Wapsipinicon River Big Walleye

Hey I heard someone caught a 36″ walleye in the Wapsi. Does anyone know any more info on this?

That’s one big walleye……………..if I had to guess, I’d say it sounds like a fish story to me. I guess you never do know though, anythings possible to an extent. I would love to see a picture of that mama eye

I know it does seem a bit extreme. That is why I asked. I
sell boats at Kennedy Marine in Cedar Rapids and I had a
customer, whom I don’t know, tell me this. He said a buddy
told him this and that it was in some publication. I know
there are big walleyes in the Wapsi, I stuck a 29″ last
fall, and I know of others who have caught fish as big or
even a bit larger, but 36″ inches????? I have not even
heard of an Erie eye that big. So you are probably right.
Thanks for the reply.

I haven’t heard anything about it, and would expect news like that to travel fast if it were true.I think that would be a new state record or close to it.Maybe he meant 26″eye or a 36″ northern.I think I would have to wash some clothes if I caught one that big.Some nice fish on the wapsi though.

I think someone was wearing beer goggles when they measured that fish hahaha

Curt

In the April 2004 issue of Walleye In-sider on page 70 there is a picture of a 30″ walleye caught out of the Wapsi in November of 2003 on a jig-night crawler.

30 inches I can believe.

Curt

Yes its true, The guys name was Jesse Dau

I know a guy who lives up by Central City and every year he tells me about a walleye that is caught between Troy Mills and south of Central City thats over 12 pounds, Heard of one 4 years ago that went 13lbs and some ounces. The Wapsi’s a real sleeper and some years you can barely get a jetboat up and down it, but there is some really deep holes.

Both the Wapsi and the Cedar has some really big walleyes in it and for years you hear about 12 pounders coming from around just the central City area and last year I seen a picture on my friends cell phone of a walleye that was caught in the Cedar and quite noticeably bigger then 12 pounds and another 4″ to 5″ longer then the average length of a 12 pounder and this fish was also caught in late summer. So do I believe a 36″ fish and thats a really big one, with some I’ve seen I can’t say no.

It may be true. heard from a friend of mine, who knows a state trooper friend of his, who personally knows the guy… I was told, caught on a 1/4 oz yellow jig, yellow twister. 15.2 lbs almost 37 inches long. I have a picture of it on my cell phone. If you would like to text me dustin, i can forward you the picture. Its a monster. I dont know how to upload a picture to the site. (319)283-8937 is my cell number, or i guess anyone that would like the pic and can upload to the site. my name is clay.

Clay, send a message to Dustin Stewart or Brian Klawitter here on the site and they probably will give you the ropes and the how too’s and post it for you. All you have to do is click on thier name and send the message to ask. Load the picture off your phone and store it in any place where you store your pictures. Go to your private mail then access where you stored the picture and load it to your message to eigther one of these guys and send it via e-mail instead of through the mail here on the site, it might be easier that way for you. Man would I like to see that fish!!! and as soon as possible.

So wheres the pic??

Anyone heard anymore about this fish. I heard a rumor it was caught up by Independence.

Quote:

---

Anyone heard anymore about this fish. I heard a rumor it was caught up by Independence.

---

I think there’s a Sasquatch up that way as well.

I do have the pic on my cell phone of the wapsi walleye if someone would like to text me i can forward it so you can post the pic here. I also have a pic of a walleye caught last winter on the turkey that i heard weighed appx the same. as i understand wapsi walleye is appx 15.2 lbs. my cell (319)283-8937. I can forward both pics. I sent them to a guy from north liberty named andy just today.

Hey Clayton, message Brian Klwitter here on the site and send them to him. He will post them for you. Message him and he will tell you how to send them via here on the site or his e-mail, I hope you post them.

I sent a text this morning (for the second time I think… at least my phone says it’s the same number as posted before). Never got a response back last time, but I can post them up easily if they are sent to me.

Turkey River Walleye:



15+ Pounds

Wapsi River Walleye:



15.2 Pounds

Disclaimer: I have no idea who these guys are or if the walleyes were really caught on the rivers listed. These pictures were forwarded to me via cell phone from Clay (thank you!). I’m just posting them up.

