lundone

The wife and I got in a few hours fishing on Saturday. Definitely windy. We managed 11 keeper crappie and two keeper walleye. Also caught 2 small walleye. Depths varied from 18 to 31 ft. No real pattern, just one hear and one there. Water temp was 50F.

Went fishing today.  Could not beg a bite from a walleye but did watch some fellows catching whites one after the other.  While out there I watched an eagle attacking an osprey which I have seen before usually so they can steal the osprey's fish.  Not today.  They both took a long dive into the water about a 100 yds or so from me and only the eagle came up and it flew straight to shore and stayed a couple of feet off the water like they do when carrying a heavy load.  There was no more sign of the osprey.  I even drove over where they went under and found nothing.  It sure looked like the eagle killed the osprey.  Hadn't seen that before.

Went fishing today.  Could not beg a bite from a walleye but did watch some fellows catching whites one after the other.  While out there I watched an eagle attacking an osprey which I have seen before usually so they can steal the osprey's fish.  Not today.  They both took a long dive into the water about a 100 yds or so from me and only the eagle came up and it flew straight to shore and stayed a couple of feet off the water like they do when carrying a heavy load.  There was no more sign of the osprey.  I even drove over where they went under and found nothing.  It sure looked like the eagle killed the osprey.  Hadn't seen that before.

Went fishing today.  Could not beg a bite from a walleye but did watch some fellows catching whites one after the other.  While out there I watched an eagle attacking an osprey which I have seen before usually so they can steal the osprey's fish.  Not today.  They both took a long dive into the water about a 100 yds or so from me and only the eagle came up and it flew straight to shore and stayed a couple of feet off the water like they do when carrying a heavy load.  There was no more sign of the osprey.  I even drove over where they went under and found nothing.  It sure looked like the eagle killed the osprey.  Hadn't seen that before.

Have had a tough summer so far, being on a consistent walleye bite.  Was catching some nice fish 3 or 4 weeks ago.  But not much for numbers.  Now it has flipped catching a good amount if numbers but not much for size.  Last 4 trips 115 total walleye with 21 keepers.  Mostly catching on  bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses. It was a hot one today hope everyone is staying safe out there and catching a bunch of fish.

As I sit here today waiting for the guy to come fix my Tv.lol. I thought I might write a little bit about how myself and friends bottom bounce for walleye.  I get questions almost everyday on the topic. First I will preface this by stating that the opinions here are mine.lol  I am not here to say that there are not a hundred other ways to do this method.  But rather give some insight to what I have learned over the past few years.  I started walleye fishing about 11 years ago.  By going on a trip to nunguesser lake in Ontario Canada.   When I returned I decided to look into walleye fishing in missouri.  I started researching lakes and found Stockton to have a good population  of walleye so I decided to make that my home lake.  I have been fishing for about 45 years.  For almost all the usual species found in Missouri.  I fell in love with walleye fishing because of the challenge of catching walleye on a regular basis is not something everyone does.  When I started looking into walleye on Stockton.  I started with a jig and night crawler. With reasonable success.  And it is still a great method to catching them. And to be honest there is nothing better than catching a walleye on a jigging rod. Imo.  About 3 years into learning Stockton and its walleye population i decided to try some new methods i had been hearing about on Ozark anglers. So bottom bouncing caught my eye.  I started acquiring  all the necessary  gear to fish this method.  After 7 or so years of doing it this is the system I currently  use. I used bass pro bottom bouncing rods with pro qualifier II reels. With 30lb suffix 832 braided line.  Tied to a 2oz bottom bouncer. I tie most of my crawler harnesses  using 17lb vanish fluorocarbon.  I use mainly northland bait fish image crawler harnesses or there components  to make my own version. I used 2oz bottom bouncer exclusively  because I rarely bottom bounce deeper than 25ft.  When I am fishing points or rocky banks for the sake of few hang up and broken harnesses  I do the usual method of letting the wire on my bottom bouncer just tick the bottom keeping the harnesses above the bottom. I also use harnesses with floats on them as apposed to beads. It tends to keep them off the bottom better.  I hear  fishermen all the time talk about keeping the line at a 45 degree angle or as vertical  as possible. I don't worry about that at all.  I get going the speed I want to be going usually anywhere from .8 to 1.2 then drop the bouncer to the bottom and adjust my depth as it starts to pull behind the boat if I am not hitting bottom let out more line.  Let the fish tell you what they want if your not catching fish speed up or slow down till you catch fish then repeat. Weave in and out at different depths till you catch a walleye then try to stay that depth.  Every day is different. A little wind helps but not mandatory. For example one day the wife and I where fishing in a lets say 15 to 20 mph wind. We caught 65 walleye that day in 8 to 11 ft of water. The next day almost none existent wind. We went to the same spot could not get bit.  Started searching found the fish on same structure position different  in about 18 ft of water.  Didnt catch nearly as many but still had a great day of 28 walleye.  Not all were keepers either one of those days but could have kept several limits both days.  All that to say wind, clouds, sun time of day will change where the fish are and there mood. But they didn't leave the lake. When I am fishing a mud bottom. I don't just let the bottom bouncer tick the bottom. I let out an extra 3 to 5 ft of line and let the bouncer drag along the bottom.  I know...I know. Not how your supposed to do it.  But I believe that the bouncer pulling along the bottom stirring up mud gets the fishes attention.  But hey that is just my theory or opinion.  I use a half of a night crawler never a full one. First you use half as many crawlers  and second you don't have to wait for the walleye to work all the way up a full worm to get to your hooks..  Boat control and speed are very important if not the most important thing when it comes to catching walleye.  Color. I believe does at certain time make a difference at other times not so much.  Well there it is pretty much how we do it.  Main thing is pay attention to details.  And to adjust when things are not going the way you like.  Do we go out and catch limits all the time absolutely not.  I am the most guilty person for not adjusting to what they want instead of what I want to give them.  Most importantly take out friends and loved ones and get out on the lake.  

