disappearing Walleyes?

[dan (OR)]

Where do you think they go?

I had a week of full moon fishing this fall that was great! However, I need some opinions as to where the walleyes went after the current shut down. Here is the story. We fishing the Columbia River below a dam and doing well in 12 to 30 foot of water pulling plugs. The shad smolt is amazing, millions of them headed to the ocean. The only water coming through is through the turbines and about two hours after dark the turbines shut down and the current stops cold. We could and did vertical jig without moving downstream at all in the same area.

The pattern was dusk until the turbines shut off nice fish, after the turbines shut down, not a strike. So where do they go or how would you change tactics to keep after them? Are they only feeding when there is current?

Dan
Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fish for them J

[stewart]

I have absolutely no experience in that particular situation, but I've experienced similar shut downs. I always felt bad about not being able to catch the buggers. I mean, they always figure out a way to catch them on T.V, right? I'm not suggesting you stop trying, but sometimes a bite's just over and it's time to pack it in.

[Backwater Eddy]

When a bite is seemingly centered around an event, such as a discharge from a spillway, finding a plan "B" can be tough.

The fish are well fed an in no big hurry to hunt outside of the easy pick'n time they are conditioned to, I see this a lot on rivers.

Add cold water to this equation and it is tougher yet!

I would speculate that they return to there deep wintering pools and hang out tell the next dinner bell sounds. If they won't react to a bump the bottom in the face jig then maybe a 3-way rig set with a good match to the prey crankbait and run it fast over there heads. May just triger a looker?

Tough bite when they know the schedule and wait tell the dam's bust loose!

If you can get real time data to when the dam's are cycled find it and plan to be there ASAP.

Try searching this site for dam's in your state and see if real time data is available.

http://nd.water.usgs.gov/index/welcome.html

BE.......><,,>

[chadk66]

I've had instances like that on rivers. What I have discovered is that the walleyes are feeding in the heavy current during discharge in like you said 10-30 feet of water. The walleye's are feeding on the baitfish that have just came through the turbines and are stunned. They are just kind of swirling around and free for the taking. But what I have found when they shut down the turbines is that after a bit the live minnows head for shallow water.(especially at night) And I mean really shallow. 2-6' of water. Just troll really quietly with your electric alon shore and cast shallow minnow immitating cranks to the bank and retrieve. I have just killed em on this type of situation several times.

[tinboat]

Dan, Ive had the same thing happen here on the Columbia below McNary dam....I have had some success going deeper after they shut off and dragging jigs...but it had been limited success, I think whats happening is with all the shad they dont have to feed long before they get their fill and quit feeding. Ive tried going really shallow, but that doesnt appear to be the answer either. When I used to do a lot of night fishing we would sometimes see a secondary bite several hours after they shut down the turbines, but this also was a hit and miss deal. Good Luck, next fall

[gofish]

I read an article many years ago about some fishermen who experienced the same problem you mentioned. They were fishing downstream of the Grand Rapids dam in Northern Manitoba. All the locals & experienced fisherman used the same method (spinners in this case) and they only fished while the turbines were running. When the turbines were shut down for the evening, the fishing did as well. I believe fish will get conditioned to a certain method of feeding...especially when the forage base gets washed right passed their snouts. Anybody else have a similair experience?

[GLG]

I also fish the Columbia...just fished below John Day dam two weeks ago. The current varied from something to nothing. We caught nice 'eyes when there was some current, but the river went dead with no current. I am convinced the baitfish and walleyes disperse when the current goes away...it becomes just like a lake situation in cold water. During low flow, we have caught a few more closer to the deadline...so some of them must be moving closer to the dam. During currents, we do a little better somewhat downstream. Unfortunately with the low snowpack and the need to conserve energy, I expect we will be seeing more low flows for the next couple of months...so we need to find those 'eyes.