I was not in the best of moods when the girlfriend came home from work. Feeling like I needed to get out on the water and just relax. Then I get a call my uncle just passed??? At this point I'm like What the hell??? What a horrible day. After talking with some family, I decided to go out and clear my mind...
Water temps about 40-41 degrees and -2 temp, so I figured I'd just hit my favorite shore spot to fish, just in case I lost interest quickly.
I rigged up two rods at home before I left, one with a chart. bass style spinnerbait, one with a shakeyhead jig with a 6" worm I cut down to about 4"(never used that rig for walleye before).
I showed up at the spot and got all my gear ready. Only one boat out on the water braving the cold days before walleye closes for a month.
Second cast with the shakeyhead, BAAAM! Whoa I thought as I set the hook! That was quite the bite! After a good 5 minute battle, into the net goes a gorgeous walleye! I was wondering if that was a fluke??? I got the camera ready quick and took a crappie self timer pic.
The next few casts, nothing. Then, just like the first bite, BAAAM! Geezus I thought to myself, these are not normal walleye bites, lol. I must be onto something with this shakey head, hahaha. Another good battle, into the net the fish goes. This one was not quite as big as the first, but still big, gave it a quick measurement at 26" and another crappie self timer pic. Swims off like a champ.
Now I'm not even thinking about the bad day, just having some good fun hooting and hollering on the river by myself, while one boat looks on occasionally laughing. I'm fine with that, I don't see them catching any fish!
A few more casts, I get the tell tale walleye bite. Set the hook and do battle with a chunky, 21" walleye. He swims off great.
Now I'm really thinking about this shakeyhead, and how I'm working just off bottom, soooooo slowly with the odd slow twitch. Why is this driving the walleye nuts??? But whatever, I'll take it. A few more casts and no nibble on this one, SMACK! This one rolls, pulls drag, and rolls again. All the walleye guys know, big walleye roll! Is this one bigger than the first 28"??? Another really good fight, and into the net once again. A quick pic of a fat, fat 'eye and back she goes. D'OH! I forgot to measure it, darn!!!! Oh well, These a big fish, and they will be emblazoned into my memory for years to come, thats all that matters.
My phone goes off, its my daughter. Where are you???? She askes, actually more like yells. I wanna come down too!!! Ok, put the gear away, and go get my daughter.
We come back and get set up, by this time it's cold! I got ice forming in my rod guides and my hands are stinging cold. One more bite is all we could muster, a small male. We took a few more pics, dorked around, and she took a few casts as well. Dark was coming, and supper was on. We decided to head in to eat, and were treated to a great meal from the girlfriend. We (I) told the days stories and now here I am, feeling pretty darn good despite all that happened today.
[IMG]http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/manitoubass/april102012braytsbday027.jpg[/IMG
I'm very thankful for my family, and it days like this that just give you that friendly little nudge to remind you...
For the day, I went 9/10, one fish was under 20", one was 21", and the rest ranged from 25"-30"... Thats pretty insane.
All fish but two came on a shakeyhead jig with that pinched off worm, two other came on a chart. spinnerbait.
What a day, just depends on how you look at it
April 11 2012....
Well, this time me and my daughter headed down to the river for a shore fish. The conditions changes drastically since yesterday. The sun was out, zero wind, the water levels dropped about 14" and the water was as clear as I've ever seen it. Basically, it didn't look very promising...
We rigged up a few shakey heads like yesterday, and see if the fish would smash it yet again.
When we arrived, one boat was near bye. We asked them how there luck was? No fish he said, guess they were live bait fishing on jigs. They went on trolling away, and I casted. Cast one, nothing.
Cast two, BAAAAMMMM!, oh yeah, grab the net!!!! Another good smack of the shakey head worm. Fought the fish for a few minutes, then my daughter calmly netted the fish head first. High fives!!! and picture time, a true Rainy River beast!!!
[IMG]http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/manitoubass/April112012walleye002.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/manitoubass/April112012walleye003.jpg[/IMG]
Cast about 3 more times, same thing! Just simply shaking that jig off bottom in the current seams. Man these fish are absolutely hammering this bait! This one is CHUNKYYYY! Again, my daughter does a great net job!
[IMG]http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/manitoubass/April112012walleye004.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/manitoubass/April112012walleye005.jpg[/IMG]
