Thanksgiving's Eve Walleyes

[chumfoam]

After last year I stopped taking large females.

I am by no means an expert - I'll bet I've caught less than 100. I use a lot of big bait and have hooked at least 3 times that many as landed. Once I know I'm on fish I switch to my smaller "premiums." One evening 20 misses alone. Big bait mean more strikes for me and a lot 4 to 1 missed fish in the river. I've let the fish hold the bait for 15 minutes and still no hook set.

I have gutted a lot of walleye. The one thing that impresses me is how little I've found in their stomach. I wonder if it's like atlantic salmon, or steelhead. A hit out of instinct or something. When I see that worn lower tail on the female walleye it reminds me of a female salmon, who's been sweeping a nest.

I've also noticed that when I took females, the males seem to go away. This reminds me of spring steelhead on the reds.

I guess  my point is drop in a minnow tipped something like an unwanted intruder in their "love nest" and it seems to trigger a strike.

 

[fishin_musician]

Good theory except that......... they are spring spawners (april) Hence the season is closed from march 15th to early May. I catch them with all sorts of fish in their gut. rock bass, shiners, sunnies etc. The males do dog the females so if youcatch a big female it may spook the smaller males or they may just go looking forthe next good piece of tail, lol they can find.

[fishgreenmets]

I used to fish jig and minnow all the time,which is great if you're fishing a concentrated area,but when the fish are moving around in the river you stand a better chance with jig and plastic.I first went to the powerbait, but have since gone to all different types of plastics they all have a different type of action. Sting ray grubs,sassy shads,reapers,and kalin grubs,they all have subtle differences in their action and you can work alot more area. You can add a scent to up your odds.

[fishin_musician]

That is my style of fishin. I fish location, I cast locations, I think location. If the fish leave so do I lol I go to another location. 

[fbishop20]

wondering what you think is good for bass on a cold sunny day on the river fishing fromshore?

[fishin_musician]

I get them frequently on the same jig and minnow set up that I use for the eyes.

[gee-dub]

back in november i was getting smallmouth on senko kut tail worms worked slowly in the delaware, but i'd be surprised to get them this late (i was surprised to get them then).  in still water though, a barely quivering senko might entice a bite.

[fishin_musician]

Once there is ice on the river the bite is just about over barring a big warm up.

[GunDog]

Fishin Musician, I'm wanna start doing more wading and was curious what length and action of rod you use.

[fishin_musician]

Fishin Musician, I'm wanna start doing more wading and was curious what length and action of rod you use.

Its kinda long at 8'6" medium action. I have been fishing it so long that it's part of me.

[GunDog]

Thanks for the info.

[fishin_musician]

Thanks for the info.

It makes some nice casts. has backbone for big fish and is still fun to catch a smaller one on. I don't fish small waters so no worries with branches.