Walligator Ideas

[Stinger]

Hey guys,
Now it's your turn to teach me something. I am just getting back into fishing walleye on Lake Charlevoix. It is the second largest inland lake in the state and it is crystal clear. We seem to have a great walleye population but I want some pointers. Especially with baits, techniques, and times of day for the applications. Thanks for your help guys!

[monkeypuke]

Hi all,
Not too familiar with the lake but from what I found online it's pretty deep. Like up to 80 foot. I know Lake Michigan is a lot deeper. I think what I would look for is some structure by where some of the feeder rivers come in. If the water is very clear run your boards way out from the boat, up to 200 feet. The food source is probably small bait fish, perch, and whatever worms and stuff that come out of the feeder rivers. Sounds like a great lake to run the dive bombs off of the planer boards at a slow speed 1.5-2 mph with a scorpion when the water temp is below 50. After the temp is up to 55 or higher speed up a little 2-2.5 mph. and mix in a few standards. If the water is very clear early morning, evening, or a cloudy day would be best. Or if it's a bright day they would be deeper or hanging out in weeds or structure. The walleye in Erie will actually go all the way down to the bottom during the day, and then start to suspend as the sun goes down. Just my 2 cents :D

[shu9265]

I would have to agree with monkeypuke on this. I would start running the boards with stingers and body baits.Even throw in a mix of Dipsey's with the program, Keep it slow and and easy.
Keep experimenting with baits,and presentations, till you find one that the fish want.
But the number one thing is like every place else, FIND THE FISH FIRST ! ! !
Cause if you don't fish where they are, your just "wasting time and washin' baits".

[Stinger]

Thanks guys. I am going to try running spoons and bodybaits off of boards. Right now, the most productive has been drifting and throwing jigs. Seems like the fish are shallow right now and more concentrated on the points (15 to 22 fow). But I don't think anybody has tried spoons yet. From experience, the deeper you go in the lake it turns into the dead sea. Thanks again and I am going to try these other tactics. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[monkeypuke]

Hi all,
yep thats the best presentation at Masquito Lake over here in Ohio too. Jig heads tipped with bait or a twister tail. They actually catch them even in 3 foot of water in the spring. But as it warms up the fish move out of the shallow water.

[ezbite]

id try trolling open water with dipsys and spoons with different legneth leads. once you find fish mark a waypoint on the GPS and keep trolling thru them. look for schools/clouds of baitfish and feeding walleye under them on the sonar.

i live 10 minutes from mosquito lake and dont give up on those weed beds in the summer. some of my most productive days have been jigging the weed beds while others are over wasting gas trolling the main lake.

[walleye express]

My guess is that you have a good source for getting some spoons. :p:D

My preference is the every popular Stinger Scorpion sized spoons. You might want to buy them and turn these great spoons into even better walleye cathching magnets then they already are. Then bait them with either 6" Gulp Nightcrawlers or the real deal. Run these straight off a short 20 to 30 inch leader using Bottom bouncers, keel sinkers or snap weights ahead of them. I even started running them behind eyeliminators last summer with great results. The piuctures are below and pretty much show the modifications I made. Feel free to copy them and get ready to catch more fish of all kinds.:D

http://www.walleye-express.com/albums/Miscellaneouos/IM001467_sized.jpg

http://www.walleye-express.com/albums/Miscellaneouos/IM001538.sized.jpg

[Stinger]

thanks, cant wait to try these ideas!! i'm praying for open water now!!!