How too; Walleye Questions?

[Bait_Caster]

OK, all you Walleye Pros and die hards!! I"ve never had the oppertunity to fish for the Glass Eye Walleye, and I was wondering if you fish for them by Trolling? Like I do, Wippers on the Willard? Or do ya go about it like you were Bass fishing? Meaning stationary off of a boat, doing the flipping,jigging,ripping,popping thing? Wanting to know things like will a nice Bass boat work, or do I need to get a Varity type boat? I"m leaning towards a $28,000 to $30,000
Bass boat, but yet I don"t want to limmit my fishing to just Bass, because Wippers are such a great catch, as well as the fun Mac at the Bear! As well as many great other varities to fish for. OK all you BFT people, help me out, and give me your input!! And for you Tried & True Walleye lovers, Whats the best way to get the Glass Eye on your line? THANKS to all whom Reply. []
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[Hellsangler69]

I have only caught 6 walleye in utah and only from a float tube or shore . So I am limited to how to fish . I like jigs and jig fishing so I got to hit it when they are close to shore and bunched up some . But I would love to drool on you're bass boat . Just kidding about the drooling !!! I know not much help , no pro here just a wanna be diehard ! tight lines
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[lonehunter]

WELL IN THE DETROIT RIVER DURING THE SPRING SPAWN RUN I LIKE TO BOTTOM BOUNCE WITH A LEAD HEAD JIG 1/2 OZ (STRONG CURRENT THERE ) WITH A BIG FAT CRAWLER . MINNOWS ARE OK TO SUBSTITUTE BUT THEY REALLY LOVE THOES CRAWLERS . GET UP INTO THE CURRENT ANCHOR OR SLOWLEY TROLL FORWARD , THIS GIVES YOU MORE PRESENTATION TIME , RAISING AND DROPPING YOUR ROD ABOUT 3 FEET AT A MEDIUM TO SLOW SPEED . IF YOU HAVE GONE UP RIVER AS FAR AS YOU WANT TO , DRIFT BACK DOING THE SAME . (LINE TEST ABOUT 14 LBS .)

HANDLINEING USES THE SAME METHOD BUT YOU REALLY GET THE FEEL OF THE FISH ON YOUR HANDS .

HANDLINEING IS ANOTHER WAY TO GO , BUT THE EQUIPMENT I USE IS SCARSE TO FIND , AN OLD VICTROLA SPRING MOTOR , ( FROM A HAND CRANK 78 L.P. PLAYER ) , USUALLY YOU CAN FIND THESE AT A FLEE MARKET OR A GARAGE SALE IF YOUR DARN LUCKEY . A COUPLE OF 6" TIN PIE PANS , AND ABOUT 60 FEET OF THIN BRAIDED COPPER WIRE .

BOLT THE TWO PIE PLATES TOGETHER AND LEAVE A 1/4 " HOLE IN THE CENTER , REMOVE THE SPRING MOTOR FROM THE RECORD PLAYER , CONSTRUCT A TWO CHAMBERED BOX OUT OF WOOD , ONE CHAMBER TO HOLD THE MOTOR THE OTHER TO HOLD THE SPOOL (PIE PLATES ) MOUNTED TO THE MOTOR SHAFT . DRILL A HOLE FOR THE HAND CRANK , MOUNT THE MOTOR INSIDE THE BOX , ATTACH THE SPOOL AND TIGHTEN , PUT YOUR LINE ON AND YOUR READY TO GO .

NOW FOR LAKE ERIE , AN ERIE DERIE IS THE ULTIMATE WALLEYE LURE , POP ON A CRAWLER DROP IT TO THE BOTTOM ON A SLOW TROLL COME UP ABOUT THREE FEET AND THEN GET READY .

NOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT WALLEYE FISHING ! THEY ARE CALLED WALL-EYE FOR A REASON , LOOK FOR THE WALL IN THE WATER , THAT IS WHERE THE CLEAR WATER AND THE MUDDIED WATER ARE SIDE BY SIDE " THE MUD LINE SOME GUYS CALL IT " THE WALLEYE EYES ARE MADE FOR DARK AND MUDDIED WATER THEY WILL SWIM ALONG THE EDGE INSIDE THAT WALL (OR MUD LINE ) AS THE BAIT PASSES ALONG THAT WALL IN THE CLEAR WATER OR JUST INSIDE THE WALL OL' MARMLE EYES WILL HIT IT JUST LIKE A NORTHERN , BIG TIME SLAMMING FUN !

BANK FISHING FOR THEM IS DONE WITH A HEAVY ENOUGH SINKER TO SIT IN THE CURRENT , ABOUT 8"TO 1' ABOVE THAT PUT ON A BARREL SWIVEL WITH A LEADER OF ABOUT 2-1/2 FEET , THROW ON A LARGE HOOK WITH A CRAWLER , CAST THAT PUPPY OUT INTO THE CURRENT AND JUST WAIT FOR THAT ROD TO DOUBLE OVER ! IF A YE-HAA DOSENT COME OUT OF YOUR THROAT , IT'S TOO SMALL TO KEEP , PUT HIM BACK , GET HIS DADDY INSTEAD . THATS THE BEST METHOD I'VE FOUND FOR GAUGEING THESE FISH . NOW IF YOU GET ONE THAT MAKES YOU SWEAR , CALL A TAXIDERMIST AND POST THE PICTURE HERE[].

I GUESS I HAVE COUGHT A COUPLE IN MY DAY [blush], HOPE THIS HELPS !
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[WalleyePaul]

Lonehunter must be from the midwest or the east where those famous walleye waters are. Lucky dude!

Here in Utah you can find walleyes in Lake Powell, Starvation, Willard, Yuba, Utah lake, Deer Creek, and a few other places (You gotta know where they are or they are simply just too small).

I love trolling for them with bottom bouncers and Lindy rigs with crawler harness spinners. You can even bounce the bottom with a curly tail grub very slow. You can catch them via crankbaits.

If walleyes are spooked, they move to the side of the boat, thats where those planer boards comes in. They're great! If walleyes are deep yet suspended, you can use jet divers to get down to that depth.

As for boats- I like Tracker Targa... they make for the most perfect walleye boats for big water fishing. 18k for them. I have a Tracker Pro Angler 16, which serves both as a bass/walleye boat. I have had to make modifications to allow it to be a big water boat. (I installed wave wacker plexiglass in the back of the boat to keep the waves from entering the back side while backtrolling) This boat cost me 10K and I've caught a great number of walleyes and bass in this little ship.

Lund makes great walleye boats but I beleive you pay more for the name. You can get essentally the same stuff in a Tracker for less money.

Crestliners are good boats but not familiar with them. Again they are pricey. Hope this helps.
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[wiperhunter2]

Last year we slayed the walleye at willard while we trolled for wipers but you can also catch them using a jig with a night crawler. I have an old starcraft that works just fine for walleye and wipers but if I bought another boat it would be an open bow aluminum boat. I like the deeper sides like they make for walleye boats but that's just my opinion. WH2
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[fishboy2]

sorry not much I can do in the sense of helping you, the only time i have ever caught waleye was when i was targeting bass on deer creek. although these guys do know there stuff.
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[PescadorUtah]

[]Here is an atricle from Tom P. at the DWR: Spring Walleye at Willard and Yuba[size 2]

By Tom Pettengill
Sport Fisheries & Aquatic Education Coordinator, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources[/size] Willard Bay

[size 2]

Spring walleye are very predictable in some ways and very unpredictable in others. Spring walleye fishing means fishing for spawning fish. I have fished spring walleye more at Willard Bay than any other water in Utah. As a biologist and angler I have come to know the behaviors and haunts of spring walleye in Willard Bay.

Spring Walleye Behavior

As the days lengthen and the temperatures warm in February, walleye begin to think more and more about spawning. Both males and females will begin to migrate to traditional spawning areas. The males will arrive first and stay the longest. By early March, male walleye will begin arriving at spawning sites in the Inlet Channel and along the West and North dikes. By mid-March, spawning will begin and it will continue for a couple weeks. The males will stay in the spawning areas while females will come and go, as they are ready to lay their eggs. A 10-pound female may lay 500,000 eggs each spring. Eggs hatch in 12-18 days and within another two weeks the young walleye will have dispersed into the open water of the lake.

