Those who have walleyes on their wall--how big are they?

[vern]

WalleyeKing#8, that's the kind of trophy I'm looking for. For nostalgia reasons, I have a couple small creeks, rivers & lakes in mind that I would mount a fish out of. I probably wouldn't mount a trophy out of Erie or any other giant walleye producing lake. But I might if I get it on a creek I grew up fishing. It would mean a lot more. Even then I might release it, but I always try to carry a camera. Take lots of pictures! Replicas look nice, but I don't think I'll ever do one. I'm glad they have that option now though. I'd say 10 lbs or 30"s is a trophy on most waters. Vern

[irvingdog]

I'm ashamed with all of you guys! Mounting fish this big! Thats terrible!!!!

Are you aware of how delicious they are?!?!?!

[Jack Pine]

I have one 10.5 pounder on the wall. I caught another about the same size and didn't have it mounted.

I have caught and released loads of 7-8 pounders but those 10's come few and far between.

[Kidd]

I have zero on the wall. However, the first 30" goes into my deadwell.

[curt quesnell]

I caught a 31.5 inch 10 pound 4 ouncer and
a 29 inch 9 pounder on the same day back in
1983 and mounted em both. Since then I
have released a 32 incher after taking a
picture and several 26 to 28 inchers have
gone back after photos.

I doubt I will mount another Walleye but I
will learn how to take better pictures.

If I could tie into a 15 pounder I might
change my mind. I hope not, a picture is
much cheaper and doesnt collect as much dust.

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Curt Quesnell
NorthCountry Outdoors Radio

[Guest]

It think if we want a chance at an 'Eye over 12# we have to look to the Snake River in Oregon or maybe Fort Peck, MT.

Not that they aren't in other places, but these two areas seem to be on the top of the list.

The Red River sounds like a great spot too and less time on the road

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Chells

[Guest]

The one on my wall was 29" and 10 pounds out of the water. It was a fat Devil's Lake ice walleye that swallowed the hook, bad. I just couldn't release it.

The 30.5" and 31" I caught are (hopefully) swimming today. Photos remind me of those fish.

[Guest]

C&r is certainly admirable however one should not be overly concerned about catching and killing the big eyes. Here in Ohio there is much controversy regarding the killing of the big eyes especially during the spring river runs. The peer pressure from other fishers can be down right personnal when a big eye is killed,( and I really believe that deep down it's more an envy thing). An extensive study by the state DNR has determined that the fertility rate of the big eyes is very, very, low. The fish that contribute, far and away, the most to the spawn are the 2-3 pounders, the size fish that everybody kills. This would coincide with the other "critters" out there from deer to humans. Fact is once the gals get old the repro thing just is'nt apt to take hold.

[Royce Aardahl]

I caught a 29 and 2 30's back in 1989 in the red river north of fargo. I mounted the 29 and one of the 30's. It really felt good to let that 30 incher go. But I'm glad I have the other 2 on the wall. I have quite a few diferent fish and deer mounted and I sure do enjoy the memories they give me. Now I'm after that 20 inch smally to add to my collection. Maybe some day. I've released over 100 this year between 15 and 19. Gotta happen sooner or later. Keep your lines wet!,<>< <><

[WallEYES]

CHELLS
Lake Tobin in SASK. in the fall, it is common to catch fish over 12# up to 17#. A friend of mine lives up that way and his biggest last year was 16.4#. Lake Erie is another big eye factory.

[can it be luck?]

Lake Erie has lots of big fish, but not a lot of HUGE fish. To go out and catch a bunch of 30" walleye isn't that hard, although I do see many, many people get skunked(technique). But huge fish? I dont think they're there. The state record I believe is 16 lbs. caught by a shore/pier fisherman out of Cleavland. Dont quote me on the record thing, but I think it's correct. With so many large fish present, I would think 16 lbs. is small. PS: I must have missed something good here, a lot of posts are gone!! ?

[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 08-12-2003).]

[Guest]

Ohio state record ,16.19 lbs. Not huge - if you say so. It was caught two miles offshore from East Cleveland in 42 feet of water on Nov. 23, 1999. It was caught on a perch spreader with an emerald shiner for bait.

[fivebucks]

I don't have an eye on the wall yet but it would have to be a solid 10+ and pretty. I caught an ugly 29 1/2" and didn't even think about putting that one on the wall. I would like to put one on the wall when the time comes. I do have a pirana on the wall from my aquarium when I was a kid.

[can it be luck?]

