Day time techniques

[WillageD]

Hey all, I'm fairly new to walleye fishing. Historically I'm a hardwater trout guy and bass/ panfish in the summer. The past couple years I've gotten into walleye since I've been coming to Kipawa and purchasing my own boat. Catching Walleye is pretty basic at low light level times, find your favouring shoal and throw down a jig with live bait, or slowly troll a worm harness. I'd like to broaden my horizons a bit and start to figure out some day time walleye tactics on both Kipawa and else where.

First location, obviously the walleye are going deeper during full light period of the day. Should I be going to my same favourite shoal and just fishing the deeper area's around them, or should I maybe go find a deeper shoal, say 30-40' with 80-100' all the way around and fish the high spot?

Next presentation depth- should I be trying off bottom, or looking for suspended fish? If I'm pulling a crank bait or harness, what depth? 20-30' down over deep water? or say If I'm fishing a hump try and troll at the depth of the high spot, so I can get suspended fish around the hump but then close to bottom as I go over the hump?

And finally technique... bottom bouncing? jetdiver/ dipsy, or vertical jig but in deeper water?

I know there will be no hard and fast rules for any of the above questions and a lot of variables are at play, but just trying to figure out a baseline on where to start catching some day time Walleyes. Thanks for any advice.

[RHYBAK]

What time of year you talking?

In June, my favourite spots are tight against the shoreline with a float set at 7 feet.

Not 6 feet and ask Jay why , but 7 feet.

June daytime is considered low light because of the angle of the sun in the sky.

[Oarin]

OK Jay, why 7 feet?

[WillageD]

What time of year you talking?

In June, my favourite spots are tight against the shoreline with a float set at 7 feet.

Not 6 feet and ask Jay why , but 7 feet.

June daytime is considered low light because of the angle of the sun in the sky.

Huh, really eh? I would have thought deeper water for sure. I will certainly give that a try. And come to think of it, my first trip to Kipawa my dad and I were catching walleye in that kind of water off a rock face in early July.

Any tips for July/August?

[RHYBAK]

Dragging a jig along bottom 18 feet

[RHYBAK]

WillageD

Here is a web site you might find useful

http://www.walleye411.com/walleye-habitats/

[Jay Thomas]

OK Jay, why 7 feet?

Years ago, my group and RHYBAK's group were slip bobbering walleye in late Jun out of 3 Seasons Camp. RHYBAK and his fishing partner had enjoyed success with the bobber knot set at 7 feet and he advised me to do the same. When I arrived at the location, unexplainably, I set my bobber knot for 6 feet. While I caught several walleye that night, I caught more pike. When I shared my results with RHYBAK and everyone else in the fish cleaning house, RHYBAK reminded me that he had said 7 feet, not 6 feet. Everyone in the fish cleaning house broke out into loud laughter. Consequently, for the next couple of years, I was always reminded that I should have fished at 7 feet not 6.   A fond memory.

Jay 

[puckster_guy]

 Consider the lake is deeply stained with tannin. So light levels are not always a huge consideration. When trolling I use chrome or shad colored lures with lots of motion and some noise like clacking bearings in it to attract walleye. I've also had luck with an almost black and dark green diving shad rap. I don't use them but me thinks spinners and spoons should also work well. In the evening try casting to shore and haul in back in with jerking motions. I got several fish jerking the rod hard in succession, that seemed to trigger strikes as well. I'll often do all my jigging with a basic 1/8oz. jig and worm just dragging it along the bottom till i find what depth they're hanging out in. when  nothing else works I'll just smoke a cigar and drink a beer and just drown worms. easy peasy.

[Jay Thomas]

Hey all, I'm fairly new to walleye fishing. Historically I'm a hardwater trout guy and bass/ panfish in the summer. The past couple years I've gotten into walleye since I've been coming to Kipawa and purchasing my own boat. Catching Walleye is pretty basic at low light level times, find your favouring shoal and throw down a jig with live bait, or slowly troll a worm harness. I'd like to broaden my horizons a bit and start to figure out some day time walleye tactics on both Kipawa and else where.

First location, obviously the walleye are going deeper during full light period of the day. Should I be going to my same favourite shoal and just fishing the deeper area's around them, or should I maybe go find a deeper shoal, say 30-40' with 80-100' all the way around and fish the high spot?

Next presentation depth- should I be trying off bottom, or looking for suspended fish? If I'm pulling a crank bait or harness, what depth? 20-30' down over deep water? or say If I'm fishing a hump try and troll at the depth of the high spot, so I can get suspended fish around the hump but then close to bottom as I go over the hump?

And finally technique... bottom bouncing? jetdiver/ dipsy, or vertical jig but in deeper water?

I know there will be no hard and fast rules for any of the above questions and a lot of variables are at play, but just trying to figure out a baseline on where to start catching some day time Walleyes. Thanks for any advice.

