Huntin winter walleye

[Jaackrabbit]

[size 1]I had planned on going to the 6th street dam on the Grand River to hunt for steelhead..... but..... I got a hot tip from a friend and I ended up in the Rabbit River in Middleville targeting walleye instead.

[/size][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8819/size/big/cat/500/ppuser/53223"][size 1][/size][/url][size 1]

Weather wasn't to bad and while water levels were a bit high it was far easier fishing than fishing the Grand River. Took the little wifey along (she took the pictures).

[/size][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8820/size/big/cat/500/ppuser/53223"][size 1][/size][/url][size 1]

Spent some time using wax worms with no luck. Switched to pink jigs with a small GULP leech and that got the bluegills interested. Caught 5 gills in a matter of 8 minutes. One was pretty nice size. About a 2 pounder.

[/size][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8817/size/big/cat/500/ppuser/53223"][size 1][/size][/url][size 1]

This is the part where Dave will think I"m crazy []-- We had a birthday party to go to right after fishing so I didn't keep them.

The hits quit just as fast as it started and seemed like once I sore liped the 5 of them they got wize to me and left.

[/size][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8821/size/big/cat/500/ppuser/53223"][size 1][/size][/url][size 1]

After about another 30 minutes we were just about to call it quits when I got a nice strike. The fish peeled off a good 30 yards of line on me in a couple seconds (forgot to tighten it back up after pullin in the little gills) You can't really see it well from the pic but the rod bent over pretty good.

[/size][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8818/size/big/cat/500/ppuser/53223"][size 1][/size][/url][size 1]
After a couple minutes I saw a big yellow belly roll out in front of me. (Ooooh Yeah... Walleye tonight !!!) and then without so much as a warning out pops the hook and line goes slack. SUN OF A PUPPY DOG !!!

So no walleye dinner but all in all we had a great time. I got my "fishing fix" in and got rid of the withdrawls from not going for a couple weeks and the wifey got some great pictures of the dam and ice and snow buildup along the river banks.

ps... my buddy claims he went 2 for 4 (walleyes) in that same spot few days ago. Said they were just barely legal. (knowing him he probably stepped on them in order to make em legal) [/size]
[signature]

[lunkerhunter2]

Great pics and report. Too bad about loosing the big eye.[cool]

Please reduce your pics inline to 450 pixels. If you need help let me know. Thanks[]
[signature]

[CROSSINEYES]

GREAT PIC,S. THANX FOR THROWING THAT UP. WISH WE MOORE CLEAR WATER RIVER EYES HERE.
[signature]

[Jaackrabbit]

You know I've been thinking about that big eye that I lost.

I've never had a winter walleye put up that much of a fight. I was at a dam and the water was moving pretty good and I'm sure that could account for some of the extra fight but that thing pulled off a bunch of line in a hurry. Most of the walleye I've caught in the winter usualy give a couple good tugs and then it feels more like your pullin a stick up off the bottom (until you get them to the surface that is). The one I had hooked looked half frozen and in the 20 inch range but it fought more like a 29 inch in mid summer.

ps.. i got a bad case of eye fever now. Can't wait to get a fresh one in a hot skillet. []
[signature]

[davetclown]

thanks, I was wondering how things were doing over your way... maybe I will get out for some eyes tomarow...
[signature]