Where are the walleyes?

[Guest]

I have been out on the river a few times now fishing around the Hudson area and a little bit north of stillwater and all i have caught are a couple small eyes, some smallies and about 50 sheephead. I have been fishing in about 8-15ft of water. Am i just getting unucky or am i doing something wrong?

[hunt4food]

I suspect it could be either I have had best luck with slow lindy rigs for the Sauger and Walleyes. Your depths should be fine. I also focus on areas where there is a substantial variation in depths. I have had to work pretty hard myself for them lately and can attest to the abundance of rough fish. I jigged one spot for about 30 minutes and must have gotten my hook cleaned about 15 times before I finally hooked a sheephead. I never did catch an eye there. Try a new jointed rattling shad rap in 8-10 feet of water. The real problem with fishing advise is the fact that what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. If I had more time to get out, I could probably help you more. I fertilized my lawn too much this spring and am now becoming a slave to it. Good luck!!

[crappie getter]

crappiehunter,
The walleye bite has slowed somewhat.The fish seem to be more scattered.I agree with hunt4food check out the new jointed shad raps they have great action.The #5 works very well I have some buddy's that lead line alot and they are still catching fish but are covering alot of water.The best bite has been low light periods.(morning,evening, and cloudy windy days.)In low light fish 6-15' with a bright sky and/or boat traffic fish 15-25'.The fish are starting to move a little deeper and on to summer spots.Try rock/gravel areas next to deep drops.Remember that sheaphead will hang with walleyes they like to eat minnows to.If the rough fish are stacked in a spot there must be alot of baitfish in that area and that will attract walleyes.Focus on the prime times.Good luck and keep us up to date on the sheaphead!!!!I'm sure they are a delicacy somewhere.

chris arndt

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Chris's Croix Guide Service
http://fishingminnesota.com/stcroixguide/
(651) 458-1899
[email protected]
St. Croix River

[Guest]

Oh yes, I too can attest to the over abundance of roughies. However, if you stay with large cranks and stay on a good steep drop, you can still have success. If have moved my operations a little north of Hudson, but in deeper water. 17-23. Seems to be the ticket right now. Even found some saugers in that region, though on the later of the depth... Shad color and crayfish have been the hot ones for me. Seems to be the case with the time of day. The late morn and afternoon hours have been tough, so work the lowlights hard.

If your out and not having luck. Go over to the SE end of the Hudson bridge. The carp and buffalo are just piled up there! Throw a couple of worms in away from the boulder turn there that leads into the bay. I pulled a 13,15,17 lbers out in a little less that an hour!! plus a bunch in the 2-6 lb. range. You are going to get some sheephead so bring enough worms. They should be there for a bit longer I would think..

This was on Sunday that I went.

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[hunt4food]

Caught a couple nice 17 and 18 inchers tonight in 15' of water trolling perch jointed ratling shad raps. Picked up some crappies too. Only 1 smallmouth bass tonight. I was surprised by that. I had been catching them in the shallows by the hoards and tonight those same spots did not produce. The pleasure boats were out pretty strong and I even saw a pontoon boat full of women showing off their tanlines! A good night it was.

[Guest]

Sat, I got on the water around 2:00 in the afternoon. Put in at William O'Brian and by 7:00pm and got 2 Northerns, 2 Cats, and 19 Walleye,11 of witch were 15" to 20".( good day) Went to Prescott on Sunday after 4. Waited out the storms and got 3 Sauger.(not Bad).