Miss is comin up and getting dirty

Carefull out there !!

I hooked up this afternoon with True Value’s Jacob Kanis for his first time handline bite and he did very well !!!

5-15 and 10-20 foot leads were pullin J-7’s, Huskey Jerks and F7’s and 9’s…

13 fish from 17″ to 22″ this afternoon…

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Dave, do you still chase walleyes on the big river when the water gets insanely high, like it’s about to get?

The next couple days the river is really high, but the forecast for next week is flood stage.

I do Tim,

This high water is exactly what handline bite is designed around… Putting those cranks in high flow areas !!!

I have weights up to 3 lbs that I will drag just to keep the cranks in the right place….

I’m new at targeting walleyes on the river and just not sure if it pays to go out the next few days with the water levels like this. I see the water temperature here this morning is at about 49 degrees.

Can you suggest any patterns/tactics for super-high water river Walleyes that might work?

Thanks in advance Dave!

Tim, now is not the time to learn the river. The bite will get better as the water drops. There are lots of ways to catch fish but this cold rising river is not the right formula. The fish are tough. Even a seasoned vet fights for fish in this water. The bite Dave shared above is a very specific trade of the sport.
Good thing is it only gets better here. I would not ever turn down a day to go out and try to catch a few fish. Its is a good time to learn. Just dont feel unsuccessful if you get blanked this next week. Water on the rise is the hardest bite on the river. On the drop it is opposite. Can be the best fishing after the river crest.

Dave what hand line setups do you use?

I have been looking to add a set to my boat.

Best way to see it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nHBcy27V70

A past IDO show! I was on pool 9 maybe two weeks ago and seen two boats doing this – thought about Dave and that show.

Tim Huston wrote:

I’m new at targeting <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleyes on the river and just not sure if it pays to go out the next few days with the water levels like this. I see the water temperature here this morning is at about 49 degrees.

Can you suggest any patterns/tactics for super-high water river <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Walleyes that might work?

Thanks in advance Dave!

Tim,
Bushman says it right…. The handline bite is a specific toll I use right now to target male walleyes mostly. They are in the current swept shorelines and they are looking to milt the eggs that are tucked in tight in the gravel bottoms.

Just one warning is that with the river on the rise, the islands are getting flushed of all the fallin trees and debris so be careful out there !!

Chris Messerschmidt wrote:

Dave what hand line setups do you use?

I have been looking to add a set to my boat.

Chris,

I use the Katchman Riveria Handline reels…RIVIERA HAND/WIRE LINE REELS …. There are others out there as well but this is what I was taught with by a long time guide and great fisherman (Hutch) so I’ve seen no reason to deviate. I have been using the same set for the past 14 years so they are tried and true !!!

Chuck Melcher wrote:

Best way to see it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nHBcy27V70

A past IDO show! I was on pool 9 maybe two weeks ago and seen two boats doing this – thought about Dave and that show.

Thanks Chuck !!!

That was a fun day fishing with James !!

And a Great Show too !!!