Chinook SSSF
09-26-2009, 03:14 PM
Got a last minute offer to run and gun the Columbia River 'Walleye' scene with TTJLN and Wormslayer from the SSSF community. I was excited about this because I had tried in the past to catch a walleye but was not sure where to start. I had actually never caught one! After watching In-Fisherman TV throughout my childhood and now living by a decent walleye spot you would think I knew something about this. I had also heard that walleye are good company at the dinner table. Have any good recipes for me?
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye1sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye7sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye2sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye3sm.jpg
The first fish I hook was a brute that busted my leader. IM guessing the fish to be around 4 or 5 lbs. I landed 2 other walleye that seem to be running 15" to 18" in length. Several other gamefish came up in the mix. We picked up several small stary flounder. A surprise since these flounder had chased the spinner and worm rig and bit the hook on a full troll. If you have caught stary's before you would most often say I caught them sturgeon fishing or perhaps perch fishing in Astoria. I seems odd to find this many this far up river. IM guessing this is the nursery, judging by their size. we also caught several smallmouth bass during the days troll.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye8sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye9sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye4sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye5sm.jpg
The later and brighter in the day it became, the better the fishing got. Our gear consisted of a starndard walleye worm harness trolled on a bottom walker. For blades we had a variety of custom painted blades mostly by R&B in different shades of red and bright green. Fishing for Columbia walleye and other resident fish is easy this way and the only real exacting science is the troll speed. The day we fished our captain found the correct speed to be almost dead drift with the river's current, using the motor simply for correcting our presentation and rod angle. Our overall catch was 4 walleye to the net but since I was the only one doing the eating of these fresh eyes, looks like I scored!
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye6sm.jpg
Thanks Terry and Tracy for the super day on the water for my first walleyes!
............
Editors Note: It is recommended by ODFW that you keep your intake of resident lower Columbia river fish in moderation. Consult current 2009 ODFW regulations for more info on lower columbia resident food fish warnings.
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http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye1sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye7sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye2sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye3sm.jpg
The first fish I hook was a brute that busted my leader. IM guessing the fish to be around 4 or 5 lbs. I landed 2 other walleye that seem to be running 15" to 18" in length. Several other gamefish came up in the mix. We picked up several small stary flounder. A surprise since these flounder had chased the spinner and worm rig and bit the hook on a full troll. If you have caught stary's before you would most often say I caught them sturgeon fishing or perhaps perch fishing in Astoria. I seems odd to find this many this far up river. IM guessing this is the nursery, judging by their size. we also caught several smallmouth bass during the days troll.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye8sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye9sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye4sm.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye5sm.jpg
The later and brighter in the day it became, the better the fishing got. Our gear consisted of a starndard walleye worm harness trolled on a bottom walker. For blades we had a variety of custom painted blades mostly by R&B in different shades of red and bright green. Fishing for Columbia walleye and other resident fish is easy this way and the only real exacting science is the troll speed. The day we fished our captain found the correct speed to be almost dead drift with the river's current, using the motor simply for correcting our presentation and rod angle. Our overall catch was 4 walleye to the net but since I was the only one doing the eating of these fresh eyes, looks like I scored!
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/fishing09photos/walleye09/walleye6sm.jpg
Thanks Terry and Tracy for the super day on the water for my first walleyes!
............
Editors Note: It is recommended by ODFW that you keep your intake of resident lower Columbia river fish in moderation. Consult current 2009 ODFW regulations for more info on lower columbia resident food fish warnings.
...........