Whats the deepest that you have caught walleye

[big musk411]

I caught a walleye in 47ft of water yesterday, the deepest that I have ever caught one. just wondering how deep others have caught them before

[garytheguide]

on vermilion we catch them that deep on a fairly regular basis....even deeper...at times up to 60 feet....they seem to love deep water on the east end of vermilion.....alot of days its in the 30 to 45 foot range.....anyway thats how it is up here....

[Nodak7mm]

Curious, whatcha using/method to pick em up that deep?

Rod

[outdoor ran]

I picked one up on Lake Superior this summer that was in 125ft of water and caught him 75 ft down. Also caught one that day that was in 135 ft of water 5ft down.

[jerkin'm]

77 feet in the summer, 65 in the winter....

[Jim W]

Hmmmm, so much for any catch and release there eh? Or should I say catch and release fish that will live?

Man I would love to hit Lake Superior for walldogs...never done it. Sounds fun!!

[Northlander]

Jim W. where are you from? I can get ya out on the South Shore next summer if ya like. When the eyes are there its a blast and when they arent we just go after Lakers or go fish the St. Louis River. [email protected]

I also see your a counselor. Where do ya work? School, Corrections maybe both?

[Schnauzer]

I caught a couple in 50 FOW - Rainy Lake. Never have tried to catch them deeper than that.

[zepman]

Have regularly caught them in 50+ ft. in the fall. Mostly in the Brainerd area. Big Redtails and Lindy rigs.

[Dave B]

60-70'. BIG jigs (to get down fast and stay verticle) and minnows.

[LocalGuide]

My deepest is 105', but mainly its around 60'-80' in the fall for me.

On the lake I fish it only lasts for a short temperature range of the water and the bite is pretty much over.

And yes catch and release is slim. But when you catch one with its air sack still down. Its chance of survival is greatly increased. Or at least if has to be much greater than one that is sticking way out. Still overall it isnt very good.

[Riverdude]

Ive caught walleyes in 35 feet of water and there stomachs were puffed up in their throats a little, are these fish surving?

[Dave B]

I eat maybe 2-3 walleye meals a year, the rest go back. Any fish from that depth is getting the knife.

[cashcrews]

About 80 feet down in the winter, fishing for lakers through the ice I will sometimes catch 'em by accident. Usually the weekend AFTER walleye season closes.

Cashcrews

[Ranckenstuff]

43 Feet.

[Brother Bro]

Nice 26" Walleye about 2 years ago...... 90 ft of water early October of that year ...... Had to keep it ...wanted to release it but I didn't think it make it!!!!!

[jessie1]

Have a cabin in MN. but have not caught one in more than 31", however the lake is only 44' at the deepest. Lived in Wyoming for 20 years and fished Boysen Res. where I caught walleye at 75' but only for the challenge, plenty of them shallower. It did get me out of my pattern of fishing 8-12 feet for them which is what I did for years growing up in MN. Now I explore..........jig them and they will come!!

[End of the Line]

85' down this summer we got one on smelt. 7.2 lbs. Have caught plenty on trolling spoons between 30'-55'

[lenny4077]

I lived in Arizona for the past few years and just moved back. In the summers down there it was common to fish 70'-90' deep. It was the only place the water was cool enough for them. As for releasing them, I ran into a guy down there that would "bleed" the swim bladder. I don't have any proof of it but he told me that he looked at some studies that showed it worked for the most part (70% survival sticks out to me for some reason). Anyways he had a needle like a large worm-blower that he would stick in the swim bladder and release the air, then keep it in the livewell for about 10min, if the fish was okay he would release it, if not then he would eat it.

[Ranckenstuff]

Hey, Lenny -- interesting Post. I've seen that somewhere as well.

What kind of presentations do you guys use that deep?

Throw in tackle preferences there also, if ya dont mind.

[bigbucks]

48 feet summer- crawler lindy rig- screaming through a deep trough to get to the other break = accident

43 feet winter- shiner minnows 2' off the bottom two fish, both 4 3/4 lbs.

[Guest]

Lake Calhoun in the winter its very common to get eyes in 50'-55' of water... the problem is, trying to release them. There are more small fish than big fish.. plan on going home with a few 12" fish.

Walleyes will also suspend and travel over deep water. In many instances, I have caught them trolling over very deep water cutting across the lake, often to go home on trolling motor only lakes. I also do well with muskies suspended high in more than 60'.. usually around 20-30' down.

Is it worth it tho guys? I know its fun to have success in catching fish.. but the release is questionable on anything coming up from the deep. I try to avoid the deep unless I am crappie fishing(they make the pan).

[big musk411]

Thanks for your input! The one I got, was 22in out of the west metro on a lindy rig. It looked perfectly healthy and faught all the way to the surface so I released it. I would post a pic if I could figure out how. As far a C&R of catching fish out of deep water goes, I have heared that you shouldn't fish northerns over 30ft but never heard anything about walleyes. It makes me think twice about what I was doing. I release all walleyes over 20in[plan on keeping a 30+ when I catch it for the wall]. Does anyone know of "empirical evidence" or any studies of walleye survival after being caught out of deep water? What do the big pond fishermen think? I probably should have kept the fish, it had some nice cheeks! I regularly fish deep clear lakes in the west metro, brainard area, and B-dubs I do not want to kill any fish over 20in[untill they are 30in+].

Going to Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas area for Christmas. I want to fish walleyes, or whatever is biting best. Interested in guide service or good advice for this area. I have use of a small jon boat with 25hp motor.

[garytheguide]

i was down in bull shoals...didnt get a guide...but fished from shore for trout in the white river...guide signs all over down there...i know they troll the breaks close to shore with live bait rigs or cranks....thats all i know...i also know it helps to hire a guide for a half a day at least, it can pay off...good luck and set the hook

[eyepatrol]

58' deep using a 1/2oz weight pulling a crawler on Minaki. Interestingly, I caught a 15" smallmouth in 52' of water that same trip with the same setup. That surprised the heck out of me.