Walleye Help Please!!

[clemmy]

I'm coming to Minnesota to my folks lake place in the beginning of July. I'm looking for pointers for fishing it. The lake has some crazy depth changes. In thepast I've tried trolling rapalas, but been frustrated as it goes from 18 foot to 2 foot and back in a little area. Trying jig/minnow in same area, I catch some bass/crappie. I know one area that has 5 foot to 60 foot in about a 10 foot area. The lake also has a large population of large ciscoe, which you see at sunset, feeding at the surface. I know that there have been 10+ pound walleye, and 30+ pike taken. I'm coming up with the kids from Florida, and am wondering how to approach these fish when I go up there this July...

Please Help!

Craig

[tunrevir]

If you care to name the lake we can look at some topo maps and pick it a part for you. Kind of tough to hand out advice when you only have a small snapshot of the lake. What's the water clarity, is there standing vegetation, is there gravel or rock reefs. With tullies in there I'd bet there is some deeper water where you may be able to troll for suspended fish.

Tunrevir~

[JohnMickish]

If you have limited time, you might consider hiring a guide for the first day. That way you can learn where the fish are and then spend the rest of the vacation catching instead of looking. The kids might like that idea too.

[clemmy]

Well the lake is Shallow Lake, near Warba in Itasca. I'm not sure that the lakemap will help you help me much, as it must be very rudimentary (old) as it misses the majority of the structures I've seen on this lake. (Like what I described above)

Thanks!

Craig

[Jim Almquist]

During the daytime you could work live bait rigs in 16-20' of water that is close to vegetation or rocks that has a shelf close by. The area would be shore related and have a shallow shelf that drops into the 16-20' range. There is a spot just to the left of the public access that looks like it would be close to that type of area. Another area would be on the east side of the lake close to the weeds. I have never fished the lake but they would be a few of the spots that I would start with if I were to fish the lake. These same spots would also work for trolling plugs after sunset but I would work the 12'to 16' range in June and go to 14' to 18' in July and August.

[clemmy]

Thanks Jim!

Wow! The 2 spots I've tried are what you mentioned!

Up on left of PA there are 3 points that head out, which have frustrated my trolling attempts. They aren't on the map, but you are goig along in , say 18', then withing ten feet you are in 3', you figure your bait is aways back, so turn boat trying to follow depth, and end up going almost the other direction, then you're suddenly in 30', and yet you bait is now fouled.

I tried slow troling a Veg-e-Jig to help avoid the snags, tipped with a chub, and caught some nice bass, but that was it, and only on top of the ridges.

I've caught some crappie at the northern end of the lake, to the left of the weed flats, which are largely emergent reeds, plus cabbage surrounding. I thought that area might be good for big pike, and have tried spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, but to no avail.

The unmarked 5' to 60' dropoff is up there as well on the left side.

I keep thinking that the tulibee are what I should follow, but they dimple the surface all over at sunset, and just apear as clouds with no hooks below on my folks vintage fishfinder...

Craig

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

I always start with a big jig and minnow and try points and structure like you were mentioning above. But with kids in the boat- dont be afraid to try slip bobbers and leeches! This may be easiest for the kids and sometimes this can be a great way to catch big walleye, even in the depths of summer. Especially on clear water lakes where walleye can see that leech slithering around from below or off to the side from a long way.

[Sota2Florida]

Sounds like you have the right game plan in chasing the ciscoe, looks like they are well fed on them.

My dad had a place on Clearwater, near Annandale MN which had similar structure to what you mention. In the areas that were impossible to rig or troll we had the best luck bobber fishing and or using vertical/ice fishing techniques. We found the fish to be there you just had to put in in their face for a bit.

Every lake has its own vibe, you will get it. Just don't be afraid to go outside the box a little.

[tunrevir]

Areas that you catch bass during the day are prime for walleyes into the evening hours. With the Tullies in the lake some open water basin trolling may get you some fish and some real hogs but I'd focus on the weedlines towards dark. Don't be afraid to poke around some shallower depths like the 6-8' range just inside the weedlines as well because if the eyes are in the weeds they'll moveup and feed into the shallows towards dark. Crappies are another clue to finding walleyes in an unfamiliar lake as they will tend to inhabit some of the same areas but will feed more towards dark. If the water is generally clear fish the lowlight times for eyes if it is stained it can be a 1 fish here and there type scenerio throughout the midday with mixed species thrown in the mix. I misread your earlier post but haven't been able to check out the lake just yet.

Tunrevir~

[reinhard1]

ok, i looked at the countour of the lake. the lake is very clear as i look at the stats. definatly a early morning and late into evening lake [especialy in July when your are planning to come there]. the lake has cisco [tulibee] so suspended fish during the day could be fun to try in the deeper waters.

my experience with lakes like this or close to lake like this that i hit the bays and find the timming of the feed bag early and late. as i looke at the lake i see a bay in the north end. i would anchor by at least 6 pm smack in the middle of the bay in 10 feet of water and wait for them to come. the food will be more consistant in the bays in my opinion and predators move in to these locations.

i do this in a lake up north that had clear water and it seems like clockwork in the evening. days are longer so i get out there and wait. especialy if there is a weedline present in the bay. i place the boat within casting distance of that weedline. the idea is to get the walley prior to them getting into the weed as they will do to feed also. but they feed outside of the weedline and you can head them off at the pass.

often times it will be a rush of fish on the feedbag but it will only last an hour or two. then the action slows. same thing early in the morning if you sneak out there before boat traffic becomes a factor. i would use a float and a leach and keep the leech off the bottom by at least 2 feet. also trolling with a crawler rig with just a split shot with an electric motor could also help you find walleys in these areas. but for me i stick to the slip bobber and leech on an orange or red hook and [just my favorite colors used in these waters].

in July you may be attacked by panfish and bass in these types of structures and presentations but that's expected in July. good luck.

[Stick in Mud]

Great response, Reinhard (like always). I think I'll use it primarily to wait for those bass attacks come July.

[Jim Almquist]

Sounds like you have concerns with getting snagged. Another great option for searching out eyes is to go with bottom bouncers and spinner rigs. You can cover a lot of water and find out were they are relating to as far as structure.

[clemmy]

Thanks All! The bottom bouncers may be a good option in the day as I'm searching. If I find clouds on my folks old fishfinder, should I vertical drop to the lower 2/3 level of the cloud, or troll a crankbait repeatedly at about that level?

Reinhardt, thanks so much, Is the bay you are speaking of the deep finger that runs up along the weed flat on the north? North of the public access there is another broad bay, this is the bay tat has several approx. 200' ridges 0f 3-7' juting into 13-18'. These are what frustrate me trolling, as I end up going backwards to try to keep from snagging while following a given depth.. How would I know which weededge to set up for and wait?

Thanks again all!

Craig