Walleye?

Silver Hilton · 01-10-2003, 11:19 PM

When I used to live down in Portland, walleye was my favorite fish, and now was my favorite time. How come I never here anyone talk about them? Is it fished out down there now? Or is this just the biggest zipper out there?

bassin · 01-11-2003, 06:19 AM

So, tell me more.
I will be only to happy to try it for you and post a report.
I have taken a few in the Camas area. a few more up river, John Day Etc. But mostly in the fall.

HeavyMetal BankFisherman · 01-11-2003, 07:01 AM

Any opportunities to catch Walleye from the bank? Or is this a fishery where a boat is required?

Pilar · 01-11-2003, 08:18 AM

There's a guy I see every year working the area between the Marine Park (Portco) ramp and the I-5 bridge on the Columbia. Every year from now till March.

Usually he is there while I come and go from sturgeon fishing. I have seen him at the ramp with really nice walleye 10 to 15lbs. Not yet this year but any day now.

Great White Sturgeon Hunter · 01-11-2003, 04:33 PM

There are couple of good areas to try around the Portland area. I have hooked them in the Maltnomah Channel, the rock point across from the Sandy at the mouth of the Waushugal area. I know they have caught some nice ones at the mouth of Maltnamah Channel near Freds Marinia during springer season. I believe there was also an artical in the last issue of the fishing hunting news on lower columbia EYES. There are some big ones in the lower part 15 and over you just have to hunt for them.

1pump · 01-11-2003, 11:30 PM

Wouldn't walleye be on the warm water board? :whazzup: :whazzup: I've always thought they were in the same league as bass and all those "midwestern" type fish.
I've caught a few below Bonneville but I haven't gone in a long, long time. I'll bet someone will catch one soon while fishing for springers.
My ex-next door neighbor belongs to a walleye club- Lower Cloumbia something-or-another. I never went to any meetings, obviously, but he was generous with information when I bothered to ask. Too bad I don't remember any of it. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Up-4-Air · 01-12-2003, 08:55 AM

Pilar, do you know what method the guy was using between Marine Park and the I5 bridge? I had a walleye fisherman tell me once that there is a gravel bar in front of the hotels on Hayden Island right at the bridge. He caught walleye on that bar using a fat green curly tail grub jig. Salmon may be king but I'd really like to get some white fish on the table. :smile:

dan(or) · 01-13-2003, 06:31 AM

Any more info on this thread?

thanks

dan

Silver Hilton · 01-13-2003, 08:28 AM

I used to do well this time of year bouncing jigs with worms along the shelf in front of the woolen mills. In summer, I'd troll spinner/worm combos. In the spring, troll lindy plugs. We'd get some big 'eyes, and some salmon, too.

zipper · 01-13-2003, 09:37 AM

Where's the woolen mills? thanks. zip

Silver Hilton · 01-13-2003, 11:01 PM

Take Hiway 14 through Camas towards Washougal. After you go past Parker's landing, where the Marina is, in about another mile is a stop light that puts you onto the main street into washougal. The Pendleton Woolen mill is, or was when I used to live down there, just northeast of the light.

On the river side there is a fishing dock that is the landmark from the water. The area upstream to and past Reed Island and downstream to Lady Island used to have pretty good walleye fishing. They move around a lot, so you've got to hunt for them. When you find them, mark the spot, fish it repeatedly, and don't motor over the fish. Stop the big motor at least 100 yards a way, and come in on your kicker, or preferably an electric.

If it's still good, you'll see plenty of guys fishing. It's not a secret. Look for the old guys in small boats trolling or jigging. You'll have to look real sharp to see them actually boat a fish - some of them are pretty stealthy about it, because if you're not, you can get beseiged by other fishermen, who put the fish down.

There used to be one yahoo that would fish the spot that would just follow me around. Then, when we'd find fish, he'd turn his boat around as soon as he thought he was done with the spot, and run right back over the spot with his big motor. This immediately killed the fishing.

He found me at the dock once and wanted to know my secret. I confess that I wasn't very helpful.

I had a real good day one year right about this time. My buddy and I were sturgeon fishing up near Rooster Rock. Nothing was going on, so we ran down to try for Eyes. We got four from 7 to 12 lbs in an hour, on 3/4 oz jigs in about 40 feet of water. That's some good eating!

[ 01-13-2003, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: Silver Hilton ]

zipper · 01-13-2003, 11:48 PM

Thanks SH - I used to fish the Missouri in S.Dakota for "eyes" years ago and while they maybe aren't the most exciting fish to catch, there are no white fish better eating to be sure! I would love to target them once and awhile. Appreciate the advise! zip