Walleye

[Chad Hood]

I know this is a bluegill site but just wondered how many fellow walleye fisherman belong to this site. Been gettin a few here and there and just wanted some info from the group.

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

I get my share every year about this time, shore casting at night.

[Slip Sinker]

awesome!... shallow flats with rapalas?

 

[John Sheehan]

Nice eyes Bill !Yeah, what lures and areas do you catch them .I want to try this at a nearby lake!

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

I target fall walleyes when surface temps drop below 50 degrees....The areas I fish are basically shallow areas 3-7 ft deep that are affected by wind....night time is key in clear water. These fish have the feed bag on this time of year, and move shallow to feed at night. 20 plus years ago, we used to make our own suspending minnow baits by drilling holes into floating Rapalas, and inserting just enough weight to make the lure suspend.....Nowadays there are countless amounts of suspending baits available to walleye anglers. Bass pro shops makes the XPS suspending minnow that has taken many fish over 8 lbs, and runs about 4 ft deep....Smithwicks Rattlin' Rogue is also a very good bait, it runs 5-7 ft.....one of my favorite baits is the Lucky Craft Flash Minnow 110......it runs 2-3 ft deep. All of these baits suspend when the retrieve is at pause.

 

Wind is your friend, and location is key.....necked down areas, points, and shallow hard bottom flats that have been affected by prevailing winds for 2 days are more will concentrate big fish. Having a small selection of suspending baits that run at different depths will allow you to cover all productive areas. Doug Stange and myself have found that the most productive retrieve is a very slow, and steady retrieve with possibly one or two pauses, no herky jerky presentations....walleyes need to zero in on the bait before they commit......long casts with 6/14 crystal fireline, and steel leaders where toothy critters are present as many 40"+ Muskies have been incidentally caught while shore casting for night eyes.

 

During my pursuit for large walleyes, I have found that the best nights of the season always seem to fall on the 3 days prior to the full moon of November....that would be this Tues, Weds, and Thurs night ( decent weather with overnight lows above 32 degrees must also be worked into the equation)....here's a few pics from a small 77 acre lake that everyone thought only had small walleyes.

[John Sheehan]

Fantastic fish and advice .I really appreciate your reply Bill .Thanks very much!

[10.5" RES Sharon]

How can you fish at night, Bill? I can't see the bobber, hook, anything. Do you take lights out? Leave your headlights on?

[Chad Hood]

I am mainly fishing a couple of roller dams right know. Sure love those Sliders awesome plastic.

[John Sheehan]

do you slip float those slider jigs to keep from hanging up or do you fish it on clean bottom?

 

 

[John Cachel]

I dont use slip float at night! I tried it with little light on top of the float to see in the dark with large minnows but too much work! I like to simple is casting lure like Rapala, jig with twistertail or long thin deep diving crankbait! I caught lot of walleye on slip float during cloudy days around woods in deep water, hump, rock walls and bridge! Large flathead minnows from Fall until Spring and I like leech in the summer! Lot of bass, catfish and nice bluegills on leech while fish for walleye! Always have small flashlight with red cover at night for tie lure, change lure, etc.

[John Sheehan]

Great ,thanks much John!

[Chad Hood]

I am lucky enough to have a roller dam on two different rivers that are good fisheries each only bout 35 min away. I been smacking that 1/8th oz jig directly at the face and hopin for the best while it bounces around for a while. The larger fish of multi-species like that whitewater area for feeding, I think.

[Chad Hood]

Thanks for all the great photos by the way guys

Thanks