake projects. (http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/WWCWStockingDetailsHistorical_RFP.aspx)
     
    Anyway, I did notice last year, there seemed to be far less of the Shad appearing in Wilhelm.  Don't know, maybe that's wishful thinking or, maybe I just wasn't there at the right times.  But I do know, as in the past, there was not the weed growth as once was.
     
    I had hoped to hit Wilhelm this week but with this cold front moving in I don't know if the lake is worth wasting the gas.   Time will tell..................
     
    Good fishing. 

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #6
    smally hunter
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/05/19 05:13:01 (permalink)
    Depends what you like . Ice fishing I limited on ok gils once . But only once cuz I didn't feel like filleting much the other times I fished . 5-7 inches . Not hogs at all but I was generally surprised with the shoulders they had compared to other years . Every summer me and my buddies fish the main causeway at random for crappie . Always catch a ton with maybe 10 keepers mixed in . But last year the big crappies I saw caught were actually healthy slabs but still not in numbers . I do however feel like it rebounding . I'm old enough to remember the fishing before it plummeted . We used to make 5-6 trips a year where all day long you'd catch slabs . The roadbed bite near the propagation area used to be unreal in the fall
    #7
    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/05/19 10:34:38 (permalink)
    John .... Yeah , I remember the good old days , guess I'm old enough too 😀.. Used to always hit Pymatuning early for slabs & to put fish in the freezer then work Wilhem hard for bass & walleye. My son will be 39 so I've been around for awhile. Do remember catching the northerns at the causeway used to get tired of catching them but sure wish we had those days back. Daughter lives on Ollie road just past the causeway, grandson is heading back to college to get his Masters soon so figured we could get a fishing trip in here.... Remember one time we launched at the marina , trolled down to launch 2 and son caught a 26",21"& 20" walleye on first pass on Hot & Tots ... Yep those were the days, Good luck fishing this year.....
    post edited by mopars0 - 2015/05/19 10:40:54

    STEVE.
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    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/12 10:08:12 (permalink)
    Good night on the Wilhelm ... Bass comes in on Saturday and I caught 2 nice bass which I released... Go figure !! Did catch fish some small though , perch wasn't to bad .... But my grandson had the monster of the night .....25" ... 6lbs ....walleye trolling with HOT & TOTS .... so guess maybe getting better !   
    post edited by mopars0 - 2015/06/12 10:33:36

    STEVE.
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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/13 09:45:47 (permalink)
    Nice catch...................... Congratulations!
     
     Keep pictures like that coming!
     
    I'd be awwwwwwwwwwwfully disappointed if ya didn't see large schools of shad hitting the surface while yinz was there!

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #10
    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/13 11:09:41 (permalink)
    Thanks BTDT..... Grandson is getting his Master's so have to get him on the lake when he has the free time... He is 24 but have to admit when we finally got it in the boat just for a moment it was like he was a little kid again opening his Christmas presents ...lol. That was really a cool moment ....Yes I did see some schools of shad but looks a lot better all around hope it keep improving .... Probably 20 different areas of shore fishing and from launch 2 to marina & even down toward launch 1 area about 10 boats all trolling ..... Keeping fingers crossed 😀😀....... Good luck fishing !!

    STEVE.
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    outasync
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 13:31:18 (permalink)


    post edited by outasync - 2015/06/14 13:33:46
    #12
    outasync
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 13:34:50 (permalink)
    16 1/2 inch crappie 2.2 lbs
    #13
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 13:43:54 (permalink)
     wow, what a fish outasync!  
     
    #14
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 13:44:12 (permalink)
    what an incredible slab.  all those shad must be fattening..lol  nice job, os.
    #15
    outasync
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 13:49:07 (permalink)
    He is free to be caught another day too. Had another on right before him just as big. Dad thought I was full of smit when I said it was a giant crappie when I lost it beside the boat. 3 casts later I got him.
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    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 14:15:17 (permalink)
    Wow,is right think I'm just going to keep working the lake closer to home and proving it is getting back ...thanks for sharing bud !! Good luck fishing...

    STEVE.
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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 18:05:27 (permalink)
                      
     
     
     
     
    Mopars..........................  no spot burning!

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #18
    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 18:32:03 (permalink)
    BTDT....👍👍 got ya ....😜😜

    STEVE.
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/06/14 18:50:34 (permalink)
    never fished the lake but many, many years ago, when my wife and i were dating, we stopped by fergies one evening in the winter for a soft drink on our ride back to ohio.  on the counter were pictures of fish taken from the lake.  among these was a picture of a limit of walleyes that one would think came from lake erie.   never in all the decades that i have fished mosquito and pymatuning did i see such a picture.  the lake sure is a gem.
     
    outasync, kudos for releasing that hawg.  i'll bet she has a lot of babies with the 'big fish' dna.
    #20
    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/07/03 15:39:56 (permalink)
    Well things are looking better, still have a ways to go but I'll take it.....trolled the lake last night until about 10:00 alot of boats out of course probably the 4th July weekend had something to do with it. Was catching fish pretty much all evening all small ....crappies,bass , & perch..but did manage this muskie no giant but it was fun around 27" or better...not legal but would have released it anyways.....nice sunset though....
    post edited by mopars0 - 2015/07/03 15:43:56

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    STEVE.
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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/07/03 18:07:28 (permalink)
    Steve nice to hear ya had a good day/night on the water.  Thanks for the update.
    That is a pretty sunset, it looks like the same sun that was right out front of my place.
     
    PS. Your secret's (no spot burning) safe with me.
     
    Have a happy and safe 4th.
     

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #22
    mopars0
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/07/03 20:04:01 (permalink)
    BeenThereDoneThat.
    Steve nice to hear ya had a good day/night on the water.  Thanks for the update.That is a pretty sunset, it looks like the same sun that was right out front of my place. PS. Your secret's (no spot burning) safe with me. Have a happy and safe 4th. 
    Thank you BTDT....you have a happy and safe 4th as well .... Glad to know my secret's will be safe with you ......good to know 😜

    STEVE.
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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Lake Wilhelm Shad Problems ?? 2015/07/04 10:57:55 (permalink)
    Hey guys and gals today (July 4th) is fish for free day  If any of yinz want  to try out Lake Wilhelm, I know some fishing hot spots.
     
     
     
     
     
    Just kidding..................
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    But money talks!!!!!!!!!!!!!  
     
     
     
     
    HAPPY 4th............. Everyone!

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #24
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