The wife and I fished April 30th 10:00AM-3:00PM. Found both of our limits on a main lake point in the Big Sac Arm by noon. Had nine keepers and four shorts. On May 1st I fished solo until she joined for lunch at State Park Marina. I caught a limit on points in the Little Sac Arm. She had a couple of shorts, I had three shorts. All keeper fish caught bottom bouncing Slow Death Rigs 16-20 feet of water. Fun trip!
WM

Everyone have a safe NYE. No drinking and driving.  I am finally on the mend from knee surgery and went out and caught my last walleye of 2019. 7lb 1oz

I haven't been to Stockton in a while, August,  I think.
I thought that I had forgotten how to fish, but the little 1/4 oz Binks Arkansas shiner helped me gain some confidence.
I had a mixed bag of small fish, I brought these home.
I was a really nice day. 

Went down to Stockton after the holiday to enjoy some week day walleye fishing. Tuesday the 3rd had only one keeper and probably 15 shorts. Wednesday the 4th wife and I both limited. All nice 16" to 18" fish. Had to work for them and sort though another 18-20 short fish. Wednesday the 5th we went out in the morning, needed to quit fishing around 10 AM to get stuff ready to head home. I limited, and the wife caught three. Fun trip! Was nice to put a few in the boat as I struggled with the high water this summer! All fish caught on small flats in 12-18' of water. Bottom bouncing at 1mph.  
WM



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My lawn needed mowing but I wanted to wet a line so I made a quick trip to Cedar Ridge.   I had a very bad start.  I lost the first 6 fish on a spinner bait.   I switched to a buzz bait and caught 2 nice keepers. 
I decided to try the bottom for a while and caught 1 keeper on a jig.  I changed spinner bait colors and got 3 more.  I ended up with 6 bass 4 of them were keepers.   The best fish was a smallie on the buzz bait.
 

Decided the weather was too good today to not go fishing. Really glad I did. Had 26 Keepers and five shorts.  jig and crawler 12 to 22 ft water on one Rocky Point. Had 8 fish over 20 had a 27 incher, (2) 24 inchers, a 23 incher, (2) 22 inchers, and (2) 20 1/2 inchers.  Most of the rest were 17 inch or better only had one that was close to 15. All the shorts were around 13 in Long. Never had that many big fish that quick. Felt like I was at Devil's Lake. Not little old Stockton

Mike thanks for hoping in the boat it was a very nice day on the water.  We filled 6 I took a couple home and bagged Mike up his 4.  Just got done eating fresh fish off the grill. I'm not much of a fish eater but fresh walleye is hard to beat.   16 ft deep seemed to be the ticked, color didn't seem to matter.  

Spot on the spot... Main lake flats adjacent to deep water...
No fish shallow... All came from 16'... Not 14', not 18'... But 16'.
They were also biting extremely light, previously they were jerking the rod out of your hand. 
All from bouncers after finding with cranks. 

OK...so I just started playing around with my GoPro.  Very new to editing but it sure does look like it could be fun.  May 25th I kayaked into Price Branch.  Came home with 3 crappie and a white.  I promise that the filming and editing will improve!   
                                                                                                                 
   

My personal best missouri walleye amd second best ever. 9lb 12 oz. 27 1/4 inch.

But a nice one anyway. 6 lb 1 oz

Friday and Saturday I hitched a ride with some friends and we joined the crowds on Stockton.  We like fishing the big balls of shad which this time of year like the deeper warmer parts of the lake.  Used spoons and jigging raps and fished right off the bottom in 50 to 70'.  Mostly it was white bass - so many we lost count - but once in awhile we pull up a crappie or walleye.  Had 2 short walleye the rest went from 15 to 20".  We have found when pulling the fish from those deep holes if we pull them up slowly they will survive just fine when we release them.  If they do turn belly up we pick them up by the belly and slam them head first into the water which seems to decompress them.  

