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Catching walleye in small lakes
#6585228
07/31/19 05:37 PM
07/31/19 05:37 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 405 Michigan
BullOx
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 405
Michigan
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I’ve never caught a walleye on purpose in my life, the few I have caught were on accident while crappie fishing. The small lake I mostly fish has a few walleye in it that were stocked. Any tips? It’s a really weedy lake without much structure
Last edited by BullOx; 07/31/19 05:37 PM.
Trapping is easy you say? You try getting your target animal to step in a 3 inch area of its whole territory.
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Re: Catching walleye in small lakes
[Re: BullOx]
#6585252
07/31/19 06:28 PM
07/31/19 06:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513
Kanabec Cty, MN
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Best is to fish before weeds are present(winter) or early spring before they grow. Otherwise fish edges of weed line with smaller spinners baits with soft bodies on them instead of rubber skirts like bass fishing. If deeper weed beds have a submerged level troll lure or spinners just over the tops. Active walleyes with come up out of the weed tops. If they are down in the weeds(hot days when they want the shade and O2 anchor and straight line drop shot live bait down into the more open weeds with a #6 or #8 fine weedless hook(use a stiff rod to set the weedless hooks). Weeds and walleyes are more common than most know but they require finesse to separate the two without losing patience. Learn the kind/s of weeds in your lake as they often have different life cycles.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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Re: Catching walleye in small lakes
[Re: BullOx]
#6585278
07/31/19 06:58 PM
07/31/19 06:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492
james bay frontierOnt.
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If in summer,find the deepest spot in the lake(often near an outlet) and drop a marabou jig tipped with a minnow right to the bottom. You can jig it a bit,but the minnow will make the marabou jig flutter.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Catching walleye in small lakes
[Re: corky]
#6585439
07/31/19 11:09 PM
07/31/19 11:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,356 western mn
bucksnbears
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,356
western mn
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Slip bobber and leech in the open pockets in the weeds. BAMM!!
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Catching walleye in small lakes
[Re: BullOx]
#6585731
08/01/19 12:16 PM
08/01/19 12:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513
Kanabec Cty, MN
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You need a few tricks if you want to catch(not just fish for)walleyes in the weeds consistently, IMO. Different weather days make different presentation pointless. Such as windy days and bobbers(they get pulled by waves) or hot, sunny days(walleyes will bury into the thickest weeds for shade and O2). Algae blooms can bring the bait minnows to the surface and walleye will cruise the tops of submerged weed beds to chase them often many feet off them bottom. In one dark, turbid weedy lake I fish walleyes are shallow 3-5"(even sunny midday) all summer long even though weeds go out to 8-10' they hang on shallow reef tops and INSIDE the weed line and up to quick dropping shorelines. Heavy insect hatches can actually let you catch walleyes on Dry flies. Many weedless tactics for bass can be tweaked successfully to 'eyes(watching the Bass fisherman have proven me that).
Don't forget weedy lakes have softer bottom and draw lots of wintering frogs. Late fall frog migration into the lake draw walleyes to feet from shore(even daytime) on shorelines with mucky bottoms. 3-4" Double tail white twister bodies on weedless jig or hooked Texas style cast right to shore and retrieved out deeper, they slam them. I have found the walleye norms I grew up being successful on the BIG waters in MN hold no sway in the weeds,IME. I have never experienced as much change in successful presentations as with weed walleyes which is why I think most just give up on them in frustration. Be adaptable and catch what most are missing out on.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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Re: Catching walleye in small lakes
[Re: BullOx]
#6585742
08/01/19 12:46 PM
08/01/19 12:46 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,883 MT (Big Sky Country)
Allan Minear
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,883
MT (Big Sky Country)
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A buddy and I drag crank baits on leadcore line or my favorite is a bottom bouncer and a worm harness until we find the fish then lite lines with jigs tipped with a night crawler or leach. This works best with a lite chop on the water a breeze is your friend. The lake I'm referring to is Fort Peck with only has 1,852 miles of shoreline it's the closest to home.
Last edited by Allan Minear; 08/01/19 12:48 PM.
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