Largest Walleyes

[Marco]

Marco here, it's been a while since I've posted but with the trip to Dead Bear Bay only 50+ days out it's time to get my Kipawa juices flowing!

The Ross crew has had plenty of success over the years jigging for eyes with chartreuse or pink jigs with twisters tails, etc. and we have always done well on quantity but have yet to catch a quality (6 lbs+) fish. 

I looking for your bread and butter large walleye rig.  What set up were you usiing when you caught your biggest walleye, were you still fishing or trolling, and how big was it?  I plan on spending more time this year going for bigger fish and would appreciate the input!

[Dog]

@Marco

Largest walleyes for me have been caught jigging and J-11 Rapalas.
My largest walleyes are all around 27-28" (I've never been lucky enough to reel in one over 30")...
Good luck!

[SnodT2120]

Some of the largest walleyes I have seen have been caught on 4" multi-toned green Berkeley gulp minnows. I HAVE seen 3 walleyes OVER 30 inches (31.5, 31, 30.5) and several (6-8) 26-28 inch caught from the Berkeley gulp minnows, maybe not green but the brand itself. We tip them with worm and jig along rocky banks.

[CaptainCrappie]

Hello Marco. In the 17 years of trips that Ive had the privilege of being on, the largest walleyes in the boat have all been caught anchored using a slip bobber set about 6-8 ft. using a leech.  So far son Brian has the largest in my boat, a 7 1/2 beauty.  I had one on several minutes, which I never got to see, which would have been able to eat that one but the line broke right at the snell on a store bought rig. That thing I've continued to call Moby Dick.  It would not come up and I guess I just got too impatient. That tell tale head throbing pull still gives me the shakes every time I think about it, which is pretty much a lot! I tie my own snelled hooks now.  I used to troll almost exclusively but in the last 5 yrs or so trolling has taken a back seat to the more laid back approach.  Nothing like watching the sun rise or set, listening to the loons, and wondering where your bobber went when reality sets in! To date, I have not caught any Kipawa walleyes using any of the Gulp products so SnodT2120, I'm in shock! 

C.C.

[Marco]

Thanks Captain.  When you're slip bobber is set at 6-8ft, what depth water are you fishing in?  Do you throw the slip bobber towards the shore or around shoals?  I like jig fishing as you can do it with a beer in hand, so I am sure I would like and do the same slip bobbering!

[SnodT2120]

Captain.. I should add that the 30+ inch walleye were caught in Ontario. But we did catch some beauties (26-27 inch) last year. The picture is not all that clear but notice the gulp in its mouth. That was a 30.5" walleye. Around 8 pounds.

[CaptainCrappie]

More often than not we're usually anchored in deeper water and throwing towards the shore or rocks. Sometimes that may be 20 ft. It really depends on how fast it drops off.  The bobbers may be anywhere from 9-15ft. of water. Early morning (around sunrise) and about an hour before sunset till a little after sunset seems the best times to slip bobber.  We don't stay much longer after the sun sets.  Just too dark for the trip back to camp.  There has been a few times when the wind has been blowing we've caught walleyes very close to shore.  The bobbers may be set very shallow maybe just 1 or 2 ft.  Always worth a shot to try close to shore when that wind has been kicking up.  I've been using size 1 or 2 red circle hooks and adding a soft chartreuse glow bead (on line near the hook knot). Woops! My secret is out!  Gotta let em hook themselves though so wait till you feel em or you'll be pulling that leech right out of that fish's mouth.  That wait can drive you nuts! Especially when you can see that submerged bobber moving around and there is absolutely no line being pulled from your open bail.  Guys that slip bobber know what I'm talking about! Right guys?

C.C.

[T-Bone]

Sounds like my pal Marco will be hitting the Cabela's soon to set-up with some slip bobber gear.

I broke the seal on that technique last year and loved it. Thanks for the info CC...good stuff.

[john c]

Captain
What exactly do you mean by soft glow bead, soft texture or soft color?  We are wanting to try the slip bobber method this year.

john c

[CaptainCrappie]

John c  try going here. http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/fishing-lure-beads/351160.aspx    They are similar to a bobber stop and can be used as one.  They are made from a soft rubber and have holes in them for your line.  I tied some hooks with the pink this winter and can't wait to see if they're effective.  You can charge them up with a light source (flashlight) and they stay glowing for a while.  And.....  who says you have to use just one?  Maybe 2 or three or different colors?  Hope it works for ya and if you are catching them and your buddy is not, it's up to you if you tell em your secret:)

C.C.

[Fishn Deep]

My largest walleye 9.5lbs, 29.5" came via trolling a stick bait in the shallows after dark but that was in NY. In Kipawa area all my biggest eyes, and that of our group (7 to 10lbs) have been a result of jigging.

[RHYBAK]

Thanks Captain.  When you're slip bobber is set at 6-8ft, what depth water are you fishing in?  Do you throw the slip bobber towards the shore or around shoals?  I like jig fishing as you can do it with a beer in hand, so I am sure I would like and do the same slip bobbering!

Marco

Keep in mind that your group is going late July. The bobber fishing might be around 17 feet deep by then.