walleye

has anyone been getting any walleye yet I have tryed but I think they are all hidding up to deep as of yet

[Jellyhead]

Ok guys, I'll relay all that I know on walleye. I've only caught a couple, but this info is pretty much the standard way to fish on the columbia.

In the spring fish Jigs. This was the way I caught one of my fish. 1/2oz.-3/4oz. stand up type jigs w/a 3" curly tail grub, white or chartruese. Find a break line where the water drops from about 8' or less down into 17-20' of water. Don't be suprised if you catch smallmouths or ********* while doing this. Also use smelly jelly and tip your jig w/a worm. I use an electric trolling motor and watch my electronics to stay on the break.

In the summer walleyes are supposed to eat worm/spinner harnesses. Notice I said supposed to. I've never caught anything but smallies or squaws, or perch, or bullheads doing this in the summer. I've also lost so much gear it made me mad, and I quit walleye fishing and started beating up on the smallmouth. Anyways, look for the same types of break lines, and troll right on the break downstream, slightly faster than the current. I use a 4' leader behind a bottom walker, and a spin-n-glo, or spinner blade above a double hook worm rig. Use a whole nightcrawler. Good Luck.

The other time I've caught walleye was in the fall trolling crankbaits. This is my favorite way to fish them. Use a deep (17' plus) diving, thin profile walleye plug (Like a luhr jenson hot-lips) and troll downstream over the same breaks. Don't be afraid to troll fast. They are most active this time of year and will really smack a crankbait. Plus you can cover lots of water and look for new likely looking spots.

One other word. This is a great way to look for structure for other species. I've found many of my bass spots by trolling for walleye. If you start catching bass, slow down and drop a jig, you can really clean house on smallies like this.

Like I said, I've only caught a couple of walleyes. Everything I've stated here was info that really good walleye guys gave me. Hopefully these techs work for you.

Good Luck

Aaron

[4u2fish]

Oh ya I love the walleye's... I have fished in all of the ways listed by Jellyhead and these techs that he stated all work well.. I mostly troll and rarely loose any rigs. I use the bottom walker and a worm rig with a worm (walleye's love worms mmmm good) They hit like a freight train then just lay there till you get them close then the fight is on. I have a favorite spot that always produces in the fall and you can reguraly catch 20+" fish.. There is a walleye fishing group that meets at fishermans on hayden Island once a mounth I think that it is the 2nd tuesday but you will want to call. They have alot of good techniques and locations to share there is also walleye tourney's on the columbia all of the time..

As far as jig fishing for them I know that I have lost alot of gear doing this and have quit trying this method although I balme it on the locations that I have tried not on the tech itsself.. The right location could produce nicely with this tech..(under the 205 bridge on the collumbia )

Now the plug and spinner baits work well durring early morning and right as the sun drops. The walleye tend to move into the shallow warm water durring the evening and chase the little swimming meals around.. But again I do not fish like this much because I just have to much other gear with the sturgeon, salmon, steelie, well you know hom many tackle boxes you can end up with if your're a fishin fool.. I had to draw the line somewhere

Let me know I will fish with ya I know a few spots..(summer to fall is best times)

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AKC H2O-K9

[Trout,myster]

All of the methods listed will work. I do most of my walleye fishing below John Day dam, but have gotten some nice ones in the Columbia down here and also the Multnomah Channel. I wouldn't eat anything out of the channel, however.

What you read is the general rule of thumb...jigs in the spring, rigs in the summer, plugs in the fall. However, I've rotated all of those around at times and done well.

For jigs in the Columbia, you need some lead. My favorites are called Whistler jigs and I use 3/4 ounce virtually all the time. Add a nightcrawler to that and go for it. In the spring, you can get some really nice fish, but most are going to be females headed to spawn so please release them if you can bear to do it. Not unusual to jig them up out of 40 feet of water, either. They'll typically school tight in cold water so if you get into one, you can usually catch more.

