Madison

I’m heading to Madison this weekend. There was a fast bite last year but the size was around 12 and 13. Has anyone been on Madison this year? Is the size up at all? And how is the bite?

Thanks gang!

With no minimum size on those walleyes it has always seemed like we were waiting for the 15″ ers that “should” have shown up “next year.” I haven’t fished Madison is some years but it wouldn’t surprise me if that was still the case given the heavy fishing pressure and the tendency for 14″ fish to hit the fish bucket.

A couple things I found that helped me pull a few bigger fish from the swarms of shorties…

Pull cranks. If the dinks jump on #5 shad raps, go bigger until they stop or get to be less of a non-stop happening. You might catch fewer fish on a #8 or #9 rap but they’ll be better fish.

Fish agressively. Rip jig jigs n’ minnows or plastics in the same areas you’re catching all the small guys. You will sacrifice quantities for quality but your chances of tying into a decent fish will improve.

Fish at night.

Hope this helps. I grew up in Austin, MN and used to fish Cannon, Tetonka and Madison quite frequently before moving to Rochester and switching my attentions to the Mississippi River. I’d be very interested in hearing some of your reports from the area ifyou’re willing to share.

It’s been a LONG time since I last spent a fall night on Cannon pitching floating raps for full moon walleye!

The size is better than the loads of 12″ we saw last summer. Since opener many fish have been caught 16″-18″ with numerous 25″-27″ on jigs and/or rigs from 17-20 feet of water. The past few days have seen explosive weedgrowth and I would start targeting the irregularities in the outside weedlines…

I found the size to be a bit better. We did get one that was 24″ that we put back. Where is the weed growth? I remember 4 or 5 years ago that town bay had a distinct line of weeds but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.

I use to catch eyes trolling #5 black/gray shad raps along the narrows. For bigger fish go alittle deeper and troll spinners on a bottom bouncer. As for a jig, try pink jigs early in the season with a minnow out in front of the narrows opening working your way out towards deep water. I also have focused most of my time the past years fishing the Mississippi River so haven’t been over that way as often anymore.
Thanks, Bill

We did pretty well on Monday. 14 (walleyes) between the three of us and we happen to find some monster (10 inch range) sunfish. I think the Sunfish are just waiting for a couple of 70’s + days so they can spawn. They were looking pretty plump.