The Calendar Rationale

[Walleye Express]

[b]Just wonder how many of you plan your special fishing trips the same time every year? Kinda like the guy who sets on the same stump for 30 years becasue he got a big buck there in 1946, often I find that being there on the same day I nailed them is often my idea and not always the fishes.

Lets face it, even though many of mother natures seasonal changes occur within the same time frame each year, other natural variables can often move things back or ahead by weeks at certain times. So does anybody actually wait and see what transpires as the time draws near, or just poke and hope?

And better yet, how many actually understand and recognize why they are having the bad luck, when for 10 years in a row you hammered them during this time frame? What conditions have you found make things change the most besides the high and low pressure systems?

[mowallytrkr]

Funny you bring up the subject. I was telling my tale to my in-laws this past Christmas holiday about going to the very same fishing spot 2 years in a row, both years on Oct. 2. The first trip produced a 29" pike and a 27 1/2" eye and the folloing year, this year, I caught a 22#, 43" muskie after taking 1/2 day of vacation because, "it was my lucky day!" I am sure it is just a fluke but I get a kick out of telling the story!! By the way, conditions the past 2 years were very similar indeed (weather, water level, clarity, current flow)

MO

[Gilligan]

Capt Dan.. although I don't guide I am on the water every week from our May opener and usually till ice up. I notice large swings in dates from year to year. The one big factor I watch are water temps. This past season in particular we had alot of ice and it didn't leave until late. One particular weed edge yearly hot spot that turns on near Memorial Day and dies off a month later never had fish until mid June and the bite went until after the 4th. Those traditional spots that everyone runs to were a month behind. For me the real secret has been knowing the lake and where the fish transition to or from when they aren't on that same spot.

I leave our local inland lake to fish Eries east basin in early summer. This past season we had females full of eggs on the shoals in mid June! Our DEC is also locked into the 'Calendar Rationale' as we are closed to protect the spawn that supposedly happens from mid March until the beginning of May. It would be confusing but would certainly be to the benefit of the walleye if the DEC could set the open/closed season yearly according to conditions.

[Bob J pool 12]

Ok Dan, This one has nothing to do with a regular calender, only nature's calander.I've discovered this about 10 years ago. Late fall river fishing is good for walleye's, but like I said I discovered something to time when the Big Girls can be targeted and caught easily.There is a certain time in late fall when river Beavers start eating willow tree limbs like crazy.The water will be covered with floatihg white willow sticks with bark all chewed off.For some reason this is exactly the time when the hugh walleyes show up on the wingdams.You will be catching walleyes all fall off these same wingdams.From through backs to 5lbs.But when the willows start floating, it's time to get a better grip on your rod your gone to need it. The big girls don't mess around!!! The best part of this time frame is I have the river all to myself. God I love Walleyes.

[eyegetit]

Dates for camping trips are pretty much set in stone. We can usually find enough eater size walleye to keep everyone happy at the campfire. Special trips like Lake Erie are usually last minute deals due to changing weather conditions.

My Dad likes to fish memories, e.g. 29" walleye caught on such and such a date. I just try to keep in perspective why the fish was there in the first place...given all the known variables at the time.

[Rich B]

Dan,

For some of us "working stiffs", we have to lock in our weeks
of vacation at the beginning of the year (at least at the company
where I work). I have some flexibility due to my current position,
yet I lock in a Ontario fishing trip often months ahead.......and yes, based on the calendar and previous trips.

Some of my best trips were "short notice" ones, though the planned
ones often were fun due to the friends and location; though not
always the best fishing (as you noted due to weather conditions
that vary from year to year).

Let's hope for an early '04 Spring !

Rich B

[WAeyes]

I have 5 walleyes mounted on my wall up to 15 1/4 lbs. 4 of the 5 were caught between October 20 and October 22, each from a different year. Coincidence...I don't think so.

The weather does play a role, but even more important is the water level for me. My favorite fishing hole has a 20 ft change between high and low pool. As you can tell, the water level around the 3rd week of October has been just right ;-) and it is very predictable year after year.

All those fish in October were caught during a prime moon phase either around the full or new moon.

Good topic...

[Mercman]

Ihave been going to the same resort for 43 years.It has nothing to do fishing but has everything to do family and friends.