Friday and Saturday I hitched a ride with some friends and we joined the crowds on Stockton.  We like fishing the big balls of shad which this time of year like the deeper warmer parts of the lake.  Used spoons and jigging raps and fished right off the bottom in 50 to 70'.  Mostly it was white bass - so many we lost count - but once in awhile we pull up a crappie or walleye.  Had 2 short walleye the rest went from 15 to 20".  We have found when pulling the fish from those deep holes if we pull them up slowly they will survive just fine when we release them.  If they do turn belly up we pick them up by the belly and slam them head first into the water which seems to decompress them.  

Friday and Saturday I hitched a ride with some friends and we joined the crowds on Stockton.  We like fishing the big balls of shad which this time of year like the deeper warmer parts of the lake.  Used spoons and jigging raps and fished right off the bottom in 50 to 70'.  Mostly it was white bass - so many we lost count - but once in awhile we pull up a crappie or walleye.  Had 2 short walleye the rest went from 15 to 20".  We have found when pulling the fish from those deep holes if we pull them up slowly they will survive just fine when we release them.  If they do turn belly up we pick them up by the belly and slam them head first into the water which seems to decompress them.  

Friday and Saturday I hitched a ride with some friends and we joined the crowds on Stockton.  We like fishing the big balls of shad which this time of year like the deeper warmer parts of the lake.  Used spoons and jigging raps and fished right off the bottom in 50 to 70'.  Mostly it was white bass - so many we lost count - but once in awhile we pull up a crappie or walleye.  Had 2 short walleye the rest went from 15 to 20".  We have found when pulling the fish from those deep holes if we pull them up slowly they will survive just fine when we release them.  If they do turn belly up we pick them up by the belly and slam them head first into the water which seems to decompress them.  

Friday and Saturday I hitched a ride with some friends and we joined the crowds on Stockton.  We like fishing the big balls of shad which this time of year like the deeper warmer parts of the lake.  Used spoons and jigging raps and fished right off the bottom in 50 to 70'.  Mostly it was white bass - so many we lost count - but once in awhile we pull up a crappie or walleye.  Had 2 short walleye the rest went from 15 to 20".  We have found when pulling the fish from those deep holes if we pull them up slowly they will survive just fine when we release them.  If they do turn belly up we pick them up by the belly and slam them head first into the water which seems to decompress them.  

Upper Bull,
      So we have been trying to get together for awhile. Everyone's day off needed to get into sync. So we got the call from Duckydoty he had a plan. So I ask what do we need to bring gear wise? Nothing, nothing at all. Now we have junk, lots of junk and it felt really strange going on a fishing trip with nothing. Did not have to hurry or be on the water early. Not a normal trip for us. We meet at Duane's house just missing getting to see Monachari. Follow the Duane rig to the launch to be greeted to beautiful skies and no wind to speak of. Unloaded and across the water we went to the first spot. So here is what we are going to do the captain says. Throw this here jerkbait over there. Jerk it six or seven times to get it down to the bottom in the mud. We will work it off to the drop off by letting it sit still for five, six or seven seconds. Give it a jerk and let it sit again. Repeat, repeat and repeat again. Bites can be on the pause on the jerk just watch your line and keep in contact with it.  This we did as we shot the bull then Pat squeals I got one! Skipper leaps into action with coaching and the net. Success and number one is boated,
 
We did good he says one is a good day and we may not get another. Soon Ducky has one on. it was all exciting until we seen the fish. Awe Crud it was one of those stinkin bass. I had the net ready but Duane says bass cannot touch the net or boat. Worse than having a banana on board,

Duane hooks up again this time a real fish,

A bit later I contact one,

Mrs. BilletHead strikes again!
 
Then Duane gets jinxed and begins to slay the stinkin bass,
 
Some of them get the boot out of the boat,
 
So we are fishing along and I say just what are these baits all about and what are they? These are megabass jerk baits. 25 bucks each, WHAAAAT yes. Are you kidding me? Nope. Now the BilletHead's don't do this . Heard about these but not that into bass or special 25 buck baits. THEN not too many casts later something happens probably because I am thinking of having 25 bucks on the end of my line SNAP and there it goes with out the line attached really far and disappears. I about puked. I got more Duane says. We ended up with two walleye each and Duane had one big crappie try to choke down a 25 buck megabass. Many, many stinkin green bass.  Another photo before the fillet party began,
  Stories were
told, notes were shared and we had a great day of fellowship of alike minds. Did any of you forum members ears burn yesterday? Was it you we talked about? .  
   Great day and thanks Duane. We will make this happen again friend,
The BilletHeads 
 

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Fished both days, 5 walleye, dozen slabs, great weather, all caught on swimmin minnow, WT 46. Pic of a decent one.

Friday and Saturday I hitched a ride with some friends and we joined the crowds on Stockton.  We like fishing the big balls of shad which this time of year like the deeper warmer parts of the lake.  Used spoons and jigging raps and fished right off the bottom in 50 to 70'.  Mostly it was white bass - so many we lost count - but once in awhile we pull up a crappie or walleye.  Had 2 short walleye the rest went from 15 to 20".  We have found when pulling the fish from those deep holes if we pull them up slowly they will survive just fine when we release them.  If they do turn belly up we pick them up by the belly and slam them head first into the water which seems to decompress them.