Lower C.R. Walleye report 7/9/06

[Hunt'nFish]

Went out sat and found water still 6ft above my normal prefered summer levels. Perdictable schools were not where they should be and what fish I did mark on the graph appeared scattered and OBVIOUSLY uninterested......obviously because I didn't catch. :laugh: :laugh:
Seriously though, I suspect the heavy flows have them more protected waters. Should've probably tried fishing the big eddy's with jig or bladebaits but that is not my skill. Mainly I just fished my normal spots w/ worm harness first and then when I didn't mark any, I moved up on the big flats around the islands. Ocassionally I'd mark a suspicious "bump" on the graph. I did mark some arcs hiding behind sand dunes...those I thought should've bit. Probably should've slowed things down, we could've been moving too fast...even though we were just barely beating the current we were still doing 5mph! :bigshock:
I was trolling this rig (only with real crawlers): Click here to view Hunt'nFish's prefered worm harness (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20264&cat=500&ppuser=5419)

Lots of salmon fisherman out there, so switched over to pulling cranks up river thinking that should slow down the presentation AND I might just hook a big silver fish in the lip. Besides I was due for a nap anyway. So I flipped the boat and headed upstream tossed out a Clearwater Flash Powerdive and dropped the hat over my eyes. 30min later I wake up to find my navigator is also sawing logs! :bigshock: Opps not safe! my MinnKota autopilot and kicker combo had moved us only about 200yds upsteam and we were still right on a perfect troll course. (I have yet to catch a fish on a crank yet)
Anyway wife had to work at 4pm so we pulled off the water at 2pm and head and headed for the launch.

Made it back to Beaverton just in time to catch the tail end of EBG's seminar at GIJoes and snag a handout.

So what did I take away from the day??..... should've went bass fishing! :laugh: :laugh:
Hunt'nFish

[BassBuster]

C'mon hunt...your supposed to find those walleye so you can take me out..remember.

[1bigfish]

Thanks for the report. I told dragon67 to set up a walleye trip with you later this year. Of course I will just have to tag along and try and learn something. :grin:

[Hans Kochs]

Hey Hunt'nFish. I was tempted to get out and do some walleye fishing on the Lower columbia but I know better than waste my time. 95 and 96 my log shows we did pretty good around skamania in july but the water levels were much lower. In recent years the water flow in July is way to high to do any good. I guess you can find walleyes in the eddies and side channels. I now just wait until late august and September and October to go after walleye. I got 3 weeks spread out over August and September of vacation time and I plan on fishing for walleye. We should get together. I know we have met at the walleye federation meetings Thoroud used to put on. Well keep on fishing.

[Hunt'nFish]

Guys, perhaps when river conditions are better we should plan an Ifish Walleye Fish-in? Perhaps a "Bucketheads" dinner meeting is called for to share knowledge, tips, tackle & tactics and such....? I know there has been a lot of interest in the past on walleye fishing here. Perhaps we could do a little show & tell, mini how-to seminar to help bring some of our Ifish brothers into wide world of walleye?

Hans, ditto on your river level thoughts. I went out about this time last year thinking it's the 4th of July we should catch fish, and came up dry. I think once Bonneville hits 10-12ft gage, we'll be into fishable flows and the fish should be back where we normally find them.
My problem is I get busy during the fall....remember the first part of my moniker is "Hunt"! :grin: And this year I drew an antelope tag AND my big bull tag! :yay: :dance: :yay: Not to mention chasing TUNA! and blacktail.......uhhh,..something about that just doesn't sound right. :redface:
So a lot of the time I just don't get out after them during the primetimes. Yep, August thru Sept.

Tom Thoroud? yes, I took meticules notes from both him and Iman both. They were instumential in helping me figure out walleye.....not that we EVER "figure" them out! :laugh: :laugh: Yep, their are much better walleye fisherman out there than I! I'd have to say I know just enough to think I might know something, but not nearly enough to place in any tourny....it'd be a $200 donation if I entered alongside those guys! There's a lot more water out there I don't know than do know.....that's why I think I struggle so much when the fish are not where they should be due to flow or tourny pressure. I've went out there and fished alongside them during the Lower CR Fall Classic tourney and been humbled.
But ya can't run w/ the big dogs by sitting on the porch! Right? Until then, I just "practice fish". :laugh: :laugh:


FishMojo, I still need to get you to show me how to catch one on a crank. I'm holding my mouth wrong or something.
Hunt'nFish

[1bigfish]

I would be up for an Ifish Walleye Fish-in.

Count me in.

[Super Fluke]

Thanks for the report

[Hans Kochs]

Me Too. I would like to have a fish out. We could meet at Rooster Rock or something. Lets wait until the middle of august. Water flows should be much better.

[AlseaAssassin]

I've been striking out as well :shrug: