kjackson

Perhaps the strangest fish I've caught was the one in my avatar-- a rock greenling off Kodiak Island in Alaska. Seeing that fiery red fish come up from the bottom was a shock-considering the camo colors of the other species we caught that day. The photo doesn't the fish's colors justice---it had sky blue lips and gum line and black tongue. Perhaps the strangest walleye I caught was in the Columbia River. I was fishing with a guide who was one of Minnesota guys who basically opened up the trophy walleye potential of the Columbia (another story). We were trolling crank baits in the main flow when I hooked a fish. It pulled hard, gave some great head shakes, ran a bit, and the guide and I both thought that it was a big walleye (like the 14s and 15s the guys had been catching). We finally pulled into some slower water, and the fish just dogged it--stopped fighting and held to the bottom. When I finally reeled it up, the walleye turned into a piece of plywood that I'd hooked in a hole in the middle of the piece! The current had done all the running and head shaking when the plywood hit the different current flows. The strangest catch I made happened one fall a few years back. I was fly fishing for chum salmon in Washington's Hood Canal (a fjord-like bay on Puget Sound). On one cast I "snagged" something, and it turned out that an oyster had closed on the hook of the fly. It wasn't snagged--the fly apparently touched the open oyster which then closed on the hook.

I was fishing with a walleye pro in Minnesota when something similar happened. He cast his jig out, but the line made a big upward bow and stayed up...Then he said, "Listen to this," and held up his rod. As he lifted it from horizontal, I could hear it snapping--and the closer it came to vertical, the more it sounded like a Geiger counter. Unlike Blackie, we threw the rods down and headed for the nearest covered dock. The thunderstorm that hit shortly after was one of the most violent I've seen. I've also had the line stay up the air after a cast as well--but in a clear sky with no lightning around...weird stuff, static electricity.

Like I said, buy my house in Eureka, and we have a deal...

Very small pebbles could be caddis larvae case materials. That's common enough in trout in streams, but as for sunfish...

Hmmm... I've had five Yamahas, and the only one I didn't like was a 4-stroke 6hp. I couldn't start it for the life of me, except, of course, when I took it into the shop. I did own a 50hp four-stroke that I used a lot--often enough in place of the 6hp that wouldn't start. It was a great motor for me, and it lasted the second owner of the boat another four or five years with no problems. It was a pleasure, and I swore I'd never own another two-stroke. However, on my current boat, the four-strokes were sold out in 2005, and I ended up having to put a 50hp two-stroke on it. It's been fairly reliable considering the misuse I put it to-- too much low-end trolling for walleyes. The only issue I've had with that motor is a computer/controller that gave out at one point. It's been a good motor since, and I trust the brand.

Thanks all; now I just have to get out and do it. I like the main lake area simply because it's a lot like other lakes I've fished in the past, including Beaver and some of my favorite lakes in Washington state. It's funny how so many of the house/yard projects have to be done "right now". I've been racking up brownie points, though, so it's time after I mow the 47.3 acres of lawn (a slight exaggeration) and take care of a couple of other things--like charging the boat batteries, putting my gear back in the boat and finding where I put my stash of walleye spinners, crappie jigs and crankbaits after the move.

It looks like I have an all clear to make my first trip on Truman, but because I've never fished it, I could use help. Even though crappies are biting, I'm thinking both walleyes and white bass. My instinct tells me that walleyes should be pretty much done spawning and are heading back to the places where they'll spend the summer. Ordinarily, this is a difficult time to catch the buggers as they are scattered and somewhat in recovery from the spawn. One of the spawning sites should be the face of the dam, and I was thinking that may be where I should start...fishing at the dam (not below it) and also looking at the points at the mouths of the tributary rivers. Any advice here? Will there still be whites in the main lake, or will they all be heading upstream to take care of business? Is there a better plan? Thanks!

My version isn't much different from others above, but last year I changed things a bit. This is my approach to launching where there is no dock nearby. I have a long, half-inch rope tied to a clip to the bow eye. I coil this on the top of the nose of the boat, next to the trolling motor mount pad. The other end I tie to the trailer upright that supports the winch. Withe stern of the boat over the water, I (usually) unhook the safety chain and winch strap. Then I slowly back the boat in, and when the boat is close to floating, I slow down even more--like turtle slowly. When I can see that the boat is floating, I stop, let it s-l-o-w-l-y float off a bit and then slowly pull forward hoping the line pays out without tangling on the side bunks. This isn't different from what I used to do, but doing it much, much more slowly has really helped the process. I find that I swear a lot less. The key, I think, is that when the boat barely floats off the trailer I let it find its own way. It seems to work fairly well.

Hey, Randy-- I don't want to put you off Ranger's deep vee models, but they are a bit pricey. I also was looking at them and kept my focus on the smaller of the two models. As I recall, MSRP retail rigged the way I wanted was in the upper 20s. Considering that I was going to buy and rig electronics and the trolling motor myself, the price kept me thinking other things. The Ranger dealer in Rogers is on Walnut in the Hobby Lobby complex close to the interstate. The few times I visited, they had the jon and bass style boats and no vee models. On another note, if you decide to sell your boat, give me a yell. I'm not ready quite yet as we've moved, and I'm trying to figure out the Truman Lake fishing scene. I do think a tiller is the answer to what I need and want, but I need to see how well my current boat does up here and what I would prefer.

I am surprised you've not had luck with either...I could be happy with just those two crank baits for their depth ranges, with a few others added in, of course. But it probably is a confidence thing-- I know that both have done well for me in the past, and I expect they will do so in the future.

I'm guessing that you've never fished the 1/4-ounce Hot Lips from Rapala's Luhr Jensen brand or the Speed Trap. The baby Hot Lips is an incredible crank bait that catches just about anything you'd care to land. It's a go-to for me for walleyes and bass when I need a lure to run 12 to 15 feet. Back in the home country, it does a number on salmon, steelhead and trout as well as the usual suspects.

As you're facing the store, on the left is the museum. I was there as it was in the process of being set up...lots of old gear, a couple of boats and as many old Lew's products as they can find. Here are some pix I took for an article:

Did you run through the museum? I was at the store a few months back, and it was still in the formative stages. Was wondering how it came out...

They're listed in the latest BPS catalog...

My experience is strictly big river (the Columbia)/reservoir/big lake, and the waters I fished in the NW were very clear most of the time. Smoke colored worms and grubs were a go-to, but there were times when bright colors, especially chartreuse variations and whites, were better. Color choices were all over the map at times, and other times the fish were really particular-- as in the color of metal flake in the smoke worm had to be blue because red flake wasn't working...

While the standard Ned rig--half a ZinkerZ or TRD or soft stickbait-- obviously works, you might find that other soft plastics may do better for you. Ringworms, four-inch thin worms, and grubs have put a lot of walleyes in my boat over the years. Granted that was in the Northwest and not down here, but I'm betting they will be just as good. Don't worry about smaller hooks-- live bait guys use hooks as small as #10 at times. Also, if you're on fish but not catching, try adding a small section of nightcrawler. In my experience, scent is very important-- 'eyes have to be really actively feeding to hit a slow-moving bait without some kind of scent.

Will do...I think I know which box it's in, but I've been wrong before!

i'll check. I think I have a new one sitting somewhere in the garage. We moved three months ago, and finding anything is a chore...It may take a couple of days.

Nope; the Golden Age pass gets you a 50% discount on the annual pass and free entry into a lot of things. Not sure about day-use launching or use of the parks. It would make more sense to hang the GA pass on the mirror if it makes launching free...

I've also carried six-foot rods on without a case--just scooting them along the overhead bins. And I've used the Plano big tubes that you describe, and they haven't failed. Flambeau also makes a bomb-proof rod case.

I'll second the Hot Lips--the one with the slight bend in the bill. It is the best small-bodied crankbait I know of... although I'm not sure it will hit 15 feet, but it will be close.

OK-- So what is the word on hybrids in Truman? It looks like I'll be licensed up (both me and boat) in Missouri next week, and I really like hybrids....

I was wondering...where i used to fish (washington State) walleyes would make a false spawning run in the fall, or at least that is what we thought it was, either that or a staging run. They would head upstream toward the dam and then over-winter in deeper structure. I may have to do some exploration once I get a bit more settled.

We've moved to Clinton, and given the time of the year, I was wondering if there is much of a walleye run in LOZ. I'm thinking that this is about the time of year to start looking for walleyes in the tailrace and just below it. Is this something that happens?