10/31/04 weekend report

[southerner]

I spent parts of both weekend days on the water, and although the bite wasn't hot there were certainly some fish to be had if you paid attention and worked for them. Saturday I spent the majority of the morning under the Prescott bridges. Plastics = 0. Heddon Sonar = 0. As a result I went to the old standby - jig 'n minnow. We found a couple keepers and a classic St. Croix walleye measuring 14.9 inches. What seemed consistent was the active fish (ie - those biting) seemed to be found below tightly schooled clouds of baitfish. Yes, I know there are visible baitfish all around the bridges area, but it seemed the densest schools on the graph marked the location of the active wallyes. This is something I'll remember for later use. We also found some active fish in 25' on a dropoff upstream. Again, these were taken on jig 'n minnow. All the takes I had felt like weight on the line rather than that solid thump I've gotten used to while fishing plastics.

I'm thinking that great fall bite is just around the corner. I did see a few others land smallish saugers but they weren't pulling 'em in hand over fist.

I returned today to Prescott for 1.5 hours and had several short strikes (skinned tails) but no fish made it to the boat other than a sheepie . A couple spots upstream produced additional skinned tails. Would've been a good day to rig a stinger hook.

Anybody else care to share their weekend adventures on the water?

[walleyefanatic]

Southerner, I also was down in Prescott both days this weekend. Didn't recognize you since you were in a different ride. I tried a number of presentations both days including jigging, Lindys, and even anchoring. The one I found the most productive one was pulling cranks. I caught 11 quality fish (all 17+ inch sauger) on the cranks. Not one style, size or color outproduced any other. The fatheads caught some short fish but not many (5 between the two days). All other presentations produced a big fat zero. I plan on heading down again Saturday (if I don't have a volleyball tourney) and Sunday (if the better half gives the go ahead).

[southerner]

Yup, Walleyefanatic, I was pretty sure it was you once I saw the Tundra. V nice ride. I suspected you had found the technique of the day based on the amount of time you were trolling back and forth. I, too, will be out on the Croix this coming weekend, though I'm thinking possibly 'bout heading north a bit up by Catfish Bar and maybe some of the lesser-known spots. Sunday may be a Red Wing day as I've had fairly consistently good luck down there in the fall.

I'm still waiting for that plastics bite to pick up as that's truly my favorite lure for cold water river fishing. Perhaps the water needs to cool a few more degrees before it gets going.

It's only gonna get better. As long as the roads and boat ramp stay ice-free I'll be out there.

[walleyefanatic]

Thank you southerner, the boat is quite a step up from my old Nitro. She's very smooth and very dry; I just love it. The best thing is the better half said I can upgrade the Mercury Optis*cks with a newer motor because of all the issues I've had with it. What a woman; I think I'll keep this one. When trolling I definitely notice a difference between trolling three-ways and using leadcore. I can't seem to buy a bite on the three-ways. I've been pulling #8 glass SR's, #9 SR's, #18 Rapalas and #13 HJ's. Colors didn't seem to matter and it seemed as soon as I changed lure sizes or colors I'd get bit. After a while I just left the boxes open in the boat and as soon as I got bit I would take that crank off and replace it with another. Probably not the most efficient way to fish but it kept me busy.

[walleyefanatic]

Thank you southerner, the boat is quite a step up from my old Nitro. She's very smooth and very dry; I just love it. The best thing is the better half said I can upgrade the Mercury Optis*cks with a newer motor because of all the issues I've had with it. What a woman; I think I'll keep this one. When trolling I definitely notice a difference between trolling three-ways and using leadcore. I can't seem to buy a bite on the three-ways. I've been pulling #8 glass SR's, #9 SR's, #18 Rapalas and #13 HJ's. Colors didn't seem to matter and it seemed as soon as I changed lure sizes or colors I'd get bit. After a while I just left the boxes open in the boat and as soon as I got bit I would take that crank off and replace it with another. Probably not the most efficient way to fish but it kept me busy.

[TG]

Anyone fishing wingdams south of Prescott? I was out Monday, south end of the no wake zone and marked alot of fish, caught only one, a nice 20 incher on a blade bait. Will be heading out again soon.

[Glow Jig Guy]

I was out Saturday from noon to 6. We did pretty well on Jig and minow. We caught a mix between Walleyes and Saugers most of the were over 15". We were all alone at the Kinni.

[southerner]

Welcome to the site, Glow Jig Guy! Sounds like some good action to be had @ the Kinni. If you're out there this weekend keep an eye open for the little white/blue Nitro bassboat.

It's only gonna get better! I'd expect even fewer boats out this weekend based on the fact MN deer hunting season is upon us.

[JJB]

I will be out this weekend somewere between catfish and kinni. I olny bow hunt so I get to go back to the river this weekend.Anyone fishing up by catfish??

I did get down to prescott a few times last week and had a few good nights and one slow one. Time has been limited so I'v just been fishing of shore using a plain #4 hook and 1/8-1/4 oz weights. Havn't cought a sauger yet all walleyes so far. A few other people I talked to also have been getting the eyes up shallow but not till that last light and most people have split by that time. I will be down there tonight if I cant get off work to go hunting.Last thursday I missed the big one right at shore so I have to get back down there . Would have been my biggest eye out of the Croix

Say hi if you see me I have a gray lund with a yellow lab falling out of the boat.

[rich4walleyes]

I was out on the Croix on Monday and did ok. The fish we caught were right around the 15-16 inch size and wanted big minnows. Was using jig and minnow combo and were about 20-25 ft deep. I will definatly try and get back down there before the ice forms.

Rich

[walleyefanatic]

JJB, Great comment about the lab falling out of the boat. They ARE the greatest dogs known to man. I was down to the river on election day for about an hour and a half checking out the honey hole. Except for a bunch of shad I seemed to be all alone, if I wasn't alone no walleyes wanted to join me in the boat. I don't have a volleyball tourney on Saturday but the better half informed me that the clutch in the car has seen better days and needs to be replaced. I figure if I get the necessary parts tonight and start on the job tomorrow after work I may just finish in time to hit the river on Saturday evening or at the latest Sunday. I need to get back on the water in a hurry because the big pigs don't visit my honey hole for very long and if the shad are thick there the hogs can't be far behind. If you see a Tundre with a couple of Mercs on the back stop in and say hey.

[Turk]

Southerner,

You may be doing this already but when trolling three ways you need to go usually slower than you would longline troll. I have found it best when keeping my speed down and presenting the lure in a more "subtle" fashion. Good Luck!

[rich4walleyes]

Has anyone been out this weekend? I would have loved to been out there but I was stuck at work all weekend. I will be heading out this Tuesday but just wondering if anyone had any luck? I will post how I do when I get back in.

Rich