Never fished Wilhelm, what is...

I never fished or been to there.
coming from Erie, what is the best way to a boat launch and is there any bait and tackle stores near by?
any info would be great, looking to take the kids down on Friday. Thanks

Thank you for all your info, enjoyed fishing there.  next time kids and I head there, we found and easier way to get there by when we left at the Sheakleyville, rd i79, on ramp.  will fish there again!

I think I am going to plan a trip next Sat with the kids, all depends on mother nature.

Going back up this Wednesday for bass only . Landed some to brag about two weeks ago

Probably be there this Thursday evening , last Thursday it was pretty slow nothing to write home about but it was fun ....

Alaskan
Good luck mopars0, if you go Thursday.

. Thanks , good luck to you also on Sunday if you go ...

Thanks for the informative post...sounds like you were doin all the right stuff..What a shame that lake went down the tubes..I fished it with 2 buddies recently for about 5 hrs..we had 3 bass to the boat..one of em' might have been a pound & a half. Let's not even start talkin about the good ole days on that lake..bummer..
  The reason the cracker lunchables were probably half off cause they were 6 months old .
Once I left a pack of those at our deer camp ..found them when we went up to open up for trout season..5 mos. later and they still "looked ok"..Next time I'll save em for you :)
Cheers,  The Mercer Pike Kid
 
 
 

mopars0
BTDT.....lol. ...well I was there last night as well, I was at launch #2 . At the lake about 3:30 went down by dam in the one cove done there. Messed around with a Minnie & bobber , worked for bass with other pole. About 5:30 started trolling harnesses back up the lake. So I take it that was you sitting by the old road bed by #2 about 6:30 ... Lol. Changed to hot n tots about 7:00 tried 4 different colors until 9:20 .... Said the hell with it and loaded up... Saw you was heading up toward #4 ... My picnic lunch was peanut butter & jelly sandwich , pop, hot pepper cheese .... Lol. ..... And yes STUPID FISH !!!

That would be me and I wondered if that might be you.  Even if the fish weren't cooperating, it was still great to get out on Wilhelm again.  Man-o-man I wanted to stay out under that moon and keep fishing but got to feeling a little squeamish, think it was something I ate.  I'll be back....... real soon.
 

shrodreel
Thanks for the informative post...sounds like you were doin all the right stuff..What a shame that lake went down the tubes..I fished it with 2 buddies recently for about 5 hrs..we had 3 bass to the boat..one of em' might have been a pound & a half. Let's not even start talkin about the good ole days on that lake..bummer..
  The reason the cracker lunchables were probably half off cause they were 6 months old .
 
 
 
Once I left a pack of those at our deer camp ..found them when we went up to open up for trout season..5 mos. later and they still "looked ok"..Next time I'll save em for you :)
Cheers,  The Mercer Pike Kid
 
 
 

 
Didn't think to check the expiration date; I thought they'd be okay seeing how I got the things from one of those Amish grocery outlets.  I know the next time I fish Wilhelm having a westerly wind and bright sun low in the sky.... I'm taking a welding helmet.  My eyes are just beginning to clear of that 'sand in your eyes' feeling.
 
But hey, don't give up on Wilhelm, rumor has it the PFBC biologist have backed off "fish specific lake" projects.  Something about Arway needing money for his pet project SOS.  Now that I mention it, maybe that's where the extra money came from to pay for the advertisement and promos, regarding SOS, seen at all the licensing agents across PA.  
 
By the way did yinz buy your SOS buttons to support Arway? Wouldn't surprise me to see a "bass stamp" imposed next year, if John don't sell enough buttons.
 
Boy....... sorry about that rant, don't know what came over me.......... maybe something I ate or, possible sun poisoning.
 
I gotta go................. I'll just leave that to yinz imagination.
 
Anyway, don't give up on Wilhelm and good fishing to you.

Judging by the sunset, that would be me!  I think we were the diehards (or idjuts) that evening, seemed there were no other boats on the water nor, did I see anyone fishing from shore.  
 
Certainly not the way it use to be for this time of year.
 
We both know, what spots produced fish using certain baits at certain times of the year.  We know, Wilhelm has little structure and what there was has changed over the years.  The old road beds are not as prominent, the old stream beds are forever filling in and, the PSFBC keeps taking out all the native weeds while trying to get those stupid lily pads to take hold.
 
Remember the good old days, Wilhelm had weeds growing naturally, some places so thick even the mightiest weedless prop struggled.  Weeds all along her shorelines, in all the shallow bays, on shelves and points, just everywhere!!!!  Ummm sorry, must be a reaction caused from a home remedy I got off the internet for, food poisoning.
 
