Large Bass + Walleye + Double = Great Day

[yaknar]

The wife put me in the river at 4pm last night so I knew I only had 4 hours to float the 6.5 miles and still try to fish. It wasn't easy but I got to my takeout right at 8pm. I tried to fish only the productive water or when I got too tired to paddle. The fishing was great. I caught a handful of bass, some small, some big, some on topwater. I was using a craw colored lure when I caught the walleye. I have now caught 1 walleye, a year, in the James, in the last 3 years. He had 2 small crawfish in his mouth that fell out when I pulled him in, and guess what colored lure I was using. Does anyone use a fish gripper or lipper when fishing from their kayak, if you are catching walleyes? Does it hurt the fish? I don't need one when I'm catching bass. About 5 min before I got to my takeout I stopped to rest at a riffle. I knew I had caught something but couldn't tell what it was, which ended being my first double. I think I would have caught a lot more fish if I had more time but you fish when you can or when the wife is willing to drop you in the river. Great day on the river. Catching and Releasing...

[Flysmallie]

Nice. Don't be afraid to float it in the dark. It's a great river for that as long as you don't have to get out drag throug low riffles.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I use a cheap, Berkley, lipper when I fish trebles in my solos. I do it because I worry about having a hook in my hand and having to control the craft at the same time.

[Buzz]

Looks like a great trip Yaknar. Nice fish Too. The James looks really good also.

[yaknar]

Flysmallie and Buzz, thanks for the comments. Wayne, I bought a "Fish Grip". It is small., was cheap and floats. I only use it, so far, for walleyes. And try not to use if if they are thrashing about or support their whole weight by it, except to bring it into the kayak.

[RSBreth]

I also have one of the cheap "Fish Grip" grabber - somewhere around here. I couldn't find it last trip but like Wayne said you need a little extra help when the current pushing you around and a fish has a couple or three trebles thrashing around. I like to grab the fish and keep them in the water, then use the long curved locking hemostats as a hook remover - better than any pliers I've found.

[yaknar]

I forgot to add that the next day I had to go to Bass Pro, to replace a couple of lures. I saw across the road by Whole Hog, for all of you jerky lover out there, there is a "Beef Jerky Outlet Store". They have, I would guess over 50 kinds of jerky. I don't like the walmart type jerky. They give free samples but it's not cheap. And as you can see I had to buy some.

[Rustynuts]

The wife is always willing to drop me at the river, sometimes getting her to come to the takeout is the challenge.