Walleye fishing "beast style"
- hunter_mike
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Walleye fishing "beast style"
There has been much discussion about whitetail hunting "beast style." You want to be hunting as close as possible to where a big buck is located and you also want to be set up within shooting distance of where he is going to walk in daylight. Easier said than done.
We can apply this strategy to almost any type of quarry, fish included. Lets start with walleye. How do you locate adult fish areas. And also how do you decide what type of bait the fish will eat. Is there a way you can actually see what the fish are feeding on? and a way to find these adult fish areas. Are their locations random or is there a pattern. Obviously its going to depend on time of year, available feed and many other factors that I don't even know about.
Thoughts?
We can apply this strategy to almost any type of quarry, fish included. Lets start with walleye. How do you locate adult fish areas. And also how do you decide what type of bait the fish will eat. Is there a way you can actually see what the fish are feeding on? and a way to find these adult fish areas. Are their locations random or is there a pattern. Obviously its going to depend on time of year, available feed and many other factors that I don't even know about.
Thoughts?
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
- headgear
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
There is always a patter you can work, you just have to fish a lot and find out what works and what doesn't at what time of year. Very similar to living and breathing deer hunting year round. I love to fish but its more fun for me and just enjoy being out on the water, not nearly as dedicated to fishing as I am whitetail hunting.
- headgear
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
I should also add I know a few guys that guide for a living, basically you are talking about their level of knowledge when it comes to fishing. They usually get pretty upset when they dont' get their clients on fish, they have the patterns down and know what is happening down there at various times of the year and of course weather patterns. They know exactly when certain species of fish are most active and where, they also know how, when and where to catch "mature" fish. Really no different then us hard core deer hunters.
- hunter_mike
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
You are right, it is going to be near impossible to get to that level without putting as much time and effort into it as whitetail hunting which I don't plan on doing because I have to work and stuff.
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- Dhurtubise
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
First you have to define your goals. Do you want to catch lots of eaters or are you specifically interested in the largest fish in your body of water. What you will eventually find is the largest fish typically don't behave the same way, or eat the same prey items as smaller walleye.
Anglers who get onto patterns of big walleyes tend to catch a lot of them, not just the the odd fluky big one.
You are now well into summer patterns and water temps are getting high. On most of the walleye waters I fish, they are not relating to inflowing rivers unless there is 25' or more available. Rather, they relate to shoals with broken rock/grAvel. 12 to 17' on the hump with that deeper water surrounding it.
If you are fishing water that gets a reasonable pressure, forget about fishing during the day unless you are versed in the ultra slow, finesse set ups. You will do much better going out 1 hour before dark and staying out for a couple hours after this. At this time, the big ones will come out and feed on the humps. Trolling a 5" rapala husky jerk at 2 mph over the 10-15' sections of the shoals is one of the most easy and effective way to target big eyes after it gets dark.
If you don't have one, get a depth finder. You need one for these fish. You'll be using it not to find fish, but structure rather. It's a complete game changer.
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Anglers who get onto patterns of big walleyes tend to catch a lot of them, not just the the odd fluky big one.
You are now well into summer patterns and water temps are getting high. On most of the walleye waters I fish, they are not relating to inflowing rivers unless there is 25' or more available. Rather, they relate to shoals with broken rock/grAvel. 12 to 17' on the hump with that deeper water surrounding it.
If you are fishing water that gets a reasonable pressure, forget about fishing during the day unless you are versed in the ultra slow, finesse set ups. You will do much better going out 1 hour before dark and staying out for a couple hours after this. At this time, the big ones will come out and feed on the humps. Trolling a 5" rapala husky jerk at 2 mph over the 10-15' sections of the shoals is one of the most easy and effective way to target big eyes after it gets dark.
If you don't have one, get a depth finder. You need one for these fish. You'll be using it not to find fish, but structure rather. It's a complete game changer.
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- Singing Bridge
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
You've got some good posts going already. Specifics will add a lot more information to your targeting beast walleyes... are you wondering about this time of the year? Spring/summer/winter/fall? Also are we speaking of walleyes in a river/reservoir/ lake or one of the Great Lakes? These specifics will help a lot.
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- Uncle Lou
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
I got some In fisherman series books years ago. They break down every aspect of finding and catching fish. I did not buy the walleye book, I did get the smallmouth bass and largemouth bass books. Turns out I was once addicted to bass fishing.
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
Walleye fishing "beast style" would be bringing it to their bedroom.
Every lake is different,even different parts of lakes...but there's some places I fish in winter where I've always done far better during the day. Once it gets completely dark those fish scatter, chasing suspended baitfish. Nobody's home after dark.
I'll work a milk-run during daylight settling on what I consider the best concentration I've found for the sundown/prime time period. If I stick it out after prime time, an occasional fish might come thru at - say - 12' down over 30' fow but it's not a consistent bite. The fish are up and off this deep,isolated structure once it's pitch dark...If I feel like it I move in shallower and work something else once there's no glow in the west.
