1st walleye from Norfork Lake

[dan hufferd]

On 4/11/2017 at 6:23 AM, nomolites said:

The lake had more color farther from the dam and a good stain with recent rains; Cranfield area was fishing well.  If the bass boys are any lead about 200 of the 247 boats in the Cyctic Fibrosis derby last Saturday passed me(just N. of Cranfield) on their way up lake to fish....

Mike

We were up in that area, everything was slow, someone was live bait rigging, in that area in the day time, probably a guide, they had 3 people in the boat and probably 5 poles out all the time. I saw a report where someone caught about 30 hybrids, I expect it was those folks. They seemed to have a system.

From what I was told stripers are spooky creatures so 200 boats on a small lake probably threw them of the normal pattern.  

[mikeak]

Hey Dan ,congrats, I was there yesterday, just downstream from the bridge at Tecumseh. No joy for us. Did see a boat with 3 guys all had their limit of stripers ,whites and hybrids .Also a six pound walleye. They were using minnows and drifting them on the bottom up against the bank.Really shallow up there,have to be carefull.I don't fish for whites so wasn't really interested,We jigged and slow trolled crawler rigs for eyes .Prob. will go back thur.,think I'll go downlake from Udall and try again.

   good luck,Mike

[nomolites]

7 hours ago, dan hufferd said:

We were up in that area, everything was slow, someone was live bait rigging, in that area in the day time, probably a guide, they had 3 people in the boat and probably 5 poles out all the time. I saw a report where someone caught about 30 hybrids, I expect it was those folks. They seemed to have a system.

From what I was told stripers are spooky creatures so 200 boats on a small lake probably threw them of the normal pattern.  

I had fish hitting top water all around me and good show before the bass tourney take off; put this one in the boat before the first wave came by, but they did go deep once the races began....

[dan hufferd]

On 4/12/2017 at 5:28 PM, nomolites said:

I had fish hitting top water all around me and good show before the bass tourney take off; put this one in the boat before the first wave came by, but they did go deep once the races began....

I bet that was a blast !

[Kramr]

Hi Dan,

Gonna be there the first weekend in May. Hope we can figure out a pattern for the walleye and crappie. Our freezer is now empty and we need to restock. Water clarity is always a factor on Norfork. I use braid with 6 ft fluorocarbon leaders of various pound test. Usually can get away with 8 lb at Stockton but guess I will have to go with 4 - 6. Hell, may even go with 2 lb for crappie. Did you come up with a pattern for them?

[dan hufferd]

1 minute ago, Kramr said:

Hi Dan,

Gonna be there the first weekend in May. Hope we can figure out a pattern for the walleye and crappie. Our freezer is now empty and we need to restock. Water clarity is always a factor on Norfork. I use braid with 6 ft fluorocarbon leaders of various pound test. Usually can get away with 8 lb at Stockton but guess I will have to go with 4 - 6. Hell, may even go with 2 lb for crappie. Did you come up with a pattern for them?

No I wasn't here long enough, but I would think that the early morning and evening bite would still be the best. Strolling a jig worked well. 

[Kramr]

On 4/10/2017 at 6:07 PM, dan hufferd said:

Got him strolling a jig, maybe some day I will look for some more down there.

Thanks Dan, very helpful.

[dan hufferd]

On 4/12/2017 at 2:22 PM, mikeak said:

Hey Dan ,congrats, I was there yesterday, just downstream from the bridge at Tecumseh. No joy for us. Did see a boat with 3 guys all had their limit of stripers ,whites and hybrids .Also a six pound walleye. They were using minnows and drifting them on the bottom up against the bank.Really shallow up there,have to be carefull.I don't fish for whites so wasn't really interested,We jigged and slow trolled crawler rigs for eyes .Prob. will go back thur.,think I'll go downlake from Udall and try again.

   good luck,Mike

Wow 6 # that's a good one !  The wife and I are talking about going down there in the heat of the summer and try for some of those deep striper, that looks like fun to me !