Josh Smith Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 The weather was nice today so went out to see if I couldn't get a river smallie or two to bite my lure. Didn't happen. I cast jigs in and around a submerged tree from the flooding this past summer. I kept feeling "ticks" but nothing committed. After trying jerkbaits (both hard and soft), jigs, and a couple others, I went to a square bill crankbait. This Live Target Baitball has produced here for me before, so I threw it. I tried reeling and stopping, and though I got another "tick", I didn't get a commitment. When I began to reel steadily but only fast enough to keep it in contact with the rocks, bursting speed only when I felt a stronger pull of a possible hangup, I got bit. One of those "hangups" was this guy: Using the rod as a reference, this walleye measured 19.5 inches or so. I put him on a stringer and was going to keep him if I caught two more. This would have made a decent fish meal for my family. However, shortly after, the bill on this Baitball broke on a rock or some danged thing, and I didn't have another. I tried some other square bills, but none produced. This was the only gold color I had. This was my first walleye of the year. I do have a walleye kit put together but didn't have it with me. The unseasonably warm weather sees me still bass fishing. I might have to start taking the walleye kit with me as walleye, smallmouth, and drum all co-mingle in this area of the river. Prime habitat for all species! Regards, Josh P.S. I also really need to start taking a better camera with me instead of relying on my phone. J.S. 1 Quote
Super User bowhunter63 Posted December 13, 2015 Super User Posted December 13, 2015 Nice Eyes,This year has been aweful for Smallies.Been good on spots and Largemouth. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted December 13, 2015 Global Moderator Posted December 13, 2015 Nice, fat walleye! Quote
desmobob Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 A nice surprise! I'm a catch-and-release guy but I usually make an exception for walleye. Delicious! Tight lines, Bob Quote
Super User everythingthatswims Posted December 14, 2015 Super User Posted December 14, 2015 I bet all species will hit a live shiner drifted with a couple split shot...No shame with live bait in the winter! 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted December 14, 2015 Global Moderator Posted December 14, 2015 I bet all species will hit a live shiner drifted with a couple split shot...No shame with live bait in the winter! Especially when targeting whatever bites! Quote
Josh Smith Posted December 14, 2015 Author Posted December 14, 2015 A nice surprise! I'm a catch-and-release guy but I usually make an exception for walleye. Delicious! Tight lines, Bob My boy was with his grandparents felling a Christmas tree. Had he been with me, I'd likely have given him a pink jig for his light spinning setup and maybe gotten a couple more, enough to make a family meal. Most of what I had was too big for walleye, and though I had others hitting some lures, they wouldn't or couldn't commit to that big hook. One thing I should have tried, now that I think about it, are some pink Yum Dingers I have. I had mixed a red bag with a white bag and they all came out pink! Kept 'em for walleyes. Josh Quote
Josh Smith Posted December 14, 2015 Author Posted December 14, 2015 I bet all species will hit a live shiner drifted with a couple split shot...No shame with live bait in the winter! No shame ever if I want something to eat, but I can't stand live bait fishing any longer unless it's as a trailer to a jig etc. The exception is when I throw out a baited line to catch food while I'm also throwing lures. Josh Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted December 14, 2015 Global Moderator Posted December 14, 2015 Most of what I had was too big for walleye, No such thing as too big for a walleye. When they're actively feeding, they'll eat some way oversized baits. Swimbaiters catch them fairly often on 6-8 inch (and probably bigger), baits even during the winter months. I think it's especially true when visibility is limited. Quote
Super User everythingthatswims Posted December 14, 2015 Super User Posted December 14, 2015 No such thing as too big for a walleye. When they're actively feeding, they'll eat some way oversized baits. Swimbaiters catch them fairly often on 6-8 inch (and probably bigger), baits even during the winter months. I think it's especially true when visibility is limited.I use a 9" glide bait to find schools of river walleye Quote
desmobob Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 I'm lucky that the lake I fish for bass also has some big walleyes. The two I caught while fishing for bass this season were both within an ounce of seven pounds (6-15 and 7-1). One ate a medium-diving crank bait and other at a jig/craw. And I, in turn, ate both of them (the walleyes, I mean, not the crank bait and jig). Tight lines, Bob Quote
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