BTW,this is all actively jigging,not setting tippys. Tip-ups are an anchor that keeps a fisherman in one place hoping the fish will come to them.
It's deep structure,cisco feeders. It's not a 'Bago bite,or Petenwell,or Koshkonong...but it's setting up in the bedroom,not the kitchen.
Every lake is different,even different parts of lakes...but there's some places I fish in winter where I've always done far better during the day. Once it gets completely dark those fish scatter, chasing suspended baitfish. Nobody's home after dark.
I'll work a milk-run during daylight settling on what I consider the best concentration I've found for the sundown/prime time period. If I stick it out after prime time, an occasional fish might come thru at - say - 12' down over 30' fow but it's not a consistent bite. The fish are up and off this deep,isolated structure once it's pitch dark...If I feel like it I move in shallower and work something else once there's no glow in the west.
BTW,this is all actively jigging,not setting tippys. Tip-ups are an anchor that keeps a fisherman in one place hoping the fish will come to them.
It's deep structure,cisco feeders. It's not a 'Bago bite,or Petenwell,or Koshkonong...but it's setting up in the bedroom,not the kitchen.
- Singing Bridge
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
Weather permitting I'm going walleye fishing tomorrow- beast style! This will be a port I haven't fished in a while on lake Huron. Heaven help the walleye!
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
Just like whitetails... the best way to catch a whopper is find water than has many trophy class fish of type you are fishing for. Then it takes time or learning from someone who knows a pattern to catch em. I have caught a pile of trophy class fish... no different than whitetails (takes time and effort).
I have learned the best way to speed up the learning curve is to fish with or get to know those that fish for a living....
If you are looking for a monster walleye I can point you in the right direction if you live near Green Bay
I have learned the best way to speed up the learning curve is to fish with or get to know those that fish for a living....
If you are looking for a monster walleye I can point you in the right direction if you live near Green Bay
"When a hunter is in a tree stand with high moral values, with the proper hunting ethics and richer for the experience, that hunter is 20 feet closer to God." Fred Bear
- bigwoodsmn
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
I'm full-throttle addicted to open water walleyes
- bigwoodsmn
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
Here's a method you may have never tried. It's kind of beast mode to actively single out one or two walleyes with your big motor running ... pluck them, and repeat.
I ride around on structure with my face in my graph and when I say 'now' we pitch our floats behind the boat. It's that simple if your gear is set up right and people can pitch without crossing lines.
Here Jon Thelen with Fish Ed is doing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIV0U28iE2I
On Mille Lacs it's called power corking. Kind of like a bass fisherman hitting a spot - you need to be able to pitch it to the right spot and anticipate how fast it's falling. It works great if you have a couple other people that can do it without crossing lines.
You target active feeding walleyes, sometimes a single fish, you spot on your graph. I learned it from Tony Roach on a guided trip my wife won 3-4 years ago. I spend a lot more time pulling rigs, spinners, and raps on leadcore. But some days are perfect for pitching floats and we have a riot with it.
In this video they are talking about catching individual fish feeding off bottom here but I also have used it to catch the big golden arches feeding up high inside bug hatch columns - that would be pretty difficult to catch otherwise. They hit your jig/leech on its way down.
I ride around on structure with my face in my graph and when I say 'now' we pitch our floats behind the boat. It's that simple if your gear is set up right and people can pitch without crossing lines.
Here Jon Thelen with Fish Ed is doing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIV0U28iE2I
On Mille Lacs it's called power corking. Kind of like a bass fisherman hitting a spot - you need to be able to pitch it to the right spot and anticipate how fast it's falling. It works great if you have a couple other people that can do it without crossing lines.
You target active feeding walleyes, sometimes a single fish, you spot on your graph. I learned it from Tony Roach on a guided trip my wife won 3-4 years ago. I spend a lot more time pulling rigs, spinners, and raps on leadcore. But some days are perfect for pitching floats and we have a riot with it.
In this video they are talking about catching individual fish feeding off bottom here but I also have used it to catch the big golden arches feeding up high inside bug hatch columns - that would be pretty difficult to catch otherwise. They hit your jig/leech on its way down.
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
That was a cool video.
- bigwoodsmn
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Re: Walleye fishing "beast style"
Uncle Lou wrote:I got some In fisherman series books years ago. They break down every aspect of finding and catching fish. I did not buy the walleye book, I did get the smallmouth bass and largemouth bass books. Turns out I was once addicted to bass fishing.
Uncle Lou - good call on the
In-Fisherman "Critical Concept" Walleye Books -I dug into it - there are 5 books. I've only read #4 but I like to read about walleyes -- so I'll have to check out the others.
1) Walleye Fundamentals - Sustained Success
2) Walleye Location - Lakes, Rivers, Reservoirs
3) Walleye Presentation - Core Techniques
4) Walleye Presentation - Boat control and state of the art open water systems
5) Putting it all together - electronics, patterns, and other secrets
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