learning to catch walleyes'

[Josh]

It seems as if every one here is an old pro at this. I would like to learn to catch this weary fish. I am in IN. with very few lakes that contain eyes' but would like to catch a few to eat and maybe a nice one to put on the wall. I went to a lake yesterday, temp: 45 to 50 deg. wind 5- 15mph. out of the west, water: muddy, lake sand-mud bottom contour is basicly a bowl with only one hump from 25ft up to 3ft. It contains walleyes 2 to 5 pounds. I was using crappie minows and night crawlers on both slip bobbers and on cabela's spiner harnes. NOT even a bite! I tried jigging, NOTHING! The name of the lake is South Mud. I could use any help that you could give Thanks. Josh

[mmillelacs]

I am not familiar with your particular lake, but i might suggest that if the water is still cold as it probably is at this time of year, you might try a slip sinker with a leech or fathead minnow, chartreuse floating jig head, and a very slow troll. Also is there any part of the lake that has a little rock or rubble areas in 8-15 feet of water? You might also concentrate your search on the north end of the lake where you might find a couple degrees warmer water, due to the angle of the sun. In addition, you might want to invest in a temperature sensing device of some sort. This time of year how far away you are away from the spawn, pre or post, can have a lot of influence on your presentation. ps: Dont give up

[Den]

Josh, there are a lot of good eye fishermen and women in your area, keep asking and i am sure that some will answer for you and tell you where and when to go. thats what is so good about this board. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Kev]

I cant tell you anything about the lakes in your area, but I know that one poor way to get information from local walleye fishermen is to tell them that you want to eat them or put one on the wall.

[Not Kevin]

Jeez KEV
give the kid a break
like you never kept any or wanted one for the wall
help him now and he will help you later!

LCFISHERMAN-REGISTERED BUT KNOT LOGGED ON

[eyecatcher_1]

I agree, nothing wrong with keeping a few fish to eat, just don't get greedy. And as far as the one on the wall, good luck, I have been fishing for one to put on the wall for 20 yrs!! Only one tip to give ya, find the fish and if legal in your area, try drop shotting (hook above a slipweight) w/ a large minnow or chub and dangle it right infront of them. Great way to catch leary fish.

[Jim Ordway]

Josh, the 1st thing you should do is subscribe to In-Fisherman and its sister publication Walleye Insider. If you can get a years back issues, all the better. Lots of detailed information on various techniques and equipment. Many folks on this board read them religiously.
Good luck,

[bountyhunter]

WHEN the water is this cold jig slowwwwww. sonars green copper ,keep the faith it'll all come together ,when you least expect it to . slowwwwwwwwww. er you,re not listen,en jim

[Kev]

I was only trying to convey that you dont need to make known your full intentions when trying to get fishing information. I can only speak for myself, but I do not give as much info to people who I suspect will harvest the walleyes they catch.
Now to help answer the original question. One of the surest ways to catch walleyes this time of the year is to pitch small jigs baited with plastic tails or minnows into shallow rocky areas. Make your casts right to the shore line and near lone large rocks. These spots will be best if they are adjacent to a large flat area that experiences alot of wind. Hold your rod high and work jigs slow with pauses where the jigs hangs motionless. Have yet to find a lake where this wont take a few eyes in the spring.

[Brushpile]

Most people in here will tell you that the catching is the easy part. The hardest part about it is finding them. It's all part of the game we call fishing. Good Luck.

[Hawgeye]

I agree with mmillacs. Lindy type rigging with a slip sinker, a bare hook on about a 2-3' snell tipped with a crawler or leech. Use a single hook and when you feel that patented tick tick tick, let it go. After 15-20 seconds that the fish has had a chance to get it in their mouth, slowly tighten the line until you feel some pressure, then set the hook. You will catch many a leary fish with this method and it is really a fun way to catch eyes.

[CJHughes]

Brushpile has given you the best advice finding them is the hard part catching them once you find them is easy . If you don't mind a little drive I live in Beavercreek Ohio and I have a lake close that has a hot bite going on right now that I can take you to and you can have my limit and yours to take home and EAT . I'll even clean them for you. Right now it is a slow presentation 1/4 oz jighead twister tail and flathead minnow small not to big ,slowly lift and drop lift and drop Tick set the hook . Must be on the bottom . Good luck but I must warn you ahead of time it is habit forming . You might want to take up bass fishing they are easy Cast to the bank wind it in Cast to the bank wind it in . Plus once you eat one Bass you will turn all of the rest that you catch back forever . Walleye on the other hand just scream bake me in butter .

[fishy1]

cj
friends dont let friends fish for bass

[fishingerie]

When the surface temp is under 55 the most productive way ive found is either vertical jigin with jig/minnow or sonar(cicada) but i make my own. Or split shot with blood bait hook tipped with minow on a super slow troll into the wind, or get the old drift sock out. And as far as one for the wall, i must sugest take a trip to Lake Erie. Leave right now and hope you dont get hit by the Nor Easter. Erie produces some of the Biggest Eyes South of Canada! My wall mount was 31.5 inches weighing 13lbs 2 ozs. It was in Cabalas Trophey room on the net!



Good Luck, And Good Fishing!

[ZMan]

I live in Dayton - are you referring to CJ Brown having a hot bite right now? If so, would you mind sharing details? I haven't been up there this year but have fished it quite a bit in the past with limited success. Thakns.

[CJHughes]

No Zman it is Eastwood lake with the hot bite . CJ Brown just had a walleye tourny 30 boats and no fish none not one .

[Rod Holder]

Josh, you need to let those others of us fellow Hoosiers know where you are in Indiana and maybe we can give you a little help. There are three decent reservoirs: Monroe Reservoir, Cagle's Mill Reservoir, and Brookville. There are some natural lakes that aren't bad and there are the Tippecanoe, Kankakee, and St. Joseph Rivers. There are quite a few good walleye fishermen in the state as well.

[Lund AnglerMJ]

If you live in Indiana,fine take a drive. To places like the Ohio River,it's a great fishery here in Pa. The next place to try is the Detroit River.The great lake's hold a few.How about that small shallow one;Lake Erie?Take time to find the fish;wheather you're on the road,or on the lake.Find a dam at this time of year,for a few,stacked like cordwood at your local dam.Plan a trip in the summer,to a place like Wisconson or Pennsylvania. The lake's I know that hold Walleye,are Pymatuning,just a drive down RT.80,Conneaut,near-by and Kinzua,on the NY,PA border.I've driven to some good lake's,even if I live by some.Your approach,well try this,a jig-n-minnow in the cool water peroid's,say now,and as the summer get's going,put a worm on that hook.Don't leave the dock without anything,have good bait;ie lively bait and fresh crawler's,and keep em' cold. All day. Next work on presentation,that's a big one to have down good.Know the fish;what it does in summer,fall and winter.Know what it does in certain lake's. Do you're homework;it'll pay off.