Way Upper End Report

[Champ188]

You caught Walter! Congrats, rps. Couldn't be more deserved.

[Bill Babler]

It is great when good things happen to good people. RPS has put in hours on the water and shares his days with us in little regurad for anyone infringing on is stuff.

If anyone deserves a great fish like that it is RP.

Way to go and many congrats

[Hammer time]

Nice job, RPS!

Awesome job, how long did it take to land her?

[rps]

Seemed very long. Actually was only a few minutes, maybe 5? Walleyes head shake and lunge run, especially near the boat. While part of the jaw structure is very tough bone, the remainder is fairly soft. It isn't uncommon for them to simply pull off. That is what I feared might happen.

On the advice of others more knowledgeable than I, this year I converted my walleye trolling and rigging rods to 7', moderate to moderate fast action, medium power rods rated for 8 - 15# line. That kind of rod takes the lunges but avoids pulling out the hook.

One is a Shimano Compre I have had for years as a trout rod for fishing big browns on sculpins. The other is a Falcon HD I bought recently. It doesn't make much sense to pay $200 for a bait or trolling rod. Many walleye fishermen use Ugly Sticks, but I couldn't let myself do that. I use 10# Power Pro as my main line. On this rig I had 12# Yo Zuri for the harness leader (it breaks before the 10#Power Pro). I use a Shimano Citica on the Falcon and a Okuma Serrano on the other. Both have smooth, easy to set and change drags. I do not crank the drag down to the line strength for the same reason I use the moderate action rods.

In other words, I had to put pressure on the fish and then wait for it to wear itself out fighting the rod and pulling my drag. That concept is very similar to how you fish big browns on 4# line.

Once again, I apologize for falling into teaching mode. I figure you can always do what my students do and tune me out.

[Nolan_Whaley]

That's an awesome fish. Congrats!

[BleacherBum28]

Great fish RPS. Makes me want to head back down... not a week after I leave, you land a monster. Couldn't happen to a nicer man. Thanks again for making my week over the 4th.

[Smalliebigs]

congrats rps, very nice!!!! you deserve it for sure.

[Flippin]

Wow!! A picture like that might be worth enough to replace the old avatar?

Congratulations. It is good see a fisherman, that has put in a lot of time, be rewarded for his committment.

[Smalliebigs]

"RPS has put in hours on the water and shares his days with us in little regurad for anyone infringing on is stuff.

If anyone deserves a great fish like that it is RP."

Bill, I could not have said anything more correct than what you said.....totally agreed!!!

what a monster eye rps, I love looking at the pic

[rps]

@ Flippin: I used it to replace my profile picture on this board as well as the facebook page I maintain. (You would be surprised how much facebook helps connecting with the students) However, your idea to change my avatar was a good one. I switched from a generic Top Dollar picture to one of the ones I had Tim Hughes paint. Much classier I think.

@bleacherbum28: Simpler answer. Come back. Soon and often. Then move here. It's what I did.

@Bill and the rest of you: Thank you for the kind words, but we all know "deserve" isn't really a fishing word.