Saturday grocery trip :)

[nathanhooper]

Have been having a lot going on around the house, and with the kids, so I am now down to grabbing the fishing moments as they come. After reading Terry's report I was hungry and jealous (in that order) for some walleye. So I saw a few hours I had Saturday evening and hit the water.

Its been a LONG time since I have been on the lake on a weekend like that. Makes for a tuff time trolling anywhere guys who bank fish are at. At one point I was trolling past a point where a couple of guys were walking down to fish. I got past them as they were putting down their gear. Then a few seconds later I saw one of my rods go back. I picked it up and started fighting a pretty good fish.....only to see the bank fisherman fighting the same one. lol I had both my lines back 150'-175' and he figured I had already passed by far enough I guess. Oh well, its the way it goes.

But I went to my preferred spot and managed to pick up a couple that were just at 18". One was male, and I think the other was a female. But that's what I went for, so I decided to leave (still had work to do at the house...).

I am quite pleased with the way this lake is turning out the walleye. This will do me well for my lunches through the week and the next time I'm out I will be taking my brother and brother in law. Should make for a fun trip.

Both fish were caught on flickershad in 12' FOW. I'm not the best at describing, but I would say they are secondary points is where I got them. If things repeat themselves, this should hold till close to the first of June then they will move out to the 16'-20' FOW mark. But one key up here around the dam is that it has to be very dusky for them to bite well in the shallower water. It was very cloudy Saturday, but I could still see the bottom in 14' FOW. Just have to make sure the lures are back far enough for the boat to pass over and give the fish some time to come back I guess.

I need to get a sticker for my boat to put on the windshield or something. Where do I pick those up?

[Feathers and Fins]

I had them at Hook Line and Sinker this weekend and have a bunch left... let me know when your in town for the stickers.

[Chillfish]

Thanks for the report! What speed were you having success with, if you don't mind me asking?

[nathanhooper]

Thanks for the report! What speed were you having success with, if you don't mind me asking?

Don't mind at all. I only have speed on my phone, I use the Navionics app. But it says I was doing average of 3 mph, up to 3.5. Honestly, its just how my boat runs. Its the lowest I can throttle it down. I am eyeing an electric trolling motor though that might be the ticket for this. But truth be told, I ran this speed all last year when pulling cranks and had good success. It only does not work if I am trying to pull alamaba rigs for whites. Then I have to use my bow mount electric. But the bow mount is not heavy duty enough to pull quick enough for cranks without eating up my battery.

[Chillfish]

Thanks for the response. I typically default to 2 mph, since that is what my motor puts me at on lowest idle. I will have to try some faster speeds to see what kind of affect it has on my success. Too much to learn, too little time on the water to learn it all.

[M_Taylor]

When I guided in AK for salmon we didn't have trolling motors on some of the bigger boats. We'd use buckets with holes drilled in them and tie it off on a cleat. A cheap way to slow down your speed. Used two sometimes depending on the currents.

Just don't forget them when you go to run.

[uofastudent]

I use a 6 gallon bucket on my boat. And it slows me from 2.5 to 1.9. No holes drilled; basic rope tied to top handle

[nathanhooper]

I've thought about buckets and such, but am just not sure how I wont find a way to get tangled in them.

[uofastudent]

I never have gotten tangled in it, possibly luck, but it does work. My bucket goes straight out of the back of my boat in about an 8 foot rope so it is not near the prop. For perspective, the crappie guys in Mississippi that I learned how to troll cranks from, troll theirs at about 1.7 mph. Granted dirtier water may have something to do with it, but a loss of speed on your part would probably be worth a try.

[kjackson]

You can also use a trolling plate, like the Happy Troller, to reduce speed. I've used one in the past, and they do work well. On my current boat, I trim the engine all the way down and it helps. Trolling plates attach to the cavitation plate on the outboard and are easy to install.