What I mean is , with the LARGE amount of fish in the 10-12# range....Wouldn't you think that there would be more pushing 16 and 17 #s ? It's a numbers thing. 16# is huge.

[Guest]

Luck, thats a good point and I don't think there is a specific cause for the seemingly small number of thyroid mutants. The large numbers of 10 and 12 plus pounders is a relatively recent thing, within approximately the last 6-8 years. This coincides with the drastic increase in water clarity due to the zebra mussels. I assume that better visibility equals more efficient feeding. This seems do contradict the few numbers of giants. It could be a genetic factor. Also, many fish migrate from the western basis to the eastern basin and back each season. A distance of 100-150 miles each way. This would burn a lot of calories! Or it could be the remorseless slaughter by the Canadian gill netters. Current Lake Erie eye numbers are about 1/3 what they were in the late eighties and early nineties. The population then was abnormally high due to several excellant spawns in close succession. The current record was most probably from one of those year classes. With a nearly 50% per year class per year mortality rate,( combined causes, sport, commercial, and natural), its a rare bird that lives long enough to get that big. It could be that all the environmental factors that contribute to fish of that size simply are not in play at the same time or for a long enough period of time to produce very many giants even on a lake like Erie. I'll add one more factor that may be a bit of a stretch. It could be that they are there but their habits are so differant from the smaller fish that they recieve little fishing pressure. It could be that they spend most of the time on the bottom in 50-80 feet of water and rarely suspend. Nearly all Lake Erie fishers troll cranks for suspended fish most of the time. The main exception to this is during pre spawn and during the spawn when bottom presentations are the most common. This is a fairly short period of the season. Most of the large fish,10-12 plus, are caught early and late in the season close to shore after dark. It could be the giants don't venture that close to shore. The fisher who caught the current record was around two miles out on a known perch producing area and he was fishing on the bottom. At the same time of year large numbers of 8-12's are caught by night anglers who fish within 300-1200 feet from the same shoreline,(Cleveland, its called the "Gold Coast"), trolling shallow to medium divers in 20-40 feet of water.

[Guest]

WallEYES,

Lake Tobin, Eh? WOW!

I'll pull the boat if you'll navigate. What a trip--Trophy Walleyes and huge Whitetails with a Bow

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Chells

[fishtrap2]

32" 12lbs.

[bigeyes]

Eddy, I do believe you are the man when it comes to Big MN white tip gators. I think your 15+ probably makes it a safe bet that you have the biggest MN gator out of all current users. Can anybody beat a 15 something or is Ed the man to beat?

[can it be luck?]

Only if I lied.

[Guest]

Uh, Yeah, my wife, Morgan Fairchild...

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Chells

[Guest]

I have seen 2 bigger on the lower Red, a 16 something and another that was reported to be over 17. The 16 I seen first hand, the other in a photo just after the catch, but I trust the source well. There are far bigger eye's swimming in the lower Red or the Winnipeg River, I am certain of that!

Both the MN DNR and the NDG&F suspect walleye over 18 roam the Red River and is a good bet for a new record at any time. They have netted some near that already. Odds are real good they have missed bigger eyes in the nets while doing creel counts.

The top Sumo 3 or 4 walleye locations for me are the Colombia River, Lake Tobin, and the Red River of the North. The Colombia River is on top with numbers of trout gobbling sumo walleye. Lots of huge walleye in that system, lots & lots over #12!

Greer's Ferry Arkansas (In particular the little Red River arm in the spring) is still a good bet for huge Sumoasoras type walleye. Unfortunately for Greers it is suspected the old stocks are now depleted and the big Sumo Mama's are a thing of the past. But, a 23 or better could pop out of any one of these four locations at any time.

I know that I am slightly prejudiced but I think a few true monster walleye will show up on the Red, some time soon.

Come fall, we will see more like this.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding "ED on the RED"
701-281-2300
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 08-16-2003).]

[can it be luck?]

Ed, You keep showing pictures like that, I'll be moveing to your neighborhood soon! Nice fish.

[BDR]

A DNR guy at the Rainy river showed me a picture of what he said was a 22#er that was stuck in the intake at the Kenora dam on LOW. I don't know if it was really 22# but it was huge. He also said that they saw somebody catch a big one on the river asked if they could weigh before he released and it was 23#, but that "story" had no picture. Who knows I think it is possible up there.

[Guest]

30 inches is the number. I'd take a good photo and get a replica. Replicas last a longer, look great and you can still catch that fish when she's 32.

[SPIN DRY]

12 1/2 lbs and 12 1/4 lbs One came from a metro area lake you don't always have to go north.