Males greatly outnumber the females and it is the males that we want to target for harvest and a tasty meal. If you are lucky enough to catch a large female and want to have the fish mounted, you don’t need to kill her to do that. Just quickly measure and photograph the fish and release it to spawn another time. Many taxidermists today can make an exact replica of your trophy and a picture will show the coloration of your fish.

When, where to find March walleye

The best catches of walleye at Willard Bay in March are made by concentrating your fishing efforts from late afternoon through the night and into early morning. Spawning typically occurs at night so that’s when the fish are in along shore and are most active. Focus your efforts from sunset into the night and pre-dawn to early morning. Spring fishing success is highly variable. Fish as often as you can to make sure you hit those few good days. Some of the best fishing may occur just before storms and during the full moon.

Concentrate your effort around the mouth of the South Marina (the inlet channel is closed to fishing in March) and along the West and North dikes. The walleye will be right in along the rocks. They may be in only a few inches of water right next to shore or down several feet. Walleye will not be uniformly distributed in these areas and may move in and out from day to day. Walleye tend to congregate in small areas and once a good spot is found it may stay good all through that spawning season. The next spring they’ll probably not be in the exact same location.



Techniques and tricks for catching March walleye

Along the dikes, whether fishing from shore or a boat, just pick a spot and start fishing. This is probably the best time of year to fish from shore because the fish are in along the rocks and often shallow. At times it seems that fishing is actually better for shore anglers than boat anglers. The fish seem to hit jigs coming into shore better than jigs being pulled away from shore. I know boat owners who regularly fish from shore this time of year at Willard Bay.

Work along the dike fan-casting to cover as much area as you can from your location and then move to where you are covering new water. Move slowly and quietly. Banging rocks together or making a lot of noise will spook shallow fish. Once you get a hit or catch a fish, work that area for several minutes to see if there are other active fish in the area. Then slowly move on, casting to locate more fish.

Most of the fish this time of year will be taken by casting 1/8-1/2 ounce jigs. Lightweight jigs work best in light wind conditions and shallower water. If the wind is blowing or the fish are deep then use a heavier jig. White, yellow or shad-colored jigs seem to work the best. The best jig body size seems to be about three inches. Curly- or paddle-tailed jigs provide good action and send off a vibration that walleye can key in on as you crank the jig slowly through the water. I have found that cranking the jig just fast enough to keep it close to the bottom but up out of the rocks works better than hopping in along the bottom. Vary speed and depth of presentation until you find what is working that day. Use a 6 or 6-1/2 foot medium action spinning rod. I like to use 6-8 pound monofilament line. Tie the jig directly to the line. Don’t use a swivel or snap to attach the jig as this will affect the action of the jig and the way it travels through the water.

At times, walleye can be very aggressive and will hit your jig hard. At other times you’ll only feel a slightly heavier sensation as you pull the jig through the water. The best way to demonstrate this subtle bite is to cut a rubber band and hold one end in each hand. As you just barely begin to stretch the rubber band you will feel a slight pull in the other hand. This is a typical walleye bite on a jig. If your line moves funny or you feel anything unusual, set the hook immediately. Most of us have many more bites than we ever know. Fish can swim along at the same speed as your lure and completely inhale it and spit it out without anglers ever knowing they had a bite.

One way to increase your odds of hooking a fish as it spits out your jig is to slightly bend open the gap of the hook. Use a pair of pliers and just open the gap a little by pulling the point out away from the shaft of the hook. Grab the hook behind the barb. Don’t grab the point or barb of the hook. You only have to bend it about 1/16 of an inch. By doing this the point won’t be exactly parallel to the shaft of the hook and can more easily snag the inside of the fishes mouth as it tries to spit it out. When it feels the pick of the hook it will jerk to get away and many times will set the hook itself, or you’ll feel the fish and set the hook. Check your hooks often. When casting around these rocks it’s very easy to dull or bend the point of the hook. Carry a small hook sharpener and keep those hooks razor sharp.

