Where did they go?

[captainstevo]

I don't understand what happened to the walleyes, I was on fish for almost 3 weeks. I thought I had the lake figured out and went out last night and could not catch a fish. I boated over 200 walleyes in 3 weeks and kept a total of 14 fish in that time so I know I did not eat them all. Tonight I tried everything and every where that I could think of and caught 1 15" fish right after sun set.

Does anyone else know the frustration of having a lake in their back pocket and then if shuts off. I know this is fishing but just thought I would share my frustrations and see if anyone out there had the magic number to try. tonight I pulled lindys and worked breaks from 6 to 20 feet, jigged (was the key) and pulled cranks. I even threw my slip bobber out every time I sat down to change rigs and nothing,

As far as I can tell the only solution to this problem is more hours on the water learning. Any new tricks or ideas are welcome, hopefully things are going better for all others out there.

[JohnMickish]

What did the water temp do over those 3 weeks?

[Jim Almquist]

It sure sounds like you have done your best at trying to locate fish but it may be that there is a hatch of some sorts that is drawing the bait fish away from your spots or the weather messing with you ( barometric pressure ) I would give your presentations another try and if that fails you its time to put on a spinner with a crawler and a bottom bouncer and troll till you find them.

I have a spot on a lake that was as close to a sure thing as one could hope for and produced for years and one year it stopped and has never produced much since. The same lake had another spot do the same thing but it stopped for around 4 years and now its a definite go to spot and usually is the first spot I will hit.

Stuff happens for reasons we will never know

[Big Tom]

If the lake you are fishing has a Tullibee/Cisco population, Walleyes have likely followed them deeper. Water temps over 60 are lethal to Tullibees. If they are present, use a temp probe or find the thermocline and you will find the missing Walleyes.

Jim's point on the hatch is a good one as well. Floating stick baits or a non-weighted large spinner rig at low light are a good option.

[Jim Uran]

I'd also say the hatch is pulling the baitfish away from where you were catching them recently.

[kingfish689]

I have all the lakes I fish right in my back pocket. I know all the nooks and crannies and honey holes the sweet spots and everything. But its them dang fish that keep messing up my best made plans.And they will do it every time.The best fishermen on the lake cant get a limit every day.

[JohnMickish]

I'd also say the hatch is pulling the baitfish away from where you were catching them recently.

That's where I was headed with the water temp question. It sounds like whatever they where eating either got to big or moved, and the walleys did to.

[captainstevo]

Well, I just got back in and it looks like I found them again, new spots and new tactics but 17 walleyes in 4 and a half hours will have to work the evening. I love a teachers schedule in the summer. Thanks for the tips guys, and I really appreciate the advise, it is always welcome.

[jigginjim]

Are you finding your walleyes near weeds or out on sand/rock flats, or open water.

[captainstevo]

I have been finding some great numbers on the weed breaks and big fish deeper on sandy drop offs and rock pile edges

[james_walleye]

Sounds like you've been catching fish on shoreline structure? Is there any "offshore" structure? Midlake reef or bars? Thats where i would be heading.

[captainstevo]

The mid lake structure is where I have been catching larger fish, the rock bars and the sand, I have also found about half of my smaller fish on shoreline structure, the others I concentrate my efforts on mid lake weed edges and break structure with weeds on it.

[BrdHunter01]

It just takes a little more work to find them this time of year. With bug hatches and water temps it can be very tricky. I lost them for about a week but found them again! Quite a bit deeper but just as aggressive if not more!

^ Agree with the midlake structure, but that will depends on the lake of course