a perfect day off
space inwaders 10/08/2009 - 19:00 Trip Reports
No I haven't quit, but i've gotten quite a few skunk trips lately.
I had a day off work tuesday and made the most of it. I went down to a smaller river near my house. The water was very low which gave me the chance to wade with my hip boots and check out the structure in the area. I found a really nice ledge going along shoreline that dropped straight down to 7-10' of water, pretty deep for this river. Rumor has it there are 30' deep spots around there, which is very rare for this particular river.
I arrived around sunrise and the smallies were feeding. Of course i was hoping for a rare walleye, so i wasn't fishing the surface. Ended up with about 12 smallies, always fun, but they were pretty small 6-10"ers. I waded, moved, explored, and eventually stumbled onto a sweet spot. Deeper water off of that shoreline ledge, slow current, some fallen timber in the area. After a couple casts with a 1/16 oz jig, gulp saltwater 4" minnow, a nice crappie took the bait. I rarely catch em in the flowing rivers, so that was a treat, it was 10-11" or so.
A couple mins later something strong took the lure on the initial fall to the bottom, a tough fight on my 6'6" ML, pulling drag, didn't know quite what it was, but ended up being a 22" or so channel cat. Couple mins later, another one, maybe a little smaller. didnt measure this one.
I kept at it in that same place and another good fighter took the gulp on the initial fall, this one was strong and stayed deep so i thought it might be another cat, hoped it was a wally, but it ended up being a fat 16" smallie, good sized for this river.
Shortly afterward i slipped and dropped my camera into the water, i got it out quick, but the display no longer worked. I wasn't sure the camera worked.
I made my way down the shore a bit more, tried to beat the brush and get to a huge fallen tree, but couldn't get there. It was about noon and i called it quits.
Got home, did a few chores, and about 4:30 time to head out again. I tested the camera, at least it did still work, but not so easy to use without being able to see the display.
I shot up to my old favorite walleye area. Always had good luck there this time of year. There were a few people fishing but nothing like the summer months.
Finally my choice spot opened up and most everyone was gone. I'd fished a few hours without a bite (well, one rock bass), i was glad i kept trying. 2nd cast -Bam- my old friend the walleye. About a 19"er. Couple mins later and another one about the same size as the first. Not bad, this really made my day, even if it ended here, but you know i kept casting!
About 20 mins after the first one, a nicer one gets on the line. After a great fight, pulling some drag on my med action 7' spinning rod, wasn't sure how big she was, but ended up a nice fat 24"er.
Not bad at all, anything more and i'd truly feel blessed. I was all revved up and was going to stay as long as the bite continued, and it did. Ended up with 2 more 18-20"ers, and one more fat 23.5"er.
looks like the same photo/fish as the 24"er, and just as goofy an expression on my face, i think my headlamp was upside down!
This shot has better detail of the fish, but completely missed my head and the tail end of the fish. Its not so easy taking pics in the dark with a fiesty walleye in one hand, setting timer, flash, dark mode, without a display and by yourself.
I kept at it and the bite slowed. I did loose about 5 fish, including one that was HUGE. Maybe a snagged carp, or maybe a musky, all i know is i thought i had snagged a rock, then the rock TOOK OFF, peeling line, it was moving fast... who knows.
It was so good to get back out and have some luck, it'd been a while, probably 5 or 6 trips with no walleyes. Ending up with a great numbers night, and a couple good sized ones. It was also great to give a little bit of time to explore my local river, and i found some nice terrain and some good fish too.
Get out there and good luck guys!
-steve
I had a day off work tuesday and made the most of it. I went down to a smaller river near my house. The water was very low which gave me the chance to wade with my hip boots and check out the structure in the area. I found a really nice ledge going along shoreline that dropped straight down to 7-10' of water, pretty deep for this river. Rumor has it there are 30' deep spots around there, which is very rare for this particular river.
I arrived around sunrise and the smallies were feeding. Of course i was hoping for a rare walleye, so i wasn't fishing the surface. Ended up with about 12 smallies, always fun, but they were pretty small 6-10"ers. I waded, moved, explored, and eventually stumbled onto a sweet spot. Deeper water off of that shoreline ledge, slow current, some fallen timber in the area. After a couple casts with a 1/16 oz jig, gulp saltwater 4" minnow, a nice crappie took the bait. I rarely catch em in the flowing rivers, so that was a treat, it was 10-11" or so.
A couple mins later something strong took the lure on the initial fall to the bottom, a tough fight on my 6'6" ML, pulling drag, didn't know quite what it was, but ended up being a 22" or so channel cat. Couple mins later, another one, maybe a little smaller. didnt measure this one.
I kept at it in that same place and another good fighter took the gulp on the initial fall, this one was strong and stayed deep so i thought it might be another cat, hoped it was a wally, but it ended up being a fat 16" smallie, good sized for this river.
Shortly afterward i slipped and dropped my camera into the water, i got it out quick, but the display no longer worked. I wasn't sure the camera worked.
I made my way down the shore a bit more, tried to beat the brush and get to a huge fallen tree, but couldn't get there. It was about noon and i called it quits.
Got home, did a few chores, and about 4:30 time to head out again. I tested the camera, at least it did still work, but not so easy to use without being able to see the display.
I shot up to my old favorite walleye area. Always had good luck there this time of year. There were a few people fishing but nothing like the summer months.
Finally my choice spot opened up and most everyone was gone. I'd fished a few hours without a bite (well, one rock bass), i was glad i kept trying. 2nd cast -Bam- my old friend the walleye. About a 19"er. Couple mins later and another one about the same size as the first. Not bad, this really made my day, even if it ended here, but you know i kept casting!
About 20 mins after the first one, a nicer one gets on the line. After a great fight, pulling some drag on my med action 7' spinning rod, wasn't sure how big she was, but ended up a nice fat 24"er.
Not bad at all, anything more and i'd truly feel blessed. I was all revved up and was going to stay as long as the bite continued, and it did. Ended up with 2 more 18-20"ers, and one more fat 23.5"er.
looks like the same photo/fish as the 24"er, and just as goofy an expression on my face, i think my headlamp was upside down!
This shot has better detail of the fish, but completely missed my head and the tail end of the fish. Its not so easy taking pics in the dark with a fiesty walleye in one hand, setting timer, flash, dark mode, without a display and by yourself.
I kept at it and the bite slowed. I did loose about 5 fish, including one that was HUGE. Maybe a snagged carp, or maybe a musky, all i know is i thought i had snagged a rock, then the rock TOOK OFF, peeling line, it was moving fast... who knows.
It was so good to get back out and have some luck, it'd been a while, probably 5 or 6 trips with no walleyes. Ending up with a great numbers night, and a couple good sized ones. It was also great to give a little bit of time to explore my local river, and i found some nice terrain and some good fish too.
Get out there and good luck guys!
-steve