Spring walleye fishing at Willard Bay is pretty simple. Follow these few tips and tricks, keep your jig in the water and you’ll catch some March walleye at Willard Bay.[/size]
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[PREDATOR]

Bait caster, the walleye is the same as any other fish. There are no secrets. Every guy you talk to is going to have a different way they like to catch them. But the important thing to remember is, they all work. Its just a fish. If you take some time to learn a bit about the fish, its behavioral patterns, and needs for survival, than look at the lake you want to fish for them in, apply what you know as an angler, you will be able to catch them using your own preferred method. There is no secret to fishing success. If you educate yourself and spend time on the water you will get it done. But, it doesnt hurt to have a few tips along the way. I figure you are interested in catching a few willard eyes. I think the biggest problem a guy has at willard is sticking to the eyes. When the fishing gets tough and slow its too easy to pack it in and chase wipers.
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[Bait_Caster]

[]Thanks you guys for all your Super answers, Seems to be no end to the help a guy can get here at BFT. It "ROCKS" []
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[TubeDude]

[cool] Lots of good input. Especially enjoyed the spring fling dissertation from Tom P. Just on the off chance you're masochistic enough to want to wade through about thirty pages on Deer Creek Walleye, I teamed up with WalleyeBob and Chuck Peck to assemble a whole lot of years of experience for anyone who might want some new insights.

Deer Creek has the justifiable reputation of being one of the toughest ponds from which to extract old Marbleeye. If you can master Deer Creek, you will have learned tackle and techniques that can be applied almost anywhere. But, anyone who claims to be able to catch walleye every trip to Deer Creek will lie about other things too.

If you'd like me to email that writeup, sent me a PM on BFT or email to the address on my profile.
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[tomegun]

[] [green][size 2]I'm been fortunate enough to have received a copy of TD's & his partners in crime insights to Walleye fishing. Its good stuff. Too bad the waterline at Deer Creek now starts at the Island(writers embellishment), give or take a 100 yards. [/size][/green]

[#008000][size 2] I am looking forward to when Utah Lake gets going. My biggest "eye" to date has been a 15" at Starvation. Me wants to catch a biggin' to photograph and then release.[/size][/#008000]
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[DennisW]

[blue][size 2]Walleyes have a bad habit of "turning on" during foul weather. They're not fair weather fish like LMB. So a typical walleye boat has a deep V or modified deep V hull and more freeboard than a bass boat. No brand is necessarily better than others, and if you fish a lot of bass, some of the classic bass boat vendors--including Ranger--make walleye boats.[/size][/blue]

[blue][size 2]You'll need a deep transom capable of handling a kicker. And a powerful bow-mount electric trolling motor. Presentations range from open water trolling to anchoring and tossing jigs. Probably, more walleyes are caught on jigs than on anything else--except maybe bottom bouncers with a crawler harness.[/size][/blue]

[blue][size 2]But don't get too caught up with the boat. WalleyeBob's boat wasn't designed as a walleye rig, but it catches more than its share of 'eyes. And then there Toob Dood (sorry Pat, just saw a Froot Loops commercial) who catches more than most from a float tube.[/size][/blue]

[blue][size 2]All the walleye pro's sell their boats at the following link (even the In-Fishermen staff sell their boats here)...[/size][/blue]

[url "http://www.walleyecentral.com:8080/classified/servlets/publishedHTML/pro_boats.shtml"]http://www.walleyecentral.com:8080/classified/servlets/publishedHTML/pro_boats.shtml[/url]

[TubeDude]

[cool]I think you've been into something besides Froot Loops. Good info. Anyone who hasn't visited the Walleye Central website Dennis keeps mentioning is missing out on a ton of good info...much of it applicable to Utah fishing situations.

By the way, Dennis, as soon as I can get those planer boards to work right on my new Outcast Super Fat Cat, I'm gonna give you a run for your money.

Are you gonna get to go play on Powell this year?
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