Walleyes in the Weeds

[pikehunter]

I've got a hunch the eyes on one of my local lakes are hunkered in and around very thick shallow weed growth. (10-15 ft.) I've never had much luck catching them in weeds though and my usual deeper tactics are not working and are starting to frustrate me a bit. I get hung up every other cast and can't seem to find a combo that they will hit with any kind of consistency.
Any info you guys could share on your favorite weedy walleye techniques would be greatly appreciated!!

[rod-man]

slipbobbers with leeches or lindy veggy jigs and leeches or small chubs 3-4in

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Rod-man <'})))><~~~~~

be safe and share the water

[james_walleye]

On a really well defined weedline i go over and toss a buoy right on the weedline and circle around and anchor within casting distance. Setting a slip bobber and leech/minnow right on the edge has been great for me.

I've also had great luck pulling bottom bouncers and spinners along the weeds. Also a times had success snap jigging plastics along the weeds.

[This message has been edited by james_walleye (edited 06-13-2004).]

[2dalake]

I use the buoy trick too, but I use more than one to mark a section of the weededge and then move along it and jig. I let the jig fall down the weed face until it hits bottom, then work it back to the boat slowly. Stand up fireballs work real well for this, no more than 1/8 ounce.

[james_walleye]

Hey 2dalake i'd like to try that, use multiple buoys, but most of the time on the lakes i fish if you do that all that happens is a crowd drawing. So i throw out a single black buoy which i dont think draws the attention.

[2dalake]

I know what you mean. Last Saturday I had a weedline marked and I had three kids in the boat. I rigged them all with fatheads under slipbobbers set a foot off the bottom on a deep weededge. My eight year old caught a 4lb largemouth, and all three boys were jabbering and laughing loud enough that shortly after we released his fish there were no less than five boats within casting distance.

I'm going back to shift work next year and I'll get my weekends in the middle of the week again. That should help.

[james_walleye]

What area of the state are u fishing 2?

[pikehunter]

Thanks for the tips fellas ... I appreciate the help! I'm fishing in the metro area - to answer the question.
As I'm sure you know, there are weed-related issues on many of the lakes around here. I grew up in southern MN where this wasn't near as much of a problem, so I'm trying to learn new ideas ... again, many thanks!

[2dalake]

Alexandria area mostly, but I hit Leech a couple times per year, and the Detroit Lakes area now and then.

[james_walleye]

Ever fish Osakis or Stalker Lake? Im pretty familiar with both of those lakes.

[2dalake]

I've fished Osakis, but it's been awhile. I fish Mary quite a bit.

[IFallsRon]

I throw Johnson Silver Minnows and Rapala Minnow Spoons.

[LocalGuide]

I would say either bobber fishing near the weeds or throwing a light weedless jig w/plastic would be my first 2 options.
I also fish a lake that is HEAVILY weeded in shallower water, like 14' on up. Its hard to catch walleyes in this kind of weeds. Just look for open pockets and cast there and see what u get. You are bound to get a mixed bag.
Have fun.

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And keep those hooks sharp!

[james_walleye]

Pikehunter i fish the southern Mn lakes and have great luck fishing the weedlines on these lakes. In 5 outings on Madison this year we've boated about 75 walleyes, quite a few were in the weeds.

[wallyH]

I went out last night and tried the bouy trick. Found a nice place where there was a rockpile right on the weedline. Caught 21 walleyes between 2 guys.

Wally H

[Lost]

Here's an article that might be of some interest to you:

http://www.ontariowalleyefishing.com/articles/dunk.html

[2dalake]

I have done that for bass, but I've never hooked up with a walleye that close to the boat in daylight. Lots of bonus northerns.

The author is right, strikes are awesome. WHAM! My kids love it too, they don't have to make long casts, and it teaches them to "feel" the jig down to the bottom.

[abens1078]

Well, I may get laughed at but, try some bass style rigs. We have all heard and read about the bass anglers sometimes slamming the walleyes in the setting you mentioned. When I've thrown the whole box of things that should work I will try the Texas rig or Carolina rig with a piece of thin plastic and some live bait to sweeten the pot if needed. The main purpose of the plastic for me in this case is to keep the rig weedles and add some bulk and color. If you think about it, the Carolina rig is your basic slipsinker rig with a glass bead and different hook. These aren't my first choices but sometimes you have to try it all.
Walleyes don't always know what they are "suppose" to eat.

[TMan]

I use a weedless floater with a bullet style slip sinker and just slide it through the weeds, or put on a small split shot 3 feet above the floater and ease it through. I fish metro milfoil with this set up.

www.Phelpstackle.com

[huskiesplayer15]

I will second the posts above me, I use a clacker rig on shallow water walleyes, otherwise on FI we have caught lots of nice fish dragging a texas rigged (ZOOM RED SHAD) worm through the slop, reall slow, or try dropshotting a gulp minnow with a 1/16 or 1/8th oz weight with a no- snagg hook.
unorthodox, but it has caught fish.
Best Fishes
Chris