If the jigs don't produce or your arm gets tired, switch to a bottom walker. There are several on the market, I use the ones out of Cabelas in either 2 or 3 ounce. Run about 2-3 feet of leader with a couple of floaters (corkies will work if that's all you have) and a spinner blade of your color choice. May want to buy a couple of manufactured rigs to see how they're built and then make your own. All the parts are available from Cabelas or places like Fisherman's. Too long a leader will let the whole works settle to the bottom and you'll hang up. Shorter leaders work better. Also, if you do hang up, you can usually just go upstream of the hang-me-up and it will pull loose. Once you get your rig ready, swing the boat around and head downcurrent with preferable a bow mount electric just slightly faster than the current. Your whole rig should be at about a 45 degree angle of line going into the water and just bounce bottom occasionally, don't try to plow it! When the fish hits, feed them a little before you sweep (notice I said sweep) the hook into them. If you get steelhead fever and strike, you'll miss them every time. If you have to do this with a kicker from the back, you can, it's just a little aggravating especially if you have any headwind. Zig-zagging back and forth on the breaks until you find fish is a decent method. Note: I strongly recommend you get familiar with the stretch of river going UP before going DOWN! Never know what you may run into!

For plugs, I usually put on a deep diver that'll pull down to 30 feet or so. Head upstream fast enough to move upriver slowly and just go back and forth up and down the breaks. Magnum 'Warts work pretty good out on about 120 feet of braided line. Most of the time I pull the Luhr Jensen Hot Lips minnows. These will work all times of the year though fall is probably most popular. You won't usually catch many fish on these in the spring, but if you do hang one, it's usually worth a camera shot.

Last bit of advice is important both to your fishing and making buddies on the river. When you're done with your downriver drift or troll, NEVER go back up the same stretch of water! Go way out in the river and go around it. Walleyes will spook pretty easy and a boat going up through the fishing grounds will hose your fishing. If you happen to be the one doing that and others are fishing in there also, you'll become quite unpopular quite fast.

Good luck! Maybe we'll all tie up on the river at some point. If you see a blue 18 foot Crestliner with a brown top (if it's up) swing by and say hi! I'll try to get my decals ordered and on the thing before long.

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Troutmyster

[Dobe]

Have been reading the tips on walleye fishing and all sound great. Two years ago this comming March, a buddy and I hired a guide out of Rufus ( Touche Clark ) to take us out and show us the ins and outs of walleye fishing. We fished all day with a worm harness behind a bottom walker. I caught 5, the limit then, and my buddy, two. when I hooked up, it felt like I had hung up on the bottom. I let my rod get a good bend in it and then would set the hook, per the guides instructions, and I didn't lose one. Also, need to keep the bottom walker in contact with the bottom, just ticking along, you can feel if it starts to drag, meaning it is just sliding along the bottom on its side. I was told this is a no-no. Takes some concentration. I've been meaning to get back and try with my boat, but I seem to always wind up at the Deschutes or John Day after steeles or salmon. good luck, Dobe

[Phish_on]

I wish to learn more about this "walleye" ... Spring is the best time isn't it?

Any walleye nuts here? Favorite rigs, general locations ? C'mon and share. Can you combine those trips with some bounty fishin ("northern pikeminnow" -*********) to pay for gas?

[Fishplay]

Just a couple points to add.
Late July through August fish bellow John Day dam trolling rappala plugs (Rainbow Trout) you know the ones. Use your downriggers and keep those plugs on the bottom,pay attention to the depth. Fast troll like you would for silvers. This is a proven tech so take your appetite with you!

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FISH!........GET IN THE BOAT!!!!!

[zipper]

My father (when he was alive) was a master of the walleye. He always said "If you can't catch one any other way... use Chartruse 2 hook worm harness with stinger" or single hook with leach. I do not know if leach are legal to use in Oregon or not. I do know without doubt that Chartruse catches the most fish on the Missouri River.