Certainly is no secrete Wilhelm was targeted as a "Trophy Bass" fishery and those native weeds were just not conducive to growing "Bucketmouth" sized bass!    Nor, was the natural forage fish good enough for our Large Mouth friend to feast upon, so pollute the waters of Wilhelm with a more desired cuisine and get them "Lunkers" fattened up for them fishing tournaments.
 
But wait...... it was the anglers that created the sudden over population of shad, so thick that you can smell their stink in the air.  Huh.............?  I've been fishing Wilhelm since the early 70s so how is it these shad suddenly show up?  Some angler just happen to "recently" bring a bucket full one day and surprise, surprise!!  I'll betcha It's the anglers using weedless props  keeping the weeds mowed down too!
 
Did ya notice how fresh the air was the other night?  I'm wondering if ya saw any of the enormous schools of shad swimming around in their stupid circles?  I didn't even see a small school. 
 
The Penn-State Fish and Boat Commission (can't find work elsewhere) biologist have a new dilemma at hand and it's getting the attention of those seeking to become the next 'Einstein' of biology.  Thank goodness for SOS as it is, hopefully, pulling attention away from 'our' lakes, rivers and, streams.  Also, here's hoping SOS is hurting for funding and Mr. Arway will need to pull money from the trout program so, the PSFBC has to stop polluting the local waters with those nasty things.   Errr.. or, did those fish get in all the lakes and streams by fisherman using them as bait too?   Silly me,  I know you can't use stocked trout for bait, no other fish would eat them.   
 
Hmmm... I'm thinking I read a story about a cut back with the trout program?   Imagine that?
 
Don't know if you are familiar with the stories about Pymatuning and how bad the walleye fishing got just a few years ago.  But, once the Penn-State Fish and Boat Commission got finished screwing around with their "lake specific fish" hooey, the walleye fishing did a complete turn around.  Goes to show "keep it simple" has true meaning.  
 
Like Pymatuning, I think Wilhelm will rebound and once again produce the quality fishery she once was noted for.
 
We just need to hang in there, things can't get worse.
 
Speaking of fishing.............
 
 
 
 

Got batteries charging now , probably going to hit Wilhelm tomorrow was going to try Pymie think I'll just save the gas from the reports anyways !!!! Also might be a little windy up there 😜. Maybe hit the stumps for awhile then work at some trolling.... BTDT going to be around , maybe we will see one another... Lol good luck to y'all if ya go out.... Hopefully I'll have some pictures other then sunsets😝😝

I see they took the road construction signs down on Georgetown Rd which should give access to the Lake straight from Rt 19 now!
 
Passed over the causeway on Sunday and I swear I saw a hot pink 'toon' on the water!  I don't know maybe it was just a figment of my imagination brought on from eating spoiled popcorn?
 
Mopar I been itchin' to get fishin', maybe I can make it to Wilhelm this Sat.  I sure hope it ain't gonna be one of those stupid "Blue Bird" days.  Watch out for those stumps,  I know a few guys who learned they can't walk on water when their boat stopped abruptly, while they were standing on the bow of the boat!
 
Tight lines to all............

Don't have your tackle box open on your lap in the stumps either. Very costly mistake :-/

There is a pink pontoon, the marina has that for breast cancer awareness, It is their rental along with a yellow, and few others. 
going to goto Wilhelm Sat with the kiddos, troll for some eyes for awhile then fish for some crappie.

outasync
Don't have your tackle box open on your lap in the stumps either. Very costly mistake :-/

well another evening on the lake , nothing to write home about, a few crappie no eyes stayed until 9 PM. Trolled , drifted ... Run hot n tots & harness ... Oh well got to see another great sunset .... Lol. Now I did have a crazy afternoon up at the stumps. Didn't get wet or dump my tackle box but I did get high centered on a stump ....😜. Didn't see the crazy thing it was about a foot under water, anyhow came to a stop real quick hit electric motor in reverse, nothing happening so I hit forward and nothing. Thought ok this is nice .... Drank a pop, thought about it & said screw it ... Fired the 20 hp up but that didn't do it either. Figured ok I have my cell phone if worse come to worse. Thought let's try this one more time so hit the electric motor again on high started rocking the heck out of the boat and it broke free ... What an adventure that was after about 40 minutes I was free and heading back to the main lake .... I guess being around 250 pounds didn't hurt either when I started rocking the boat .... Think I will stay out of there from now on. 😝😝. Ok that was my fishing trip for today .. Lol

BTDT .... Well good luck tomorrow if ya get out... What out for those under water stumps 😜😜