Rush lake walleyes fishing reports

[iowamatt54]

If you're looking for Current Rush Lake by Rush City Fishing Reports - Click Here. 

 

Let's see your pics and fishing reports here. Post em up.

 

Well, I'm all but defeated. I'm on vacation on rush lake and have been out everyday trying to catch the elusive eyes with absolutely no luck and am at my wits end. I don't know very much about walleye fishing as I'm from Iowa and just got into it a few years back. I've tried trolling shallow shad raps size 5 and 7 on the north side of the lake in front of the church but the weeds are so thick I can't keep them off the hooks no matter what amount of line I have out. I tried trolling them on the south side of the lake and had no luck. Also had some trigger x 3" grubs on 1/8 oz jigs that I tried to troll. That's all I know how to do guys. Oh, and I was trolling at about 2.5 mph in all different times of day. Tried going out at night once but don't know enough as to what to do to make any trip productive. I would really appreciate any help. I've been coming to Minnesota for over 5 years now and have still to catch a walleye. What am I doing wrong or not doing at all? I'm here until Saturday and need some pointers. Hopefully you guys aren't as tight lipped as the walleyes have been. I don't want giants just a few decent eaters.

[LundProAngler]

My honest opinion to your problem is the time of the year. Walleye fishing is best when the water is still cold in the spring or later in the fall. Plan your trip accordingly and you will catch walleye. Right now is tough because of the food source available and water temp. They are not actively feeding yet, but that will change in about a month.

It does not sound like you are doing anything wrong. Trolling cranks in the weeds is worthless. Fish the weeds slow with jigs and live bait, minnows, crawlers or leeches. Slip bobbers also work well in the thick weeds. Rush has a lot of structure so pick areas that have sharp drop-offs and fish on the edges with jigs. Use your sonar to locate the edges and to look for fish. Good luck, at least the weather is perfect for fishing each day!

[iowamatt54]

Well, that makes sense to me when I hear someone else say it. So when I jig for the walleyes am I supposed to cast and let the jig go all the way to the bottom and then just bounce it back off the bottom or am I supposed to vertical jig and let the jig suspend? Sorry for all the wuestions but i am a rookie at best. Thanks again.

[RIF]

I can't speak to Rush but on Ottertail it seems like I can catch 2-3 most times I go out. Try using a nightcrawler on a single hook lindy rig on top of hump at 20-26' that has been working for me. Other than that, you didn't mention how deep you were trolling. I try to stay in 8-12' during the day and 7-10 at night. Good luck.

[CASTnBLAST]

I've been on Rush a couple times the last few weeks throwing cranks for bass, I have little interest in walleye and haven't caught any there. Did the same thing on Big Pine and caught walleye. They are in the weeds but I think you would be better off casting for them than trolling so you can vary the retreive and not get hung up.

You came this far I would switch lakes for a day,

[Nhamm]

Might be worth reading a book or two before you go out and catch walleyes. Its a tough lake for sure, but the eyes are there. Hit up some of the reefs mid lake wherever the wind is blowing into them, specifically an inside corner, or point that would congregate bait fish. Smaller is better in my eyes, have fatheads, leeches, and crawlers all available. Look for balls of bait fish suspended off those reefs up to 75yds off and try trolling some cranks through those, if weight is needed just throw some on to get it down, or pinpoint a general location of where you think the baitball is and toss out a slipbobber. Copper plated spinners I have heard work really well there too, might be worth putting those on a bottom bouncer trolling the bottom transitions of the many reefs out there.

[ottertailguy]

I sent you a private message of a very good spot on rush. Hopefully you can find it and pm me when you get it.

You can always try on OtterTail Lake down the road tomorrow morning for a few hours. There a lot more walleyes in there than Rush.

Good luck,

ottertailguy

[SXViper]

Go to Genes in Perham and get yourself some nice redtails. I know they are expensive but a hell of a lot cheaper than the trip up here. Set up a lindy rig with a 3/8oz weight, #1 hook and a 6-7 snell. Go out and fish breaks from 7- 25ft. Try and mark fish first. Almost positive you will break the drought.

[LundProAngler]

When I jig for walleyes I always let the jig sink to the bottom, and sort of hop it back to the boat. Keep the rod tip up and you will feel the strikes. Be prepared for pike, bass and walleyes because jigs catch all species of fish. Good Luck!

