I can not imagine being a walleye guy!

[ChrisR71]

Well guys, I took my boat out yesterday for the first time this year. I went down to Red Wing with my little R71 bass boat to check out pool 4. I went with a guy who knows the river. He is a walleye guy and we always rib each other for fishing for the 'other' fish.

We were on the water at 6:15 AM. It was 39 degrees. The run up to the dam was bone chilling. We fished there for a couple of hours until we couldn't stand the hundreds of boats everywhere.

We did not get a bite all day. We mostly jigged for walleyes. We tried different spots. I tried to be open-minded and see what the attraction was for fishing for these fish.

I have never seen so many boats in one area in my life. You guys that have been down there know what I am talking about. It is nuts.

I saw 3 guys catch fish all day. It was a tough bite. I felt like I was in walleye school 101 but did not pass. LOL.

He showed me around pool 4. We drove to various backwater lakes. I could see where the bass fishing could be good with all of the cool structure. We did try one of the back water lakes. I casted a few yum dingers to some of the downed trees but the water was pretty cold. It was between 39 and 47. Most water I was in was 41-42. My buddy told me the water was up 4-5 feet.

Boat control was tough in the strong current. The problem was I would get a snag and snap off or bend the hook. Then, while I attempted to retie or straighten the hook, the boat would just get pulled down the river. I have a 65 maxxum on my boat which is pretty strong for its size but I was on 70-80% to move up current.

In conclusion, I have more respect for those walleye guys. I will stick to bass. I wouldn't mind trying those back waters for bass, but I don't want to do it with hundreds of boats right next to me.

Forever a bass fisherman,

Chris

[Mark Christianson]

What is this wellaye(or whatever it is) you speak of?
I am not fimiliar with this creature.
Will it hit surface baits?
Does it take after spinnerbaits?
Can you catch them in the slop?

If the answer is no to any of these, I guess it is best for me to stay away from these things.....

[EBass]

I was there to yesterday with Tonka Boy and friends. We didn't have much luck either. Pitching plastics to the shore and vert jigging with jig and minnow. I caught a carp, a crappie and a wee little sauger. Tonka Boy got a nice sheepie, and Brandon took the honers with a mud puppy or atlesat that's what we think it was.

It was packed and the bite was way slow. I did see one guy get a walter that went about 26" (saw it from about 20' away) we saw some other people catch one here and there, but nothing consistent.

[HawgTide]

I hear you Chris! Sounds boring to me. If you ever see me fishing like that, please shoot me and put me out of my misery!

[Muskieguy]

I too was there..we got a 12-14 lb carp, and 1 18" walleye. I will fish Red Wing a few times in April, I fish the walleye opener and then it is 99% bass and muskie after that. Those walleye guys catch a few walleye and its a good day...I would rather C&R 10-20 fish each time I go out...well I might be exagerating a bit..maybe 9-19 fish hehe. Anyway..pitching, casting, sight fishing is much more fun, even when the bass aren't biting, then dragging a lindy rig or jig in the middle of some gigantic lake.

Muskieguy....

[ChrisR71]

Muskieguy,

I agree completely! I would rather pitch, flip, and cast! My friend likes to troll. How boring! I would also catch and release 20-30 fish in a day. hehe.

Where did you put in? I think Collvill is much more sane than Baypoint. That right access at Baypoint is terrible. It is really tight and hard to get in/out. My tail pipes were in the water getting my boat out.

I do think those back water lakes look promising. I think it would be worth bass fishing in those areas in a few weeks when the water temp is up.

Do any of you guys catch bass successfully in the back waters near Red Wing? I'm willing to bet there are some productive areas there. They look too good to forget. I love to fish cover, and there is an unlimited supply.

Good luck to all this season!

Chris

[Blackstarluver]

Hey Biglakeba$$, one of the toughest topwater bites to hook is a walleye bite! Every fall I go after the buggers at night with chug-bugs. The bite just sounds like a bloop, sometimes followed by a tail thrash as the fish retreats. I have caught lots of eyes on topwaters. Still... micropteri are the most funnest.
God lyk!
JC

[Mark Christianson]

But what about my other 2 questions?

If the answer is no to any of my 3 questions, I must ignore this species of willayes.

[delmuts]

biglakeba i'm afraid the answer is yes to your questions! as the one person stated he gets them on top water.( some times!) i have seen them caught on a spinnerbait .( once!) and they do catch them in and on the edge of weeds. but !!!! to me the bass is king ! i have caught walleyes on lures for bass, panfish, and muskies. never consistantly but once in a while. del

[Deitz Dittrich]

Biglakebass-

I was fishing a 2 day bass tournament event... both days were pretty windy, I was throwing a lot of spinnerbaits to wind blow banks.. On day one I landed a 28" walleye off a rock point.. and on day 2 I boated a 29" walleye...SHould have heard me scream for the net when I set the hook on them hogs thinking they were bass... RATS!!!!!

And I have caught a few walleye flipping jigs in milfoil.. so I guess the answer to your other 2 questions is yes... however I was not targeting walleye!

[ChuckN]

Mark,
Will it hit surface baits?
Yes, it happens.
Does it take after spinnerbaits?
Yes, quite often.
Can you catch them in the slop?
Yes, well, maybe not "slop" but heavy weed cover...absolutely!!!

[Mark Christianson]

Gee guys.
Just playin around.

Ya don't think I won't be on Ottertail for the opener draggin a 6' snell with a big old lake shiner hangin on the hook?

As soon as bass opens, I could care less about anything else. I choose to suffer with walleyes just so I can fish before the REAL stuff starts up.

PS - Last spring on Bass opener, I got a nice walleye on a spinnerbait. In my fishing league last year, I caught the biggest walleye of the season on a 7" black Salamander.

[Muskieguy]

hey ChrisR,

I put in at Everts Resort which is up real close to the L&D. It costs $7 but is well worth it. No waiting, in or out..last year must have waitied a total of 1 hour to load/unload at Baypoint. Plus the guy that collects the $7 will give you the current report and any tips you need.

Muskieguy...

[benelli_dude2002]

Maybe ya need to try a different body of water. Up here on Lake of the woods where I grew there is a variety of fish to be caught. One day last year a couple friends of mine and I went out for walleyes and cooked them for lunch and after lunch we went for smallmouth bass. We caught about 30 bass in a couple hours with tubes, a few on spinner baits and even a few more nice walleyes on the tubes. We used to fish largemouth amd musky quite a bit but then I like to have a nice meal of fish every now and then. I think i will stick to this lake where I dont have to go far for whatever kind of fish. Sure bass fishing is fun and I think all fishing is fun but to each his own I guess huh! Happy fishing! Brian

[Muskieguy]

Benelli,

yeah, if I lived up near lake of the woods, one of the best walleye lakes in the world, I might be a walleye guy too. But down here in the cities, a good walleye lake is hard to come by. And if one of the local lakes is putting out walleyes, you can bet Saturday morning there will be no less than 100 boats there. Bass fishing in the twin cities is great, pretty much any lake from small to big hold a good population of bass. And even on busy recreation days, a person can find a shoreline or hump away from the crowds and catch some fish.

Muskieguy.........

[benelli_dude2002]

I myself cant wait for the end of may/first part of june for some great smallmouth action. Stocking up on tubes so I will be prepared this time. Last time my cousin gave me one and told me to make it last and there wasnt much left when we were done. I used to do alot of musky fishing but havent done much in the last ten years. Still got all the tackle and stuff so maybe someday I might get back into it. Happy fishing Brian