Bob Jensen
11-14-2009, 09:20 AM
Was on Waubay Lake near Webster SoDak this week. Fished with guide Joe Honer and Bernie Punt. Weather was a little windy, but not unpleasant.
Joe has been taking lots of walleyes, jumbo perch, and smallmouth on Waubay for the last month.
We caught lots of walleyes in the 16-18 inch range. Solid, healthy walleyes. Also caugth lots of perch up to about 15 inches, and one 17 inch smallmouth.
Schools of fish were scattered in 18-22 feet of water. At mid-day we would drift with the wind and catch nothing for 15-20 minutes. Then we would get on a pod of fish and have doubles and triples. Later in the day the fish moved up and were easier to see on the sonar. Then we would just keep moving until we found a pod. Then sat on them and caught'em good.
A quarter ounce Slurp! Jig tipped with either a three inch Gulp! Alive Minnow or Minnow Grub in chartreuse was best. I tried other colors, but chartreuse was best. The fish hammered this combo aggressively.
Later in the day I tried the new Puppet Minnows from Northland. This is a great ice-fishing lure, and I have been hearing of anglers using it in open water. I fished several colors and sizes,,didn't tip it, just a slow lift and drop. Both perch and walleyes ate it big-time, perch on the smaller sizes, walleyes on the bigger ones. These ice-fishing baits merit more open water attention.
Last year they were ice-fishing on Waubay on November 20. That probably won't happen this year. If you're looking for a late season walleye bite, Waubay would be a good bet. The lakes were pretty barren of other boats during the week, quite a few hunters in the area. Lots of corn still in the fields, so pheasant hunting is not what it should be. Lots of geese west of Waubay.
We stayed at The Galley in Webster. Motel with restaurant attached. Good place to stay.
Best Fishes,
Bob Jensen
Joe has been taking lots of walleyes, jumbo perch, and smallmouth on Waubay for the last month.
We caught lots of walleyes in the 16-18 inch range. Solid, healthy walleyes. Also caugth lots of perch up to about 15 inches, and one 17 inch smallmouth.
Schools of fish were scattered in 18-22 feet of water. At mid-day we would drift with the wind and catch nothing for 15-20 minutes. Then we would get on a pod of fish and have doubles and triples. Later in the day the fish moved up and were easier to see on the sonar. Then we would just keep moving until we found a pod. Then sat on them and caught'em good.
A quarter ounce Slurp! Jig tipped with either a three inch Gulp! Alive Minnow or Minnow Grub in chartreuse was best. I tried other colors, but chartreuse was best. The fish hammered this combo aggressively.
Later in the day I tried the new Puppet Minnows from Northland. This is a great ice-fishing lure, and I have been hearing of anglers using it in open water. I fished several colors and sizes,,didn't tip it, just a slow lift and drop. Both perch and walleyes ate it big-time, perch on the smaller sizes, walleyes on the bigger ones. These ice-fishing baits merit more open water attention.
Last year they were ice-fishing on Waubay on November 20. That probably won't happen this year. If you're looking for a late season walleye bite, Waubay would be a good bet. The lakes were pretty barren of other boats during the week, quite a few hunters in the area. Lots of corn still in the fields, so pheasant hunting is not what it should be. Lots of geese west of Waubay.
We stayed at The Galley in Webster. Motel with restaurant attached. Good place to stay.
Best Fishes,
Bob Jensen