Pete Yake (the driftmaster) and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Fox River, DePere Wi on Wednesday morning. The spawning run is starting and with the cold, windy weather, we hoped the mid week boat traffic, which can be in the hundreds would be manageable. It wasn’t too bad as we launched at 6:45 and about 5 minutes later Pete hooked this beauty.
Pete is a master at keeping the boat creeping downstream just faster than the current while adjusting the trolling motor direction to keep out lines vertical, which is the whole secret to success. I gave me 3/16 jig and cotton candy/chart tail Moxie a short flick upward and “whack!” my rod tip was jerked down hard by my first walleye. This one on a custom rod I built some years ago from a St.Croix 69MLXL blank. It is rewarding to have luck on a rod you build yourself.
There are special rules enforced for this pre season opportunity…Only one walleye per day may be kept in possession…Minimum size 28″. But with cabin fever rampant in the upper Midwest, it is a hoot to catch these gorgeous Green Bay basin walleye which average 18-20″ with many 22-24″.
Although most anglers opt for anchoring with a jig/minnow combo…I have observed drifting with vertical jig/plastics to far out produce the live bait in these extreme cold per spawn conditions. I believe the added “reaction” to the undulating bait in front of their noses is a key factor. While blades are used frequently here, including by Pete & I, I saw no one being successful with them. I tried blades, One eyes, pitching (and grinning 
) but we caught all walleye on vertical plastics.
We ended the day at 5 PM with about 60 Walleye netted. We both had the elusive BIG GIRLS almost to the net but both of them became unbuttoned before being secured. Those bigguns usually are caught at night by anglers ripping deep diving cranks…It was a thrill for both of us to get a crack at one.
In summary, although I netted a lot more than I caught, it was another fabulous day of battling Fox River Eyes… I look at a blizzard raging outside and wonder if we’ll get back down there next week, as this run doesn’t last real long…
tackle;
Pete used two St.Croix LTW 63MXF spin rods w Arbor reels, 6# P line flouro coated green line, 3/16-1/4 oz BFT jigs and various colors of ringworms and 3″ Moxies
I used a Limit Creek LC66MF and custom LEX63MXF &LEX69MLXF rods, Plueger Arbor reels, Sufix Elite HV Green with the same baits.
Best colors early am were brite greens, mid day cotton candy/chart tail.
Get out and get bit!