walleye questions

[Smithvillesteve]

I am coming down to fish Stockton for a few days and have a couple of questions.

Any info would be deeply appreciated. I would like to try the bottom bouncer

technique with a slow death rig or spin rig attached. I have never tried this

technique before. From reading the info on here the last few weeks it seems as if

trolling this method 1.5 to 2 mph is the way to go. Is this usually done with a

gas motor or trolling motor? I've been told the bottom bouncer gets hung up a lot.Is this technique better utilized on flats that traditionally would have mud

bottoms instead of rocky points? I love this forum and all the information

several fishermen are willing to share. I usually troll a crankbait and cast/drifta jig/crawler. This time of year I usually focus on main lake points. Any advice

would be deeply appreciated. Thank you very much.

[DADAKOTA]

To get the slow death rig to spin you need to be going at least .7 mph. When I run a bouncer I usually bounce it off the bottom with a drop of the rod to verify I am close to the bottom. I do not have it constantly on bottom and have reduced my hangups considerably. You can add a couple beads, clevis and spinner to your slow death rig. I also use a 1/4 oz. roadrunner with half a crawler as well. Cabelas has the best price on bouncers. I concentrate on main lake points, transitions on channel banks, and flats typically in 18-22 feet. Sometimes they are in the 14 foot range. A lot depends on wind, cloud cover, etc. Have also gone to the backs of the creeks and found them on the last channel bank. Pay attention to where the shad are located and have a great time.

[LoweSTX175]

I've started to tie my own death rigs and have placed Lindy floaters on them to make sure the rig stays up off the bottom. I troll with my big motor versus the trolling motor. Just my own preference. I also think 2 mph is a little too fast. My little experience says that causes the bouncer to come off the bottom and be suspended. As far as getting hung up? That in my opinion also is dictated by where you are on the lake. I try to avoid timber and brush piles. I've also learned to not just give up on an area if I don't see them on my graph or catch anything the first pass through. I'll move out/in 5 foot based on my chart and work an area thoroughly. That 5 foot difference or change in direction might just make the difference.

[kwall]

I use my Tmotor at .8 to 1.5 on a bait cast reel keeping the line at a 45 degree angle where it enters the water I use whatever weight is needed to do so usually 1 1/2 oz to 2 oz does this

[lmt out]

I use a trolling motor and troll at 1.0 to 1.4 using a 2oz bottom bouncer and spinner crawler harness. 2 mph seems to fast to me also. I fished today on Stockton wind beat us up pretty good very hard to keep the correct speed still caught 35 with only 4 keepers. I wasn't to smart left fish to go find fish found a few but what we left was better than what we found. lol

[slab slinger]

All great information. Not much for me to add other than BB weights. 1oz per 10 fow is a good rule. 20-25 fow use a 2 oz. BB. Also keeping the BB one drop length off bottom will reduce hang ups. I'm with DADAKOTA on the Road Runners also they are deadly at times with whole crawler and stinger hook. Good info guys.

[Bottombouncer]

I use my kicker for pushing, but use my electric/autopilot for steering. Works great in the wind. Frees me up to fish instead of constant vigilance driving.

[LoweSTX175]

 .

Here are a few harnesses I put together today.  I have my own kit with hooks and various beads and spinners.  I also rig up some lindy floaters with the death hooks on some of the rigs.  I'll put these on the bottom bouncers when drifting or trolling.  I used plastics mostly but  live works as well.  The one thing I have learned to use is the clevis that allows you to change out the blades. 

[fishbait3]

The walleye bite was slow today no keepers had some shorts and a few white bass 

[LoweSTX175]

My father went out on Tuesday and said the same thing.  They didn't hit any walleye.  Had one cat and a drummer boy when they started to drift shrimp.  I'm hoping the walleye pick up here in a couple of weeks.  I'm going to give them a chase for a week in early September.