West End Report

[ImaTeacher]

Just returned from fishing the west end (Norwegian Bay.)

Walleye: Turned most keeper walleye in 8-12 feet of water between 8-9:30 pm. ALL of our fish came on a gold spinner, crawler harness, back trolling-very slowly.

Pike: Tried suckers with little success. ALL of our pike came pitching large white beetle spinners.

Bluegill: Leech and bobber- usual spots. 8-10 ft.

Crappie: Not much luck. The few we caught came on the beetle spins when pitching for pike.

We did not fish for bass.

Enjoy and catch some fish!!

[GSP4ME]

I am really suprised that you were able to use a crawler on the west end at any depth I fished the west end all last week and had sunfish even in 20 feet of water. All our eyes came out of 17 to 18 feet of water stayed at Life of Riely

[Uncle Boney]

Staying on the west end this week, my worst walleye showing in 11 years (zero). If I were after jumbo perch, I would be a superhero - finding them everywhere.

Tried lindy's on the mud flats, bobbers on the reefs and shallows.

Lots of uninterested bites that felt like walleye stuffed with mayflies.

No hooking into the slot walleye like in the past few years. Maybe need to fish later and earlier?

[GSP4ME]

I got almost all of our eyes in an area that was no bigger then about 10 by 25 feet, talk about tough to stay on. Lots of rain and wind but on that was just over 25 inchs and lots of slot fish made it worth while but I agree I could not buy one outside the slot

[Uncle Boney]

Finally got walleye on the west end, keepers around 17", evening bobbers but down about 20' just off an 8 foot flat.

[Uncle Boney]

After our family's 15th year on the West End, the fish population continues to change.

Large Mouth seem to be easier to find and catch, also in areas where walleye used to be, not just weeds. The bass increase has to be a sign of something, although I have no idea what.

Hard to find walleye this year period, slot size or not. Could be poor fishing technique for sure, but it seemed a lot easier about 5 years ago.

Smallies are easy to find. Every fish was spitting up crawfish when we brought them in.

Jumbo perch could feed an army if you wanted to keep them.

Did not go for northern or muskie.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Uncle Boney,

I cannot understand why anyone would not want to fish for jumbo perch!

I think that they are better eating then walleyes and would go out of my way to catch them in there was a good population on the East end!

Are they wormy on the West end or what? East end jumbo run 10" to 14" in size and make a very nice fillet!

Cliff

[Uncle Boney]

Just a tradition thing in my family. Might have to do with the worms although I think they are harmless after cooking. I know we are missing out on some nice dinners by not keeping them. Any traditional walleye spots on the West End will hold them, perhaps a bit closer to shore. I caught a half dozen at a time at many spots.

Us vacationers still have a thing for walleye, no matter how hard they are to catch.

[delcecchi]

In the last day or so I have noticed a few boats pulling planer boards. One even had the mast to run them off insead of inline boards. I haven't noticed people on the west end fishing this way before.

Is this people who know something I don't? (like how to catch walleye).

[guideman]

Hey Del,

I saw the boat with the mast on Monday when I had a gig out of White eagle resort. It really isn't much different than using planner boards, just a little more work.

Most locals seem to shy away from trolling open water areas for Walleyes but it really isn't all that difficult once you learn the in's and out's of it. The Lake Vermilion Walleye classic has been won by trollers most of the years it has been in exsistence. I have had great success on the east end for years trolling the deep basins of Big bay and Fraser bay for Walleyes during the late summer months.

There is no reason that it won't work on the west end. I have had some very good days in Niles and Head of the Lakes pulling cranks and big spinners out in deep water. If there are baitfish suspended out there, you will find Walleyes out there feeding on them and typically they will be a much better quality of fish than you find fishing other presenations.

"Ace"

[delcecchi]

I guess I ought to dig out that planer board stashed somewhere in the boat. Or, since it is just me, flatline something. Can't put out much of a spread with one guy in the boat.