If last night was any indication of a great bite ahead, we are all in for a real treat for the weeks to come. I took to the water last night with a neighborhood friend Jim Billings in search of some nice twilight shallow walleyes. Weather was forecasted for a low of 44 degrees and overcast skies with a good chance of showers around midnight and light SW winds.
We started the evening just a bit pasted sunset and headed right for a nearby shallow sand/gravel flat that had some deeper water nearby. We marked plenty of baitfish in the area but no presence of any predators after about a half hour of searching, so we picked up and headed to plan “B”. This area was another area that had some sand and gravel but had a mix of sparse weed growth. Ten minutes later we had our first 25” fish come in on a Smithwick Super Rogue in the chrome/black back color pattern. After getting the fish out of the net and back in the water, we had our #2 fish on in a matter of seconds later only this fish felt much heavier than the last. After a strong healthy battle she made her way to the net and hit the tape at a whopping 30” on the nose. After a couple photos, she was right back in the water to swim and fight another day. This quick and exciting pace kept up for nearly an hour with loads of fish in the 24”-27” class.
Both trolling speeds as well as target depths changed dramatically as the night rolled on, so being adaptable to the conditions and reacting to the lull in the bite we were able to score quickly once again. Our first 10 fish wanted the lure with a pretty aggressive snap and pause rod action coupled with trolling speeds around 1.8-2.0mph. As mentioned this technique proved well early on but the action fell off the pace and we started experimenting with depths as well as changing speeds and color patterns. So, we went shallow and slow and the action heated up once again to a pace where we had several doubles. Colors also changed in this area, as they preferred the darker profiles like the lazer craw or the black and gold colors. The best trolling speed in the shallower 4-6 foot depths was 1.0-1.2mph with long pauses in the rod action sweeps. Most all the hits came on the return of your rod on a taut line.
The bite last night fell off the pace slightly around 2:00am and we decided to hit the road
and catch a few hours of sleep as we both had engagements in the early morning hours. Losing a few hours of sleep is well worth the price when you have action like this. The end tally number was over 30 fish with plenty of healthy, stocky 24-27” fish.
Look for this bite to only improve as the water temps continue to decline. The full moon bite next week should be a real good bite for both numbers as well as big fish!
Look for a bunch of reports to come from the In-Depth Angling staff in the next 2 weeks with reports almost daily to help you before you hit the water in the next coming days.
Good Luck to all we will see you on the water!
Nice 30 incher, DeeZee!!
I’d also like to remind all of the visitors that you can click on any photo in a report and it will enlarge to view at full size.
Jon J.
Great report Dee Zee !! I’m getting the yank parker jerks
already….!!!
It looks like I’m going to be at the right place at the right time next week.
The weather is too early to get a read on but after all this cold and wind, I’m hoping for some nice calm evenings in the 40’s. It is gonna be fun regardless…
What company has a color of lazer craw? Never have heard of this color before.
WALTO,
They are a Pradco Procuct called Smithwick Suspending Super Rogue. The 5″ 1/2oz model is dynamite for walleye on several bodies of water in cooler water temps.
This is a link that will let let you view the cranks.
Smtichwick Suspending Super Rogue
I was out all night on Mille Lacs again last night and the bite remains steadywith 30-40 fish nights being common for numbers as well as a few big fish each night. Look for the mass of bigger fish to move in very soon!
Here is a pic of Steve Flygstad holding a nice 27″+ fish.
Here is another pic os nice fish although this one is held by Shawn Johnson.
Nice fish Shawn.
Here is the last pic of yours truly holding a fish just inhaled a firetiger Super Rogue in 7 foot of water.
What is that thing hanging out of the chin of that fish that Shawn is holding???
Jon J.
That string of green is a piece of cabbage weed that we wrestled this fish out of.
A little cabbage with your Rogue?
Nice pics Steve, are you finding your salad eyes in the greener beds? Are most of them still alive or have some died off?
Nice fish there Steve. I can’t wait for this weekend! I’ll be heading up Thurs. We need to touch base on where to meet on Saturday eve and head out.
Derek,
Most of the weeds have been a dying green color.(?) Which meaning that the weeds are getting easier to fish through.
Some areas are still real thick and green (tough).
Later in the evening, we retreated to some plain sand areas and picked up a nice fish right away but did not spend much time fishing it. I think the sand may be an overlooked area right now. I saw alot of bait stacked up on the dropoff to the sand shelf prior to sunset and the fish migrated up on the sand after dark…
Rippinpigs,
I will drop you a PM today sometime to confirm a metting place and time.