Hello From Lakeview Ark

[Col Ron]

Thanks to our host I am finally on the site. As usual, a unique problem which just happens to me prevented me from signing up. Thanks Lilley for seeing me through. I am a transplant from Cass Lake, Minnesota where I guided for 7 years after retiring from the Illinois State Police. I specialized in Muskie and Walleye hunting. Had fun, but my wife and I decided we had enough of the short seasons so we moved south. We fell in love with the Lakeview/ Bull Shoals area. The big lake is great the wonderful trout fishing and fly fishing was a big surprise to both of us. Yep, got two boats, one for the lake, one for the river. Catching a 20 plus Brown on a fly rod is as much of a kick as landing a Muskie, in my opinion.

I am still getting use to the different techniques used south versus north, but with a combination, I am finding success with the walleye. Crappie are going to be targeted this spring, that takes the place of the Minnesota Jumbo Perch.

Good fishing to all, and Happy New Year.

Col Ron

[Ham]

Hey Ron, Glad you made it here.

I hope you can be another source of information about current conditions on lower BSL. I try to post accurate general information trip reports.

I'll be interested to see if you are able to connect with the Yellow Perch in BSL on a regular basis. I have caught a couple, but it is purely a needle in the haystack thing for me.

The crappie fishing at BSL can be fantastic and the smallie fishery is undervalued.

I hope I can pick up a few walleye tips from you as well, but I'll never put in the work required to really catch them consistently. I'll catch them when they eat my bass or crappie offerings.

Good Luck and stay safe in 2010.

God Bless, Ham

[Col Ron]

Ham:

I will be glad to keep everyone posted, but my wife and I are escaping this cold weather. We have another home back in Illinois, where we are leaving soon for South Padre Island, Texas, staying there through February. The older I get the more I dislike the cold weather. We will be back in Lakeview in March. Be glad to post some tips on the walleyes, but like I said, they fish different south vs north. I will explain more later, got get going now. C Ya, Col Ron

[rps]

There is a small but rather hardcore group of walleye chasers here. We look forward to any information you provide.

[Gary Lange]

Welcome Ron! I used to fish Bull Shoals out of the Lakeview Ramp. I had an Aunt that lived in Leisure Hills retirement community and would of course visit her a couple times a year. I lived in Bolingbrook, Illinois before moving to Nixa, Mo. I wonder if they still get Walleyes working a Rapala on a deep rig over the trees by Promise Point.

[Col Ron]

Hope to join in and add what I can.

Most, that I have seen, for live bait rigs on BS are bottom bouncing. Although that technique is used in northern Minnesota, it is (was) not the preferred method for me our most guides on Cass Lake. "Finesse" method is by far the preferred. The preferred bait is either leeches or large minnows-creek or river chubs-not the huge ones used for Northerns or Muskies. I am sure this is nothing new for most, but I'll explain several things that are necessary to successfully fish the finesse method. Number one a soft tip rod, if the walleye feel the resistance, they will instantly drop the leech or bait. Number 2, 6 or at the most 8 pound line, normally flourocarbon. Number 3, a size 4 or 6 octopus hook, Number 4, 6 pound flourocarbon 6 to 8 foot leader, Number 5 a light bullet weight and barrel swivel. For the large minnows, we use a heavier egg weight because you normally fish the larger minnows at least 40 feet down. We use the smallest bullet weight possible to get the rig down on the bottom. I try to do it with 1/8th of an ounce. The long leader is a must just like the soft tip rod. When the fish picks it of the bottom, the long leader keeps all the tackle and weight away from harms way so that the fish has a difficult time detecting the resistance. When you feel the walleye do the "pull", you drop the line and let the fish take it out for about one minute (larger minnows about 2 minutes). As you know you then lock up the reel, wait until all the slack is out and set the hook.

We use to use cranks at night but seldom during the day. Very different from BS.

As I said, I have a lot to learn. I will have my eyes and ears wide open here also. I must say, the "Finesse" method for me down south is not nearly as successful as it is up north. Why, I don't know....

Good fishing to all of you.

Col Ron