Trolling report thru June 2

[Oberst]

Fished 4 days thru the second, and while I brought enough fish home for a couple nice fish fries, it was decidedly spotty.  The high water always throws me, but figured my best bet was trolling, since I can have four lines running constantly; that has to be several hundred percent more active bait in the water than casting!  Just doesn't work out that way a lot of times.  Ran two bottom bouncers behind the boat in 20-35 fow with crawler harnesses most of the time and a plug occasionally.  Ran a dipsy diver off one side of the boat with a plug or jig, and ran another rod off the other  side with a clip on 4 ounce weight and a plug.  First day I got a 20+ inch walleye on one of the crawler harnesses within 5 minutes.  You know I was thinking "the next few days are going to be awesome!"  Boy is that the kiss of death!  Here's what boat looked like with 4 rods running:  I was targeting walleye and crappie, and fished from about State Park marina up past Cedar Ridge campground to the bridge.

 

Later that first evening I caught two other walleyes and a couple nice crappie and was thinking i was in the ball park anyway.

Next two days were tough.  I trolled for hours at a time without anything.  Trolled around points and back in big bays.  I ran the crawler harnesses off the bottom a foot and a half and the plugs off the side of the boat from 10 to 20 feet down.  Then I ran some long lines off planer boards and took the whole rig shallower, around 20 feet.  A fish here, and there.  Most crappie success was on florescent red jointed Rapala and jig with bright orange swim bait about 4 inches long.  Got two bass trolling,  13 + 15 inches.

Also, I tried my old reliable jigging with a jigging Rap and small spoons in otherwise reliable points and sunken structure, but saw nothing on the graph and caught nothing that way.  That stumped me, especially after floating crawlers over nice structure in 20-30 fow.  Dang, not even a catfish!  Not a single bluegill!  A couple days I dodged continuous thunderstorms and had less fishing time.

Taking out Friday a.m. a I talked to a fellow was just docking, and he had two walleye that am casting jigs and crawlers to points.  That got me thinking that my approach was maybe too preordained, and I should have switched and tried casting more.  Looking at the other recent posts I think some of the other techniques mentioned were more effective, given the amount of lure time in the water.  Stockton is always a challenge for me, but man I like the scenic peacefulness of the lake!

Water was going down pretty quick as I left, so conditions will be altogether different next time I suspect.

 

 

 

[Ketchup]

Great informational report. Im sure you would do it all again if given the chance. The "i should have tried this" thoughts enter every one of us. Glad you got on some fish. That lake is tough in these conditions. Soon everything will be normal, and guys catching 38" walleye and 19" crappie.  While im still catching 13" bass and thinking "i should have tried that".  Good job Oberst

[dan hufferd]

Nice boat nice report. I have the same trouble on overcast days. I am pretty sure all the fish go shallow on overcast days, and in the evening. I have to get better at casting banks with jerk baits and plastics. The bass fisherman have us walleye people beat in this area.

I would just about bet that most of your "trolling bites" came when you got a little sun, yes? I have the same trouble, give me a little sun and wind, and it's on.

Thank you for your awesome report !

[streamer]

Great report and I love the boat setup!  I haven't focused on walleye much yet this year, but have had decent luck with the crappie up until about a week ago.  They started dispersing from my late spring areas and transitioning to a different pattern.  I'm going to have to dig out my logbook before I head back over.

[top_dollar]

14 hours ago, dan hufferd said:

Nice boat nice report. I have the same trouble on overcast days. I am pretty sure all the fish go shallow on overcast days, and in the evening. I have to get better at casting banks with jerk baits and plastics. The bass fisherman have us walleye people beat in this area.

I would just about bet that most of your "trolling bites" came when you got a little sun, yes? I have the same trouble, give me a little sun and wind, and it's on.

Thank you for your awesome report !

Ive noticed this as well. 

[DADAKOTA]

Crappie fishing was decent from Memorial Day through the 31st.  300 Bandits in shad colors and chrome were consistent producers.  25 fow was a good depth on Memorial Day, but found them as shallow as 15-16 the next 2 days.  Late afternoon/evening was the best bite.

[Smithvillesteve]

4 lines in the water?? Trolling? I would look like Moe and Curly with lines all tangled up!! All i can do to handle one!! I just got back from Canada yesterday. Lot of 28, 27,26 and 25 inch walleyes. Big eye was 29.5 inches. I just cant get in that 30 inch club!! Most days we caught at least 50 walleyes apiece. Great trip. 

["eyes"haveit]

Nice.  I can't wait I'm heading to Ontario on the the 15th. Hoping for similar results.

[Oberst]

I leave tomorrow myself for Rainy Lake; last year jigging on open water humps really nailed a lot of nice walleye.  Hope to repeat that, along with bruiser northern and smallmouth.  Yea, trolling 4 lines is my max.  Just fine in open water, but troll near shore, and not pay attention and wander in just a little, and in seconds several of those lines are snagged on bottom.  What a pain backing out of that is, especially if there is a good wind!