For reference:

Iowa State Record Walleye 14 lb. 8 oz. 30 1/2″ Des Moines River, Polk County Gloria Eoriatti, Ankeny Sep-86

Thanks JW, the Turkey looks high in that picture, late march? I know its the late feburary or march thaw.

WOWWWW!!! Thanks for posting them up.

The Wapsi one don’t surprise me but the one on the Turkey is really eye opening.

Quote:

---

Thanks JW, the Turkey looks high in that picture, late march? I know its the late feburary or march thaw.

---

Dan, I’m just posting the pictures… I don’t have a clue when/where these fish were actually caught. All I know is they are flipping huge… whatever they weighed… they are awesome.

I’m not sure what I’d do if I hooked one. Hope these guys released them. I’ve heard varying reports on if walleyes spawn very far upstream of the Mississippi on Iowa’s interior rivers/streams.

I hear what your saying JW but I know for a fact that theres big ones like these in the Wapsi and the Turkey all year round. Every year I hear of ones going around the 12 to 13 lb. mark, there are some dandy holes in both rivers with some dandy walleyes in both.

JW, the wife and I were up by Waubeek a few weeks ago looking for a cabin or a lot to build on. I stopped and talked to a guy whos lived on the wapsi for 30 years about the size of the walleyes around that area. He said if you don’t catch one of atleast 13 pounds you don’t even have to talk about it, its not even news. So I’m assuming its got to be another couple to a few pounds bigger for people to take note.

sorry, guys, that second picture is of the illinois state record walleye caught this spring.

it was caught by Jim Zimmerman of Beloit, Wis., on the Pecatonica River, about 20 miles south of the state line and weighed 15.08 pounds, was 31.5 inches long with a girth of 20-3/8 inches.

ido link

Quote:

---

sorry, guys, that second picture is of the illinois state record walleye caught this spring.

it was caught by Jim Zimmerman of Beloit, Wis., on the Pecatonica River, about 20 miles south of the state line and weighed 15.08 pounds, was 31.5 inches long with a girth of 20-3/8 inches.

ido link

---

Thank you!

News article about it:

http://triblocal.com/new-lenox/community/stories/2012/03/pecatonica-gives-up-2nd-state-record-walleye/

The Wapsi’s a really nice small river with very good quality walleyes in it. Its been a few years since I fished it during winter when the waters open on a warmspell but its very enjoyable on a calm 25 degree day.

The times I fished it was with a jonboat and a little merc 6 hrs. I used to have. With barely enough water to clear the prop over the sand and rocks I motored up and down the Wapsi looking in various places that I though might hold deeper water by looking at a map of the twists and turns of the river. I fished a few spots that looked good, and couldn’t see the bottom in very clear water and thats where I found the walleyes. I never got one over 4 pounds but considering the times I went I think thats pretty good. I know theres bigger walleyes in those holes but a guy’d just have to go more often and eventually he’d hook into one of the nicer ones over 12 pounds.

I remember some of the holes being about 100 yrds long and varying widths and when I was about to leave to go home I’d slowly idle over the holes with my fish finder and it lit up like a Christmas tree. I know all the fish in the river are in those holes, alot of rough fish, to crappies etc. but some are big walleyes.

My favorite setup was a chartruese bucktail jig in 5/32nds. size tipped with large fathead minnows to slow the drop while I worked the bottom with 4 pound test. It was very important to feel every inch of the bottom you could and try to remember where certain rocks and dropoffs were and thats where some of the hits came from.

I know they were following the jig and minnow from deep water and when it looked to them like they might miss a meal by going twards a big rock or going shallow they would hit it on the fall every time. Sometimes they would hit it on the bottom of the deepest part of those cuts and holes and sometimes shallow. Fishing during winter on a calm day with snow on the ground is one of the neastest things that can be done. You can hear a squirrell digging for something to eat 200 yrds away, its one of the quietest places a person can be, is out on a small river after a fresh snowfall on a warm winter day fishing for walleyes or crappies. Now that I recently picked up a little 6 hrs. Evie I’ll probably go hit the Wapsi again.