I posted this earlier but I can’t find it so I apologize if this is a double.
I’m wondering if you ever use bigger baits in search of bigger walleyes? I have slopped into a few Walleyes this past year using a 8″ suspending jerkbait that is worked very slowly in the walk the dog fashion. I’ve also seen a 30″+ Walleye boated by a guy fishing with a Magnum Bull Dawg (Rubber 10″+ bait w/tail) Do any of you use a something like this?
Steve Cady
EFN Pro-Staff
http://www.fishthelake.com
I have landed about 20 walleyes over 30″ this last year on the Columbia River, biggest in the boat was a 16 lb 10 oz brute. I didn’t catch them all but they all were released out of my boat except one. The biggest bait was a 4 1/2 ” smallest a 3 1/2″. Interesting that one of the fish threw up a 10″ partially eaten fish in the livewell. My theory is they will hit bigger fish/plugs but a smaller easier meal is more palatable to the big fish. IMHO. As I always say that and a buck will get you coffee in Rufus, Oregon.
dan
out in Oregon Land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them…
James and I repeatedly use sticks from 6-8″ for walleyes at night up at Mille Lacs. And, judging by some of the twister tails the eyes on pool 4 have been hitting, bigger may just be better!
Tuck
I have heard the big bait catches big fish issue for a long time but why is it that every year some guy goes out and catches a 30lb Musky on a 1/8oz jig early in the year fishing below some dam? Do you think that big fish use EVERY opportunity to eat something that is lazily moving by? At the same time, last spring the rumor around here was that Al Linder was fishing nearby Coralville Lake (see Washing Machine post) and going around to all the bait shops to get the biggest chubs he could find because he wes targeting BIG walleye and catching a few monsters. I guess the right bait, at the right time, will produce a fish of a lifetime. Obviously, if I were targeting big fish I would use a big bait and expect to get fewer, but bigger bites. Bigger baits will also catch small fish. How many time have you caught a fish that was roughly the same size as your bait?
I was watching one of Al’s shows last year I think it was, and yes he was fishing Coralville, but it was for cats on cutbait. Maybe after the filming was done tho, he might have gone for some eyes. Who knows?!
I know several people who fish Macbride and Coralville in the spring only and did well on crappie and such, but once the weather warms, they just leave it for the weekend warriors.
The old saying ”Big baits for big fish” is true. You don’t get as many hits but the fish seem to run bigger.
My experience is similar to Beaver’s………………..a #5 Squirrel Tail Mepps got me into a muskie battle and a 6-7″ Tony Rizzo Tube Tail found me a 14″ walleye……………mid-summer! Unpredictable, unexplainable. :O)
I remember that one well, Kid. Almost getting killed in an electrical storm, slicing my toe on a clam shell and you hanging that wall-dad on a big ‘ol tube spinner. Unusual day on the St Croix, to say the least…..
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo………………………………….When would you like to go again SteveO??? :O) lol! I’ll pack a blowdryer in case the weather’s good! lmao
Here is proof of “Big fish love big baits!”
Tuck
My good buddy is a professional muskie guide and fishes about 200 days a year he says they cacth a ton o f eyes after dark on big buck tails , sledges, and occasionaly on other bigger baits. They tend to catch them on or in front of weedlines and ALWAYS after dark. Lsat season they boated 8 fish over 30 ” the biggest being 32.5 on ,you guessed it, Mille lacs. Hell they have caught yeyes on lakes that aren’t managed for them. I guess they could be on to something but their minds are so clouded with muskie fever they dont even bat an eyelid.
Steve, one other item that is staring us both in the face is our buddy Sworrall. Ask him how many walleyes and big smallies and largemouths he’s caught while fishing Creatures. Last year while muskie fishing I accidentally caught all those species and some nice pike working weed edges with Creatures.
Beav
Hey Croix River Rat I resemble that remark!
My eyes are clouded that way as well! I’ve got into a few Eyes on Tonka that were some nice fish right on the edges of heavy slop…seems alot of the big fish pick the same areas…closest to the food!
Beav! Sworrall is made of plastic!!!!
I talked to my buddy last night and told him what I had posted, he said that they didn’t catch a fish under 25 inches on muskie baits. I hope I didn’t offend any muskie guys but answer this.. imagine your out fishing eyes and you start catching skis on bottom bouncers and spinners, wouldn’t you put the rigs down and try for the skis? I guess I’m a little jealous of the skis since they took away my partner and buddy, ie. I cant get him in the boat to go fish eyes anymore, sad isn’t it!!!! Steve I’m also known as Bill Mitchell, yep the one who caused all the furor last week on the p.s. forum. I need to change my name so it ties in with the pro staff..I will be at the expo fri. and sat. in the WWA booth. Turk and I are their present National Champs. Hope to see you their we’ll talk about muskies for awile , maybe. J/K LOL
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