How would you fish this situation!!!

[walleye4]

I have been catching alot of crappies off of a dam face at a lake in Nebraska! My ? is, I get a few walleye in with the crappie, I am using small crappie jigs. What could I do to increase my walleye catch rate? I know that the walleye are there, but I only catch a few here and there! What would be another approach at catching a few more eyes? I am not fishing out of boat, I already got mine winterized!

Any help would be awesome!


Wallagator Chaser

[Kevin B]

How deep are you fishing/catching? Are the walleye singles or schooled? Are you using live bait (minnows)on your crappie jigs?

[Dr. Walleye]

Walleye 4 I fish a similiar situation with alot of crappie and a good population of walleye. My best luck has come from casting crankbaits when the water temperature is above 55 degrees. My best luck below 55 degrees has come from using slip bobbers and relatively large minnows. I have also had pretty good success pitching the shad rap rs below 55 degrees and slowing it down a bit.

[bigfish1965]

Try Carolina rigging some BIG minnows tossed in at the edge of current breaks.

[jerry]

I would start with pitching cranks that best imitate the natural forage of the lake you fish. Depending on depth, my next approach would be live bait with a dead rod setup. If that didn't work, I'd try ripping lures like Zips, Sonars, or Cicada's through the area. For ripping lures, I like to keep them small to start and play upon the aggressiveness of the fish. If this didn't work, I'd get a stick of TNT and you know what!!!

[walleye4]

I am fishing off the bank on the dam! The depth's range from 2 ft - 10 ft where I am catching my fish! I have seen quite a few eyes chasing my lure, the water is pretty clear right now! My hot bait right now is Dyno Shads by Crappie Pro - www.crappiepro.com . I catch a ton of walleye on these baits!

I will try cranks next time I go! The main prey fish in this lake is gizzard shad, what are some good cranks that imitate GIZ SHAD? Do I fish them fast or slow?

Thanks for the advice in advance!!!!!!


Wallagator Chaser

[Kevin B]

For those shallow fish (2ft-4ft) a jointed rapala might work, but if the water is clear, as you mentioned, I wouldn't be trying to make too much noise (like casting crankbaits). I might try a split shot rig, like one you would use for smallmouth, with a minnow or leech as bait. Maybe just tipping the jig you are currently using with a small minnow or leech. Slip bobbers would be my next consideration.
For the deeper fish (8-10 feet) I'd go with my "normal" autumn presentation of jig/minnow. If you don't like finesse fishing and prefer cranks, what are those walleye eating? Minnows or crayfish? I'll guess they're eating crayfish out of the rocks on the dam, so a Rebel craw might be a crank to try. (What's in their gut when you clean them?)
As far as the fish following your lure, that is common, you just don't get to witness it when you're trolling in your boat in 12 feet of water! Many years ago, Mike McClelland trolled cranks with boats following behind him (over his cranks) and could see walleyes on the sonar following the crank for long distances before they would hit.
At any rate, I can tell you are having fun! Pay attention to what works, define & refine a technique,'cause it'll probably work again next autumn.

[lost sailor]

walleye,
are you fishing in the lake off of the levy or below the dam?
i fish a resevoire where the levy consisists of earth and large riprap protectecting the shore and dropoff. the shore drops off fairly steep to about 30'. i have good luck in the fall for both crappies and walleyes using large ratfinkies and minnow under a slip bobber, start shallow and gradually go deeper until you find fish.
normally the walleyes are deeper than the crappies.
good luck,

skip

[Otter]

In addition to increasing the size of your minnow, you might try fishing a bit deeper.

[collie]

Have you tried a smaller countdown or huskie jerk, the slip bobber with an 1/32 or 1/8 jig with an over sized hook and a twister. I have caught a lot of walleyes on huskie jerks thrown to the bank and watched them eat it. I know you said your on the bank and I have caught a bunch pitching that way too. One thing that use to work well for me here in Colorado, is if I have a fish follow it in, I would throw out a minnow under a slip bobber twords the direction the fish came in from, it works; good luck. Collie

[Neal/CO]

I was reading an article this weekend in in-Fisherman about using small Husky Jerks for crappie. Maybe the small version would catch both species at the same time? I caught a couple of decent trout on them this weekend.

[AKA Walleye Hitman]

I have been fishing the same siniral last week going into this week and have increased my eye catch and still catching crappie in 8 ft.of water and water temp.is 64 deg.went from 1/8 oz jig and twister to 1/16 oz marabue.this has allowed me to work them slower and has been very sucessful.Last weeks biggest eye was 27 1/2 this is on Pymatuning Lake in Ohio.hope this info will help you out and catch more eyes.
Good luck Tight Line
AKA Walleye Hitman

[johnny]

In Nebraska and you have already winterized your boat????? Best fishing is yet to come! I am in SD and winterizing has not even crossed my mind yet!! Anyways, If you are seeing those eyes follow your bait and they don't hit, try fishing them after dark. Sounds like a perfect scenario for night fishing to me. Cast some originals or countdowns or even a jug and minnow out there after dark, I think you will be surprised at the effectiveness. GOOD LUCK!!

[walleye4]

I know, it is too early to put the boat up for the year! I just don't have the time to get it out right now, when I get the chance to go, I usually have to go by myself and I don't have a good enough truck to unload and load by myself! Kinda stinks that all my partners are farmers and in the field picking corn now!! Oh well, I take the good with the bad! I will try some of the tips you all have given me and post back on the results! I will be going again this weekend for sure!!!!

Thanks again everyone!!!!!


Wallagator Chaser