Pete Yake took three vacation day this week to fish the walleye run in DePere, WI. The weather was brutal but the fish didn’t care, so neither did we. I joined him on Thursday evening and most of the day on Friday. We didn’t use a single minnow again this year. All fish were taken on plastics and blade baits. All fish were released to complete their spawning cycle
Pete averaged 35 per day on Wed/Thur…mostly females, in fact the smallest eye caught was 17"
Wednesday Pete fished from 7AM to 2PM. He got off the river early before the freezing rain hit and barely made it before it got icy. This was by far the best early March trip to the Fox river. Boated 28 eyes plus 1 sauger with lots of nice 20 to 22” females. River temp was 37 deg. Had to launch at the mouth and run up through downtown Green Bay to get to DePere because the Fox Point launch was still iced up.
As usual, color patterns shift frequently: Depending on the brightness and water clarity. The water was as clear as I’ve seen it this time of year…probably 3 feet. Pete and I believe in changing colors and body types as soon as the "bite" lessens. BFT Paddle tails and Ringworms were the prime baits…on H20 Precision Jigs and VMC Neon Mooneyes in 1/8 and 3/16 oz.
Wednesday they liked green paddletails
Thursday it varied between green paddletails, blade baits, oystershell ringworms, then green paddletails again.
Friday they took blades for a bit, then oystershell with black jighead was the hot color that produced all day long. Had to be a black jighead as they refused other jighead colors even when fished side by side.
Pete is the best boat control guy (w/o a Terrova) I’ve ever fished with…and I’ve fished with many of IDOs best…He watches the fishing lines and instantly corrects to keep them perfectly vertical with the foot-pedal and rheostat wheel.
We both used 6’3" MXF Croix spin rods, Sufix Elite 6# mono with 8′ fluoro leaders (for added weight to the line). With this set up and good boat control we could fish 1/8th oz jigs down to 20 fow. Allowing for better action on the plastics.
The strikes were wrist jarring, nearly ripping the rod from my hand. It was probably one of the best walleye days of my life. I thank my "Musky fishing" buddy Pete for a great day and superb boat control.
More Pics…
with a bonus Brian Special Flattie
Tom, great report. Looks like you guys were on them. Nice job.
Sounds like a lot of fun Tom.
Great report Tom, sound and looks like cold fishing fun
Great report Tom
The bite can make you forget the weather (almost…
)
We weren’t pushing ice like we did on P-2 a couple falls ago Mike!
Here is the Fox coming from the lake through downtown Green Bay…
That looks awfully inviting Tom !!!
Well done on the eyes buddy !!
I’ll be spending some time up there in a few weeks for a few weeks (time to visit the grandson)
Have an open seat Tom??
Way to go, Tom! Great Job!
Very nice report Tom!
Great report! The fact that a guy with your resume saying “probably one of the best walleye days of your life”
Is pretty fantasic!
I am about 120 miles away…but a couple Rapalas and a pole can put you on fish from shore at Voyagers Park or the fishing pier south of the De Pere launch