bank fishing walleyes

[dave]

I fish stockton lake in missouri and was looking for information on bank fishing walleyes. I am new to wlalleye fishing and my boat is going to be out of commision this spring. so i need some advice on bank fishing for walleyes. I have my topo map out and have been studding it trying to fing good location to fish from bank. But when you have only caught a hand full of small walleyes it is hard to know wheather or not you are choosing good areas. Any inform ation on this subject would be great. I also fish below the dam at stockton so any small river ideas would be great to. I have read the books walleye wisdom and 5 roads to walleye and have gained alot of insight. so i do know the basics. i am just looking for some info for a bank bound angler. thanks dave

[Thumper]

There are lots of bank fisherman. They tend to congregate at the better spots. Just head down and introduce yourself. You could also just sit back a little ways away, fish and observe.

[steve(IL)]

My folks live down by Marshfield and I've been over to Stockton. I'd concentrate around the rip rap at the dams. I scanned that with my electronics and it drops quickly into 30ft +/-. An easy cast from the rocks. I'd work it with good sized slip bobbers and larger chub or sucker type minnows 4"-6". If you don't already know how, you'll need to learn how to use a bottom finder to set the depth on your floats. Be sure to keep the bait up off the bottom and working for best results. A large struggling minnow will call 'em in from a long ways off. Be sure to use enough weight to get them down. I've caught 12" walleyes on 5" suckers. Go big.

Try to figure out where the rock ends and the bottom begins - I've marked fish there at midday(inactive I suspect). Early and late - they probably move up. Try lighted slip bobbers in the evening in closer to the rocks if you can. Bring family or friends to allow putting out more rods at different depths. Good luck!!

p.s. If your bobber isn't pulsing from the minnow pulling against it, he's either worn out or swam into the rocks. Keep him off the bottom and working for you!! If the boober starts going nuts all of a sudden - that's a good indication that something is making him nervous. I love nervous minnows!! :-)

[mick]

Dams or feeder creeks are good places to start. From there, look for anything that's slowing down the current. Bridges, wing dams...land jotting out. If you see the water seem to calm or boil, that means there is something below water that you can't see that's causing the current to become irregular. I like to use a 3 way rig with a large sinker on the dropper line and a plain hook with a nice sized shiner on the leader. try hooking both in the lips or the tail. Or use a jig head either with a shiner by itself or with a twister tail and work it slowly back to the bank.

[carey]

I bank fished for Walleye at Stockton for 3 or 4 years. It has been 2 years since I made it over there. I used to do real good down on the east end of the dam right around the first little curve. It is very shallow on that end, but right before it drops off used to be the spot. Of course, it was only good when the wind was blowing in there. I had my best luck with a yellow junior thunderstick, I know some people who do good with
other minnow type baits. I do remember my best fishing from shore was always before they shocked down there to collect eggs this time of year. I would really appreciate it if you would e-mail me and let me know how you do as I am thinking about making a trip out there in a week or two.

[dave]

whats your email? I am thinking of heading over that way sometime this week to try it again and see what happens. been tlaking to alot of foks in the walleye world and i am now feeling more confident that i can catch some haha any way ill let you know how i do dave

[carey]

My e-mail is caresut@aol.com. I am not sure where you live,
but i would also recommend to hook up with the missouri walleye association. These guys really know stockton and the pot hole down at bull shoals and the ones I have met have been very helpful.

[WAeyes]

I can relate to your dilema. I am also without a boat at this time in my life, in fact, I have never owned my own boat. I have not let this keep me from becoming a good walleye fisherman though. If you really want to have some consistent success, you must fish at night. Once the lights go out, the rules of walleye fishing can change completely. They move in much shallower, as little as 2 ft. and come in there for one reason, to eat. If you are fishing on a lake or reservoir, find the inlets that provide current, which attracts baitfish and ultimately walleyes. If you don't have access to these areas, then find a rocky point or shoreline that gets windswept and churned up water, sometimes this can be good even during the day. Both of these kinds of areas work best when there is deeper water close by. Usually you have a better chance for bigger fish at night. Good Luck