KANSAS walleye......where are they in winter?

[Scott_in_kc]

Fishing through the winter for the first time (with a boat anyway) and wondering where the walleye will most likely hang out this time of the year on our reservoirs? Main lake or creeks? Deep? A lot of flooded timber in these waters too.

Thanks, just been crappie fishing so far since it's been good, but would sure like to get on the winter 'eyes too!

[dave]

Scott, I have caught eyes in clinton on main lake points close to the dam. These will be fish that are starting to stage for the spawn. I have caught small ones in the main lake creeks at or near the bottom. Point fish will come off of rocks and shallow humps.Jigs with minnows verical jigging work well but slow is the key. P.S. stinger hooks are a must for vertical jigging. If you see the black lund with 175 merc stop over and we'll exchange info.

[ImanKs]

I've been fishing Wilson Res. since early Nov. Have caught and released 10 walleye over six pounds,the last one was Sunday Jan. 16. All of the walleye I have caught have been in 28 to 45 foot. Most have been on sharp drop offs on rock near river channel. Every fish was taken on slab spoons, chartreuse and white have been the most productive colors(1/2 to 3/4 oz.) I may only catch 2 to 6 walleye each day, but I pick up 10-20 white bass, channel cat, drum, carp, and maybe a striper or two. Just pay attention to your locator, fish slow and have fun. Good Luck.

[Scott_in_kc]

Are you marking fish where you stop to fish or just fishing drop offs that look good? And just curious if the walleye are closer to the bottom or suspended at all? Thanks!

[Scott_in_kc]

Dave, thanks for the info! I know the areas and will give it a shot. Any preference to the marina side or the south side? I don't have my map handy, but it seems like there is an old road bed that runs to the dam, just past center toward the south. Curious if you have tried the channel area around the island & those rip rap areas near the clinton point ramp. That is the only place I have had luck on the walleye. Took a 21" late this fall, so obviously I have more confidence in these spots. But, it sounds like I need to check out some new water.

[ImanKs]

Most of the time I can can see them on my pp7500. Sometimes I look for schools of shad or zoom-in to find individual fish on the bottom. If I have found fish at a certain spot the week before, I'll fish awhile even if I can't see any fish. Almost all the fish(no matter what species) have been very close to the bottom. I have my pp sonar units networked, it makes it easier to stay on the fish. It also helps to get my fishing partner on fish, which seems to make him much happier(I don't know why but some guys don't enjoy netting my fish all day)!

[dave]

Scott,
I have fished the roadbed from the island toward the dam with great sucess. The fish seem to always be on one side or the other. Find them with the graph and just try to stay vertical over the top of them. Marina side has always been the best for me but I have caught some south as well.The roadbed seems to be the best starting point. Don't overlook brushpiles on the edge of the channels on the island the fish you see arent always white bass the eyes tuck into the brush. Stock up on jigs you will lose several in the brush.

[Hart]

>Fishing through the winter for the
>first time (with a boat
>anyway) and wondering where the
>walleye will most likely hang
>out this time of the
>year on our reservoirs? Main
>lake or creeks? Deep? A
>lot of flooded timber in
>these waters too.
>
>Thanks, just been crappie fishing so
>far since it's been good,
>but would sure like to
>get on the winter 'eyes
>too!

[rh]

Have you tried Wolf Creek, it is a great place to spend a slow winter. I had great luck trolling crank baits and jigging just across from the warm water out let in 5 to 10 foot

[Scott_in_kc]

You know, I haven't tried there in the winter. I kind of forgot about it. But, maybe I will check it out. Thanks.

[Scott_in_kc]

Yep, know the brush quite well! I am surprised its still standing with all the lead hanging on it! I see a lot of guys drifting the flats off the island in the summer, but have yet to see anyone take a fish that way. I always have better luck on the breaks.

[miket]

scott: as mentioned - wilson has been real good with a couple of reports of fish close to 10#( probably more like eitht but still big!) and few reports of limits but lots of 2-4 fish stringers. smaller fish coming on where they have been absent for several years - should get better. there will be a new updateable fishing report going on line this spring where the local fish folks can update conditions with any detail they wish. it can be found on the kdwp web page.
Report for saugeye(small to 4#) at kanopolis looks real good too - talked with fish bio yesterday and he says they saw a lot in fall electro-fishing while sampling bass in 2-4' of water in the rocks. this was in october/november and fish should be real susceptible to crankbaits - i'm going to try it. Lots of new brush piles have been put in too in both wilson and kanopolis with a map available but no gps coordinates yet- that is one thing that will be added later. if you want an address and name to request it through - send me an e-mail. good luck and good fishin, miket!

[Scott_in_kc]

Mike I tried to email you but the link isn't working..

Hey Mike, thanks for the info. Ya, send me any links you have to Wilson or Kanopolis. Kanopolis was legendary for big walleye when I was a kid, probably 20 years ago now. Those lakes really aren't that far from and I should check them out. It is just easy to bail out and go to the lakes closer to home (which is why I am having mediocre luck with walleye.) Local lakes get pounded here these days. Looks like the saugeye are a perfect fit for our lakes here, the numbers & size are really starting to get up there.

[Glyde Ryder]

Wilson best for big fish. I do some of the lake picks for Walleye Insider but choose to leave Wilson alone until the size spectrum looks better. Please return any fish you catch there.The mild winters have been a killer - the shad just keep getting bigger and bigger. Scott, I spoon the channel ledges at the turns through and near shad schools. A forty foot rock ledge with a little brush and shad is perfect. Clear water like Wilson and Stockton best for dead winter. I live in Paola.