What a puzzle pool nine is now?? The walleyes are where they should be but a lot of reports from those leaving are the same….. only small ones…. no or a few keepers. As a matter of fact that is report is almost unanimous. Well I hope this will help. YOU CAN’T DRIFT AIMLESSLY DOWN THE SAME ONE OR TWO DRIFTS ALL DAY LONG CATCHING AND KILLING 8 INCH FISH AND EXPECT A HOG TO MAGICALLY APPEAR ON YOU HOOK. You really have to work for them right now. The best bite for almost 6 weeks now has been around 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Sun isn’t a bad thing right now with the dirty water. Every location we caught fish, we caught them right away, and when they aren’t getting on your hook get out of there. Many tried and true locations are quite slow right now , but secondary locations are producing. Please don’t misunderstand the fish are there in those proven spots , but just aren’t feeding like they usually do. When the hot bite slowed right after the full moon many of the larger fish stayed where they were but became a lot less aggressive biters, even when they were shallow. If you aren’t completely in control of your jig , feeling it all the time, catching fish is an accident.
Yesterday we fished no less than 10 areas and 8 miles of the river to catch one 12″ perch , a 27 inch Sheeba(female walleye), a 25 inch cat, and 5 eaters, and a bunch of 14 inch fish. But here are the real keys. Slow down get out of the heavy current or over to the edge and get to heck out of the 35-55 foot water. Our deepest fish yesterday was in 18 feet of water. Every fish came on a Taylor Tackle Walleye Killers, ( the sheeba was on a pink and purple w/pink head 1/4 oz.), All of our other fish were also on WK’s either 1/4 or 3/8s.
They are catching many nice keepers over on Clements fishing barge each day since the opening Friday. Let’s see
that would put them inside or on the edge of the current, up to 18 feet of water, with complete control of their jigging.
Anyway I will try to get the Sheeba,(WHAT A FOOTBALL), and the cat on the site before I leave Wednesday for the RCL, (if you have not heard it has been moved to Spring Valley). Unless I find a computer to post Illinois River reports with, this will probably be my next to last post for two weeks. All of you be safe and get some SHEEEEEEEBA’s.
No, really…………for as much “try it and see” fishing as I do, those are words I needed to read! THANK YOU!!!!