I think I'm fishing Wilhelm this Saturday (from a boat). I can:

1. Jig for crappie and perch
2. Troll bottom bouncers for waldos
3. Throw musky baits around whatever promising structure I can find

I don't know Wilhelm too well and I would like to have the best chance at some good action. What would you do on a balmy August Saturday if you were in my shoes?

Troll small (4"ish) medium to deep diving wobbling style lures using 8 to 10 pound test line 40 to 50 feet behind your boat at a speed of 1 to 2 mile an hour.

You'll cover more water and increase your chances to catch both walleye and crappy.

As for Musky, no doubt the deeper water, at William, has warmed to the point of sending Mr Toothy to the heavy weeds looking for cooler water with higher oxygen content.

I would think before sun up or after sun down, would increase chances of getting a Tiger in your boat, lobbing musky lures near the shoreline.

Wilhelm as you probably know, sucks when it comes to structure and water depths rarely exceed 15 feet and when it does, doesn't last long. Exception to that rule will be found near the dam (18+ ft) but again, doesn't last.

Just as with any other body of water, there will be those anglers that know where and when to find the fish. Also, there will be those anglers who catch fish while the guy along side catches nothing.

As for me...... stupid fish.

Good times and tight lines.

That sounds like a decent plan BTDT.  I was thinking Hot 'n Tots, but maybe some deeper diving rapalas would fit the order better?

fallschirmjaeger
What would you do on a balmy August Saturday if you were in my shoes?

Drink beer...lol

After my last trip to Woodcock, the beer plan is sounding better.  At least on Sugar, you can dock up at the hotel and grab a cold one. 

Never had much luck pulling "Tots" at Wilhelm or Pymy and I've been buying the things since the first day they hit the shelves at Fergies many, many, tooo many moon ago. Heck,🤔 I still have the first one I bought.

I haven't fished Wilhelm since May of 18 but when I did, my go to lures were "Shad" style. in silver/black.

To assure I was at the depth I wanted to be, (line out controlled)vI set my troll speed in deeper water then worked my way toward shallow water keeping an eye on the depth finder. When the lure bumped bottom at my desired depth I'd head back out to deeper water where the bait would be about a foot or two from the bottom.

Get to know the action of your rod tip when you know there is no fish cause a change in the action means ya hooked maybe a fish or lump of weed. If the rod goes over board, ya hooked a sunken ship or sumpthin. That sucks.

Mind too, lighter line lets a lure dive deeper then when using tow rope.

Good times and tight lines annnnnd, it don't count if their ain't no pics.

CRAPPIE_SLAYER

fallschirmjaeger
What would you do on a balmy August Saturday if you were in my shoes?

Drink beer...lol

Nowwwww stop that!!! 🍻🍻🍻

I have done well on crappies, walleye and nice sized bass many trips by trolling hot n tots at Wilhelm. Go for it! GL. 

Purple Tiger Flicker Shad size 7 has been my best lure when trolling inland lakes. Have caught fish with Hot n Tots

Trolling on Willie now. 3 smallish crappie so far with 2 being black and a better one being white....