If I've learned one important lesson over the years fishing walleye, it's don't go fishing with preconceived ideas about where the walleye are. Sure you can check areas like that but always be prepared to change locations, depths and tactics. Throughout the season, you can catch walleye in 3 feet of water along a mud line at high noon under bluebird skies or along a wind blown shoreline.  While I concur that low light conditions are primary times to fish walleye, I contend walleye can be caught anytime.

I usually bottom bounce to find walleye. I back troll along a shore line or on a submerged hump in an S pattern in order that I fish both shallow water and deeper water in order to hone in on preferred depths at that time. I fish walleye in mid Aug and Sep now so my water depth varies from 10 feet to 40 feet. I never fish walleye deeper than 40 feet. Anytime I find pods of walleye, say 10 or more walleye, I'll anchor or drift and vertically or horizontally jig. While I occasionally troll a crankbait, it's just not my preferred method. However, if that's what I had to do to catch those walleye, you can bet I would be doing it.

Jay

[adempsey]

On a typical Canadian Shield lake, I would just start at 40FOW and drift or troll up to 10FOW in your typical walleye areas.   You'll soon figure out where they are sitting.   Trolling at 20-30FOW along breaklines can work to target the larger females when it's sunny and calm.   If there are any rapids or strong current the walleye will be there all day long (don't think Kipawa has much of that though).   I also always look for any areas where rivers, streams and creeks enter the lake.   Baitfish are often here so these areas can often be a productive spot all day long.   

Other than that, I use the wind to my advantage.   Fishing areas around points where there is an obvious rough/calm separation in the water has been productive for me.

If the mayflies are emerging, then mud bottoms and sand flats have produced all day long for me as well.

Not sure I would bother trying to target suspended fish.  I am not even sure that's a common behaviour in inland lakes.   I suppose it depends on what type of bait fish school/ball up.   I've never seen it though.

[WillageD]

Thanks for the tips and feedback. Lots to get out there and try this summer. Keep it coming if anyone has more to add. Much appreciated!

[T-Bone]

June daytime is considered low light because of the angle of the sun in the sky.

You have me confused, Mr. Rhybak. Don't you mean June daytime is considered "high" light because the sun is at it most-direct angle to the earth's surface (especially nearer the North Pole), thereby penetrating deeper into the water? A low angle would only penetrate 'across' the suface of the water and not nearly as deep; a higher angle would be straight 'into' the water, thereby going deeper.

I don't know if any of this matters. I see plenty of fishing shows where the guys are catching piles of walleye in the middle of the day without a cloud in the sky anywhere. If it's bright and sunny like that midday, you'll find me in camp sitting under a shady tree with a Bleue. Not a fan of baking in an aluminum boat with no means of cover other than a splash of Coppertone and a ball cap....ESPECIALLY if it's mid/late June at the 50th parallel.

51.56

[RHYBAK]

June daytime is considered low light because of the angle of the sun in the sky.

You have me confused, Mr. Rhybak. Don't you mean June daytime is considered "high" light because the sun is at it most-direct angle to the earth's surface (especially nearer the North Pole), thereby penetrating deeper into the water? A low angle would only penetrate 'across' the suface of the water and not nearly as deep; a higher angle would be straight 'into' the water, thereby going deeper.

I don't know if any of this matters. I see plenty of fishing shows where the guys are catching piles of walleye in the middle of the day without a cloud in the sky anywhere. If it's bright and sunny like that midday, you'll find me in camp sitting under a shady tree with a Bleue. Not a fan of baking in an aluminum boat with no means of cover other than a splash of Coppertone and a ball cap....ESPECIALLY if it's mid/late June at the 50th parallel.

51.56

T-Bone
Whatever


Go out of the box a bit this year
Buy yourself a couple of Molson Authentic 1908 Ales.

Maybe a bit more expensive but worth it.

9 days

[T-Bone]

Just punking you...it's been a while since I have... 

I am going out of the box this year; I'm only going to commit to jigging for those pesky 'eyes 95% of the time. I'm affording 4% to slipping, and 1% to trolling. 

Molson. Not bad beer. I'll give it a try at the Temrose on Friday evening to see if I like it. Is it higher % alcohol...like a 'craft' beer? I tend to shy away from those...the human body regulator that manages headache production and intensity doesn't like those.

[RHYBAK]

Just punking you...it's been a while since I have... 

I am going out of the box this year; I'm only going to commit to jigging for those pesky 'eyes 95% of the time. I'm affording 4% to slipping, and 1% to trolling. 

Molson. Not bad beer. I'll give it a try at the Temrose on Friday evening to see if I like it. Is it higher % alcohol...like a 'craft' beer? I tend to shy away from those...the human body regulator that manages headache production and intensity doesn't like those.

6.8%
regular beer 5%
U.S. beer 1%