[ottertailguy]

Go as slow as you can go with a lindy rig but with a spinner and crawler go about 3/4 mph, As for weight it depends on how much wind, normally 1/4 or 3/8 oz for weight but maybe 1/2 ,.You should be able to feel the bottom. I would try to get some shinners too.

Good luck ,

Ottertailguy

[iowamatt54]

Awesome, thanks ottertailguy.

[iowamatt54]

Wait, 1 last thing ottertailguy, how much line should I let out with a lindy rig? I've never fished one before. I suppose that is pretty obvious though. Lol.

[ottertailguy]

Enough to feel the bottom and then lift your rod tip up about 6 inches so the weight is not dragging.

[iowamatt54]

Thanks again ottertailguy. I'm heading to gene's in perham in the morning to get some lindy rigs.

[bak2MN]

We are having a hey day on #5 flicker shads purple and blue in 4to 7 ft of water on the edge of the weeds. 2.5 mph. anytime of the day. Crappies, gills, walleye, northern, perch, rock bass, been catching a little of everything. Cleaned up 15 fish last Sat mixed bag but mostly walleye and crappie. And I hate to say the lake but it is one of the pines. Good luck

[ottertailguy]

Well Iowamatt, we would sure like to know if you caught that 1st walleye . I hope you found that spot because it's the best spot on I know on Rush. And if you didn't, you'll have to come over to my place on Ottertail and I will make sure you do.

ottertailguy

[iowamatt54]

No such luck ottertailguy, went out and looked for that spot for about three hours and bought cabelas GPS app with no luck. All I could find was around 23 ft of water lindy rigged anyway with no luck. Just got back to Iowa tonight. Guess that first walleye will have to wait until spring. Thinking about coming up first week of June. Heard the walleyes are better then.

[jjz]

Next year hire a guide. They can show the basics of jigging, live bait rigging, and trolling in one day, then you can use those basics and probably have decent success. Rush lake is not a hard lake to fish and has good numbers of walleyes. Whenever I go there raps long lined tight to weedlines works well to find active fish then usually a jig and minnow will pick up some more. The hardest part is fishing close to weeds but not so close your constantly snagging weeds. If you get a guide make sure he knows you want walleye 101, not focusing on catching fish, most good guides do all the dirty work you need to learn before they take clients out, that's the stuff you want to know.

Good Luck next year, Rush is a great lake once you get the basics you should be fine

[Mr. Wizard]

IA Matt

I have a place on Rush and catch plenty of fish. We had a good Aug for walleyes on OTail. A lot of big sunfish and crappies on area lakes. Bass fishing is always good in OT county. I'd take you out next summer and show you where and how to catch walleyes in trade for spring turkey hunting land in SW IA? Interested?

[ottertailguy]

Sorry to hear no such luck finding that spot or catching a walleye. I sent you a picture with coordinates from a lakemaster lake chip. I am sure your app from Cabela's didn't show it but you should of been able to find it using the coordinates. Gps coordinates can be in two different formats so maybe your app was in the different mode than the one I sent you. Most gps units can change from one to the other but phone app might be limited.

Beginning of June on Rush Lake is the best time to come for walleyes. But maybe you should try using a slip bobber next to drop offs. Try it for 30 minutes and if no walleyes move. That can be said about walleye fishing in general. Don't spend too much time on a spot. Slip bobbering in one of the easiest method and most people probably start using this method. I still bobber fish when fishing is slow and it is very effective. Plus it's very good in the weeds.

ottertailguy

[iowamatt54]

Ottertailguy, I appreciate all the help. I wish I had asked sooner. I think we will be heading back up in the first week of June next year. I'm going to get a fish finder with GPS capabilities. I don't know what was wrong with the app I bought but it put the coordinates you gave me about 15 miles south and on land and I double checked them to make sure I didn't make a mistake. I found the area and spent the majority of my time on the water trying to locate the spot. Gave up and fished the flats by OT river for pike and bass. I'm not giving up until I figure it out. Very different fishing than what I'm used to. I really appreciate all the info from everyone.

[Rick]

Bump rush lake

[Nate sorum]

On 9/12/2013 at 3:48 PM, ottertailguy said:

I sent you a private message of a very good spot on rush. Hopefully you can find it and pm me when you get it.

 

You can always try on OtterTail Lake down the road tomorrow morning for a few hours. There a lot more walleyes in there than Rush.

 

Good luck,

ottertailguy

 

[Nate sorum]

Great advice.
Do you guide on Rush Lake? 

Nate 

Edited July 30, 2023 by leech~~