I survived walleye week-end 2005 was a right on the money for this year.With severe storms hitting the area for the better part of the whole week-end it was very hard to get a game plan going.There was 6"’s of rain Friday night alone only 15 miles away.Many anglers were ran off the water time and time again with wind,rain,lighting,and even a little hail.
I could not fish the area I wanted to Saturday morning as Cole and I had to wait the lighting out.Once we got on the water we picked up many sub-legal eyes.Sunday morning my good friend Shane Hunter joined Cole and I for a few hours of fishing.Shane had never caught a walleye on East Okoboji before and was rewarded with his biggest eye to date.This fish was came in at 24 1/4"’s.I was so happy to see him boat this awesome fish.After a few pics she was put back in to grow for another angler.Over all it was a slow day for us with some more sub-legal eyes making it into the boat.Shane with his fish.
I finally made it out to Spirit Lake Monday night and we were rewarded with many walleye.In the boat with me were Wade Kuehl,Gary Smith,and my middle son Austin.This was Gary’s first time on Spirit,he was impressed with the size of this Iowa natural lake.All of us caught many eyes slip-bobber fishing after dark.Infact Austin was very worn out from all the action.
Today we had better weather with alot of sun and warm temps.I was out with Scott Reed from Purefishing trying some different type of techniques while Wade and Austin were simply having a great day on the water.Wade did a great job of finding some active fish and putting them in the boat.They had 5 keepers,1 short of a limit,before I had to pull them off the water and get back home.Here they are with 4 eyes.I’ve been working with the Nuckle Ball jigs and I can say there are a few anglers that are now very impressed with them.We caught alot of fish on these jigged tipped with plastics and live bait.
I had a great week-end fishing with many old friends.Wade,Scott,Gary,Shane,and my good friend Jason White-thanks for spending time with me on and off the water.And to Cole and Austin-you hung in there all week-end through some very nasty conditions.I’m very proud of you boys.You are both going to make top-notch anglers someday.
Ryan Hale
Great Report and Great Pix too !!
Ryan it is always nice to see you again. I wish we could have gotten a chance to fish together–but I will be back!
–Whitey
Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Ryan did you and Cole enter the bullhead contest? I figure you guys would have a leg up on the competition knowing the lake so well! Wish this weather would straighten out so I could make it up!
Sounds like you’ve got the survival technique dialed in
Looks like you did a good job in far less than ideal conditions. Nice report and pics, Ryan. Thanks. You’ve got my appetite whetted
dave
Another great report, Ryan. Thanks for keeping us up to date.
Clay
Ryan,
That 24″ fish is an nice pic with the early morning light in the back ground!
Nice report~
Nice report Bud. Great to see you and the boys [including Wade] back at catching open water eyes again.
Thanks, Bill
Nice report Ryan. I had a great time with Austin yesterday. That young man can sure fish! You’ve done a great job teaching him the skills and he has the attitude to match!
We didn’t get into the larger eyes but we must’ve put the hook to 50 off those little buggers and managed a few eaters. I was glad to get the chance to test out those nuckle ball jigs. Both the nuckle ball and the H2O jigs worked great for Austin and I. We did well on Berkley Gulp! Leeches and had fair success on 3-inch Power minnows. Live leeches and minnows also produced well.
Good luck to everyone hittin’ the MN opener this weekend!
Thanks Ryan for keeping us up to date on the Great Lakes. Won’t be able to make it over until after 4th of July this year. We will see you then I am sure on the water. OUT…
Great report. I agree…weather was certainly the weekend challenge for the opener. My boat was a lightning magnet…each time I put it in the water the sky seemed to light up. Caught a bunch of small ‘eyes and enough keepers for a limit Saturday night, but mostly off of a friends dock after dark. Looking forward to June on Spirit this year…should be an excellent year class of 16-17 inchers.
NWBuck
Nice report Ryan if this weather ever gets stable it sounds like the lakes are going to be great
Thanks for all the feedback on my report guys.It’s always nice to read what other think.
I did think I seen a Crestliner Fishhawk in the Grade area with a couple of yellow belly anglers in it. 
Panfish,Cole and I thought about trying to get some bullheads but we were not in those guy’s league.24#’s took the 10 biggest bullhead award.
Wade,great to fish with you again.We sure did get into fish for awhile Monday night.Glad you and Austin had a good day on the water.Best of luck in MN.
Ryan Hale
Here’s a pic of the pike Austin and I nabbed on Tuesday. He gave us a heck of a ride on light line! Gave Austin some good practice with the net. He got two chances.
Nice pike
Nice way to start the season Wade.
Thanks for the report Ryan. You guys get a jump start on Minnesota guys for the lakes for Opener so the reports this time of year really get the Minnesota lakes guys really pumped for Opener.
Thanks, Bill
Back on Spirit Lake last night for a few hours.We caught alot of short fish again but did not get any legals.Austin and I worked jig/live bait/plastic combo’s until dusk.
Here is Austin with a double.One off a H2O jig tipped with a 4″ Power minnow,the other red day brite Nuckle Ball jig tipped with a leech.
Ryan Hale
Here is Austin and Tucker getting another minnow from the well.Tucker is great help in the boat.
As usually the slip-bobbber bite was good after dark,we just couldn’t find the good ones last night.
Ryan Hale
To give you guys a idea on how much water Spirit Lake has had this past week,here is a good shot.
This is of the Old Foot Bridge area.This channel is not that wide but you can see how wide it is now after all the rain in the last week.There were 4-5 wader anglers working this area but I did not see them bring a fish in while we were there.
Ryan Hale