Shorecasting at night for Walleyes

[CHM]

Any shorecasters out there?

I used to do a lot of shorecasting (years ago) in current areas at night. I caught some fish on #11 silver raps and Long A Bombers modified as per an old article in In-Fisherman.

I'm wondering if any of the newer crankbaits have worked for you. I've been looking at the Yo-Zuri floaters. They look interesting. I miss getting out at night and cranking walleyes from shore so I might give it another shot.

[Mike Walerak]

The new X-Raps are a new favortite among many. I prefer the old standard Floating Raps and Husky Jerks. Mix that up with a few Thunderstick Jr. and toss in a Salmo Minnow or two and a couple jigs with twistertails. The list might go on an on.

mw

[Mike Walerak]

Sorry, I forgot to mention Rapala Countdowns!

[james_walleye]

If its like the areas i have night fished from shore i think it would be hard too beat a big jointed floating rapala. Something new i've started using and i'd like too try in these situations is big plastics like a big 5" kailin tail grub.

[Fish'n guy]

I do alot of night fishing from now until late fall in my waders for walleyes and what I have done very good with is 3" Northland Mimmic Minnows on a 1/16 - 1/32 oz jighead. This seems to keep the bait above the weeds and I can have a slower retrieve as well. If weeds aren't a factors then casting #5 and #7 shallow running shad raps work well especially around rocks of gravel. Jigs and minnows can also work well for walleyes and even a few jumbo perch.

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!1

[PierBridge]

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big plastics like a big 5" kailin tail grub.

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I did real well early on with that setup.

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with is 3" Northland Mimmic Minnows on a 1/16 - 1/32 oz jighead.

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With or without the spinner?

[Fish'n guy]

I don't use spinners with the Northland Mimmic Minnows. I just buy the bodies in bulk and use casting style jigs instead of the Mimmic Minnow jigheads.

[Pikemaster101]

what is the best time of the year for shore fishing for eyes?

[friendlyfisher]

Early spring and late fall. I mean when you can hardly hold on to your rod cause its so cold. Or when your eyelets start to freeze up, you can get some piggies.

[fisherdog19]

I fish a few current areas here in Detroit Lakes, and by far the best producer is a #7 shallow shad rap with mostly a silver color (there are a few color combos that have it). Where I fish is about 2-4 fow with a river dumping into a lake. Frogs work well also, with a very small split shot 1 foot above it.

[Borch]

When the frogs start running it's time to be casting from shore. Often you'll find them in less than a foot of water on the cold fall nights.

[nytelyter]

my favorite shore caster is a strawberry hellcat but i am tellin ya there are hard to find and i am down to my last one last time i found them was a couple of years ago and i bought all three they had opening weekend of deer hunting a few years ago had five keepers and three releases over 22 inches biggest was 27 inches in about 45 minutes wow what a hour of fishingn i think the most important thing is to make sure the wind is in your face

[tree]

Believe it or not started wading and flyfishing for walleyes at night in clearwater lakes in mid September. Have had good luck with a chartruse Clouser minnow or a black wooley bugger with a sparkle body.

[Mr.Perch]

Green long cast rap or the JB glow belly. Wade till ice up the later in the year the better. This long warm fall has pushed the season back a litte.

[Northlander]

Tree we should get together and do some shorefishing for eyes and compare notes.

Where do you like to fish eyes at night? [email protected]

[shorefisher]

I have started getting some eyes shore casting and most are hitting in 2 to 3 feet of water starting about 30 min. after dark. I do this alot as I like shore fishing over getting the boat in and out any day. The real key is wind in your face and the more wind the better has worked for me.

[CHM]

Subject: Re: Shorecasting at night for Walleyes

I did okay a week ago with black & silver Husky Jerks. I also use #13 floating raps but I modify them with lead BB size shot to make them nuetrally bouyant. If you pinch the eye a little flatter and bend it down a little they really wobble nicely at low speed. For hollow plastic baits you can heat up a paper clip with a candle flame, poke a small hole in the body (go in at the top of the head), put in a few CC's of water with a syringe, and then melt the hole shut. You can fine tune these so they are perfectly neutral and they will just stop and sit still without rising or falling. It allows for super low speed retrieves for the really cold weather. (They really cast far too) I have not had a single bite the last two nights on 3 different lakes. Have you guys noticed better action when the moon is fuller? Any colors work better on a dark moon? I used to be big into shorecasting 10-15 years ago. My biggest walleye ever was caught in 1987 (I listened to the Twins winning the series while warming up in the car) at 9:30 at night from shore on a Bomber Long A. I haven't done it for many years and it's fun to get back into it.

I'll try the shallow shadraps. It crossed my mind. The jointed raps work well too.

So this works into November? I thought maybe it was over since I couldn't get anything lately. Come to think of it, I have not seen the frogs hopping accross the roads and staging near shore yet so we may have more action coming.

Chuck

[shorefisher]

I have been at it for about 3 weeks now and until a few nights ago I was not getting anything. So for me I hope it is just starting I have not noticed that any one color has been better then the other but for me it must rattle!

[CHM]

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...but for me it must rattle!

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Then you must drive a diesel???

Seriously though...so far this fall I got 8 and lost 3 on a bait with a rattle. Zero fish on my non-rattle favorites. Seems to be a pattern there. However, I didn't try changing to a non-rattling bait when they were biting so it's not a true test. But one thing is a proven fact...the rattle baits work.

[shorefisher]

Just got in. Two small eyes both on rattle stick bait. I did change to a very shallow running non-rattling bait after that as the two hit in very shallow water. and not one hit. great night to be out but no wind

[namtkd1]

I caught two small eyes (15" and 16") last night as well. Both mine came on a 3" Sassy Shad on a 1/4 oz. jighead.

Nam

[CNY Tim]

You guys looking for shore walleye's I found a shallow top water plug recently in a Wal-Mart Bargain bin for $1.97 ea. it's made by Renegade and they cast great on 6 lb. fireline, it's been very effective for me lately. I don't think color matter, for what it's worth the top portion of the crank is black, blue or purple and it has chrome prism sides.. Sometimes the eye's are just finicky period, but what this plug has done for me when the bite is tough is delivered big time. I'm glad I stumbled on it and wanted to share it with you guys. Right now I am fishing shallow weed beds in 4-5' of water parallel to a boat slip. The last two trips have been fantastic. When the weeds die back I throw super slow crank husky jerks size 10' roques and super roques. There is still quite a few buckeye minnows in so I use the smaller plugs now, when I start seeing gizzard shad I'll switch to the large shallow shap raps. I have succes with a "V" retrieve right on top of the water making that "V" wake. Been averaging alot of 18" to 20" eyes lately..

[CHM]

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I have succes with a "V" retrieve right on top of the water making that "V" wake. Been averaging alot of 18" to 20" eyes lately..

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Interesting! I had an old timer shorecasting veteran tell me that he used to use a red & white Bass-o-Reno and do that very thing!

Many years ago, very late at night, I pitched a fire tiger Bang-O-Lure out about 50' and it stopped dead in the air and plopped into the water because my line was in a rats nest half-way up my rod. While I was messing with the tangle a little walleye hammered the floating lure while it sat dead. I pulled him in hand over hand.

[namtkd1]

Interesting! I have never heard walleyes biting topwaters before... I guess I haven't caught one yet.

Nam

[Mr.Perch]

A few years back i did a cast almost on shore and while untangleing the reel I caught a 26" eye that hit a rap while I fiddleing with my line. So much for skill?