High water, good for the fish?

[Quillback]

8 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

The biggest I have seen caught here was a guide trip I had in 2014. We had 2 right at 9 pounds suspended in the trees on the deep side of point 9. We were catching K’s out of the tree tops. 28’ over 70’. 

My personal best was a10 pounder below Truman Dam. 

I believe both Buster and Tim Sainato have had 12# plus out of Bull. 

 

Your buddy Tom has caught several good walleye over the years, he's too modest to come on here and list them 😀 but next time I talk to him I'll have to ask him about them.  His buddy Denis has caught a few too.

[Bill Babler]

Dennis is a total Hammer. I think he has a diary of 20 plus years. He fishes 7 days a week weather permitting. 
Don’t forget Tom’s wife. She can catch em too. 

[rps]

When you get above 8, you are talking serious fish. Beaver and BS have a higher percentage of natural reproduction. Something about water flow, distance, and the gods I guess. In waters where natural reproduction carries the weight, release of the ones that are real spawners is the way to go. TR is considered a put and take lake. The Kings River is the only place where walleye have a chance of reproducing. Only as a side note, once the females go above ten, they are at the point where they do not produce as effectively. The arguments on Walleye Central are epic.

[Bill Babler]

Excellent Thread. Walleye have turned into more that a major player for TR. 

Guides from pt. 9 to LongCreek catch as many with their clients as we do on the upper end in the Summer and Fall. 

They occupy very similar if not the same area as spotted bass.  They do suspend but most catching activity on the lower end is live bait drop shotting on the  bottom. 

Lots of catches being posted on Facebook, with some real pigs. 

You can and folks do catch them over the entire lake, but the James River seems to be the weakest area. 

I have caught them clear to flat creek but your most likely to do better on the White. 




 

[dan hufferd]

On 6/26/2025 at 7:58 AM, Bill Babler said:

Northland makes the best crawler harness but they are expensive. We never lost a single one. I usually add 3 additional floats. 

I like them too, and do the same.I bought most of mine at Fleet Farm.

I used to travel some for work, our home office was in Oshkosh so I always made my way to Fleet Farm. I sure wish we had one down here. 

[Smithvillesteve]

Question for you Bill if you dont mind: In your post you said you were you using 3/4 oz bottom bouncers. Was that 3 oz and 4oz? Or 3/4 oz? I'm pretty new to the bottom bouncing technique. I've been told you need a 1 oz bottom bouncer for every 10 ft of water. 3/4 oz seems pretty light unless you are in shallow water i guess. As always, I and everyone else on here appreciate your posts Bill. Thanks for the info you are willing to share. Walleye guys, like mushroom hunters, can be kinda secretive about giving up any info. Notice not many posts on Stockton about walleyes.

[rps]

6 hours ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Question for you Bill if you dont mind: In your post you said you were you using 3/4 oz bottom bouncers. Was that 3 oz and 4oz? Or 3/4 oz? I'm pretty new to the bottom bouncing technique. I've been told you need a 1 oz bottom bouncer for every 10 ft of water. 3/4 oz seems pretty light unless you are in shallow water i guess. As always, I and everyone else on here appreciate your posts Bill. Thanks for the info you are willing to share. Walleye guys, like mushroom hunters, can be kinda secretive about giving up any info. Notice not many posts on Stockton about walleyes.

I will wait for Bill to give his answer. Ed Calloway, Lmt-out, a walleye guide on Stockton, Has posted his thoughts in the Stockton thread.

[Quillback]

Lake is dropping, almost 2 feet in the last week.

[snagged in outlet 3]

27 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Lake is dropping, almost 2 feet in the last week.

At 920 or so we get our boat yard and ramp back😀

[Bill Babler]

I’m using three quarter oz.  At times I’ll use an ounce but really never go above that. 
At 26’ depth, trolling under 1 mph the 3/4 has no problem staying on the bottom. 

12# main line 15# on the harness as they have sharp Chompers. 

 

Not saying I’m fishing 26’ right now. I’ll let y’all figure out the depth 

If they are deeper than 30’ I pretty much fish vertically with either a drop shot or spoon  

Not a guide anymore or for that matter an expert.  The LiveScope has really educated me in the last 3 years on walleye.  It seems that for crappie and walleye the FFS has opened windows we thought were nailed shut.

Extremely educational.