Thanks to everyone that gave me tips and advice for our first time fishing walleye. Special thanks to
Hunt'nFish, Cord and Bob Barthlow.
We camped out at LePage park on the John Day Monday - Thursday. First few days were very windy and we weren't able to make it out at Rufus for walleye, did I mention that the current was absolutely ripping too?
Headed up past Phillipi Monday afternoon after setting up camp. The further up it got the windier and rougher it got. Managed some crappie off Phillipi and a few small mouths along the shore 10-15ft water, worms under a bobber. Wasn't able to make it up to the narrows for cats as it was getting rough, my crew rebelling and the ole Alaskan is not known for a smooth ride. Long trip back to camp.
Tuesday dawned windy again. Headed down towards Rufus and it didn't look doable so went on to Maryhill and windsurfed while wife and kids tried fishing off the rocks to no avail. Did I mention that the current was ripping!
Wednesday was windy again so we tried trolling along the shore of the John Day, under the bridges and weren't touching anything. Poked our nose out in the big 'C' and with the lack of current above the dam the waves were doable so we crossed to the Washington side and trolled along the cliffs picking up a dozen smallies.
Thursday was calm but it was time to break camp and head home. On the way home we stopped at Rufus and put the boat in. Rigged up worm harnesses with bait walkers and gave this particular type of fishing our first go. Made the first drift figuring how to correctly feel bottom and get the speed right. Also was finding out how to read the water and current breaks. Second drift and fish on! Holy smokes,
it was a little walleye about 8" so back he goes and we have new found confidence in these crazy walleye worm harness, bait walker fishing contraptions. Second drift and pick up a 10", back he goes. Hey this is getting good, fish on every drift now.
Finally hook into a 16" 'eye
and he is destined for dinner. Continue to get little ones then all of a sudden all we are picking up are smallies. Now normally I'd be thrilled to be hooking smallies but they keep messing up our worms on the harnesses and they're starting to pester us. Just so we can round out a dinner we keep a couple of the larger smallies and call it a day.
Since we still have a drive home I decide to clean the fish first and put them in the cooler. My 9yo son is checking out the fish as only a 9yo boy can
when he makes a comment about small mouth having pincers way back in their throat. I listen with my usual rapt attention then get to cleaning the fish. I get the stomaches out of the smallies to cut them open and see what they've been feeding on and show the kids. First one has what looks like a baby sturgeon in it about 2" long. The second one is completely stretched to its limits and hard. I open it up and out comes a crawdad, still alive!
We call him the second chance crawdad, name him Jonah and send him back to the river with instructions to be more careful.
Got home, fileted the walleye, batter'd and fried. I can say, that was some of the best eating fish I've ever had. Great end to a fun trip.
-Dale
Rufus walleye and the second chance crawdad - report
Hunt'nFish
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