Let's talk TROPHIES

[J]

Trophy walleyes. Everybody wants 'em, only a few get 'em.

What do you do to get yours?

I'm talking to the crowd here who gets them year in, year out. Sorry guys, no one-hit-wonders!

-J

[eyeman_1]

J,

I think the biggest thing is fishing trophy waters during the peak times. Gives you the best odds of catching a big fish. Also depends on what one considers a trophy fish. To me most places outside the great lakes a trophy fish would be a fish over 8#s, on the great lakes 10#s.

Fish big fish waters during the pre-spawn and again in late fall if you want to put the odds in your favor. Also, you usually don't find big fish where you find smaller fish... at least that's been my experience. The methods for catching big fish are usually differnt too. You can catch them jigging or rigging, but I've caught more trophies trolling with crankbaits, spoons or spinners than with any other methods combined.

The great lakes probably offers the best chance to catch that fish of a lifetime during these peak periods. Places like Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan and Ontario have tremendous numbers of fish with a good number of them in the trophy category. Certainly places like LOW, Lac Suel, and others in Canada, as well as the Columbia River, Ft. Peck in MT, and the Missouri River system lakes offer up plenty of big fish too.

Just my $.02. I'm not trying to offend anyone or sway where you fish. Spent a load of time on the inland waters of WI, MI and such but have had the best success for big fish on the great lakes.

[Walleye Express]

[b]Eyeman pretty much hit the nail on the head. A trophy is in the eye of the beholder. And unless a man is independantly wealthy and can travel to the many varied places at peak times of the year for these trophy fish, he's stuck trying to figure out that local (BIG FISH WINDOW) in his own backyard.

And often that window either includes the spring spawning cycyles or the fall, during the (Bulk up) time for the fish. And even though the bigger open water Great Lakes walleyes can be located most any time in deeper/colder waters, it still takes decent rigs and gear to get to these spots to fish for them.

So I guess a man has to know and understand the cycles of his particular prey, to be able to intercept what he considers the trophys of that specie to be, in places where he can reasonably get to them. For me that time is pre spawn on the rivers. Fall night time on the rivers. And (for the most part for me) water over 20 feet deep on the Saginaw Bay.

[Burr]

Now ya got me thinkin WE. Is Trophy a universal term, or does it relate to how hard it is to achieve?

I don't catch that many over 10, but I have never had the chance to be on Erie or Columbia River either... Too bad I didn't have this hobby when I used to travel for a living.

Have to say, #1 item for success is time spent on the right water. Doesn't guarantee success, but at least you can work toward it!

[Reels]

Doing everything right.

Line has no knicks.
Knot is good.
Drag is set right and it is a decent drag system.
The hook is set in the fish.
Your net guy does a good job.

And many more....

Even when you do everything right, somethimes she still wins.



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[Rippin_Eyes]

Trophy fish as other have stated are that of personal size. I think this varies quit a bit from lake to lake and state to state. A Erie trophy would be 12 to 14 pounds I would imagine, and here in Minnesota on Mille Lacs a 10 pounder is a lunker.

Other lakes that I have fished if you can even catch a walleye you are doing good. But the guys and gals who put in the time and hours on the water and understand what the fish want I feel will catch more and bigger fish. Then again you can just be lucky and catch one your first time out!!! My most memorable walleye I caught was 7 pounds, I caught it when I was 6, and it was my first walleye!! I can't wait to get out to Erie this fall and HOPEFULLY hook into a 12!!!

[Denied]

During the course of a season we will catch 10 to 12 walleye that are 30 to 32 inches. So a trophy to me has to be 33 inches, I have yet to get the elusive 33 incher but I am still trying. We get to fish several time per week (3 to 5) and from mid April to early November so we have a definite advantage over the weekend folks, still the hogs are there and you never know when you will hook into one. Remember the Ohio state record is 33 inches and weighted a little over 16 lbs and was caught by a person perch fishing, on light tackle.
What do we do to try and catch these hogs;
1. Be at the right place at the right time.
2. Try and understand the movement of the schools and follow along.
3. Keep as many different baits in the water as legally allowed.
4. Let the walleye tell you what the are interested in, then switch all lines to that bait.
5. Know what to look for on the fish finder and keep the baits at the optimum elevation.
6. Very speed until you find the one that works. (start fast then work slower)
7. Fish only one lake and get to know it intimately.
8. Fish the bottom, hogs are too big to suspend for very long.
9. Little walleye hang with other little walleye so if you are into a bunch of small ones, look elsewhere.

Dean

Fishing Lake Erie aboard "DENIED"

(I don't represent any manufacturer or supplier "I pay my own way")

[mowallytrkr]

Fish often and fish with a passion.

[Whackster]

Big Baits, catch large fish, when fished where large fish cohabitate with appropriate size food species.

[J]

Thanks guys. BTW, I get my share every year....and I was more interested in TECHNIQUE than anything.....sorry I didn't clarify.

And yes, a trophy fish is a relative term.

[Rippin_Eyes]

Trollin' Raps!! I have found that to be my best bet!!

[yknotfrank]

Good theory, but the four biggest walleyes I have caught (13 to 13lb 8oz) were all caught on Michigan Stinger Scorpions. One in the fall, the rest in May.

[Dave Q]

All most every year I get atleast one 10lbs or bigger, fall, trolling, river.

[SUPERTROLLER]

We see more big Walleye's caught using Hopkins spoons than all other techniques combined. We fish a drowned rivermouth lake attached to Lake Michigan and when the big fish come in during the summer months and again in the fall, it is with one purpose in mind,,, to FEED. They are easy to catch then and we see many 9's and 10's caught each year. Most people use at least 1/2 oz. spoons and up to 1 oz. If you find an active spot with bigger sized fish, park over the top of them with a trolling motor and jig a heavy spoon. The action can be quick and furious and then just shut down. They've been spooked but will come back to these same spots again and again. This water here is usually quite dirty and we've caught fish as shallow as 5 ft. As Walleye Express said with Saginaw Bay, if the water's fairly clear, I would think you'd want to be in 20 ft. or deeper to be jigging right above them. Everyone should give these types of spoons a try at some time. They can really load the boat quickly when the Walleye put the feedbag on. (Yes, I'm saying better and faster than any other method or technique, even live bait.)

[eyechsr]

I guess the time of year and section of river are the main factors when we go hunting for the teener's. I the early spring we head up river to the Irrigon Oregon stretch of the Columbia River mostly becuase it is a well known trophy producer this time of year (two weeks ago we boated a 12.6 and 18.06lbers). Primary methods used are dragging jigs or using Blade baits.
Later in the fall I stay home and use crank baits on flats near deep water just out of the current or pull cranks at night (not just full moon) and speeds over 2.5mph seem to trigger the larger 12+ fish (biggest 16.5lbs).
I think the main key to catching huge fish is to really listen to where the big fish bites are at and be willing to travel to that bite, the more time you spend on the water in these areas the better your odds.

[fire baller]

Timing and time on the water. Spring river fishing in many areas is the best bet for large eyes, especially if there is a large migration of lake fish that spawn in that river. Summer time night trolling in deep clear lakes with tullibees (northern MN)by using large crankbaits. Fall trolling at night in the shallows during a full moon.

Certain patterns give up big fish more frequently than others.