GIANT Walleye on topwater [Upper French River]

[reefrunner]

Just got back from four days of camping/fishing the Upper French River. The weather was nice, the bugs were mean, water cold, the fishing slow. I posted a full report which I encourage you to visit once the mods approve of its content if you want the full story and alot of pics of the trip. Let me "take a cast", however, and see if I may entice some interest.

Got set up with a rental boat from Brian at Casa Blanca Lodge; 18 foot ceder strip with a 20hp yammy. If ya need a cabin or a boat, Brian is your man.

Set out a buffett for the fish.

Took in some wildlife.

even got in a nice sunrise.

Water temps 50F in the main basin, pushing 60F in the back bays. My cousin and I caught two OSS smallies and a couple of dinky perch between us for the first two days of the trip. Figured the cold temps were making the fish a little gun shy to bite. Last evening, under a full moon, we made our way into Bob's Bay and postioned ourselves on a drop from 6-18feet where we commenced to wash lures. Took out a frog patterened Zara Spook and tossed out there hoping to wake up a sleepy pike...twitch, twitch, nothing. Second cast same as the first. Third cast, thinking about swtiching up lures...twitch, twitch, SPLASH!!!

My personal best walleye, 7lbs and 25 inches on the nose. The expression on my face says it all dont' it? hahaha

Tight lines all,
reefrunner

 

[ec1]

awesome fish, and great scenery! those trees in the first picture actually remind me of the paintings that the group of 7 did.

 

[efka]

nice outing, congrats on pb.
the only thing that holds me back from this river is 5 hour drive.

 

[Bigfisherman]

Awesome! sounds like that was a great outing.

 

[diggyj]

Congrats! That is a monster EYE!

Dirk

 

[David Kearney]

congrats on the PB, always nice to improve your stats. Looks like a great place to be!!

 

[pogon02]

Not surprised about the frog pattern Zara Spook I read an article about Walleyes attacking frog pattern lures due to the fact that they like to feed on frogs during certain seasonal pattern just not sure if this would be the time of year.... Nonetheless you caught a monster congrats!!!!

 

[reefrunner]

Hey thanks for the kind words folks.

The five hour drive is a bit daunting, but well worth the trip if your planning on staying for a handful of days or more. I would recommend heading that way when the waters warm a bit as the fish were not very active when we went. And maybe when muskie seasons opens up there. There was a guy at Casa Blanca Lodge, and others to confirm hehe, that a 53inch ski was caught and released in the same vicinty where I got my 'eye. Regardless of numbers, it was a great outing and I will definately go back.

pogon02, that's pretty darn interesting about the eyes eating frogs. I've never, until this past weekend, experienced this as I mostly thought walleye shied away from the surface preferring to ambush bait from deep weedlines. Drop shots, jigs, worms, crankbaits all produced for me in the past - topwater was a giant surprise and a giant result. Hey, ya learn something new everyday! Thanks for your input.

reefrunner

 

[balapickerel]

nice fish, but i'm in love with that boat, old boats like that are great!

 

[frozenfire]

beautiful walleye!!!

your report in the reports section is one of the better ones to date.
excellent work.

 

[daspin]

Wow..That is an awesome catch!!! Hope I can land something like that this summer!! Congrats! Sounds like you had a great time!

 

[tangledline]

thats a big brute of a walleye....sounds like a great place to take a trip...thanks for sharing the experience....and the classic boat is awesome...