Northwest Fishing Reports

I have only fished Walleye 1 or 2 times. But I really want to get into it. What do you use and how do you fish in Eastern Washington for Walleye?

although, ive fished for them for awhile, ive been taking pointers the last 2 years from alot of veterans. seems bottom-walkers or cranks are what evryone starts with (at least at potholes, and, the mcnary dam area), but, ive recently been introduced to leeches, and, im finally catching some keepers (my girls dad and buddies are the experts, and, always catch them, but, i could only catch them sub-legals). we have been drifting a leech with quite a bit of leader (lindy-rig). take a look back at a number of walleye reports for some more detailed presentations. GOOD LUCK!!

I've done well with rattln raps. But like Mike,I need to expand on my gear as well.

I have fished a number of times over at potholes, and have done well trolling a smile blade with just a couple of beads and a natural color 6" gulp worm. I like to spray this rig with Dr. Juice walleye scent and troll it real slow, about .5 to .7 mph. You can also use regular night crawlers or a leach with the same smile blade setup. Right now they are doing good in Lind Coulee, and Crab Creek should be getting good soon. I've also talked to some folks who've done real good lately on upper Moses lake. Good luck to ya.

hey thanks for the help... I will probably be going down to Potholes pretty soon..... I am going to Banks Lake tomorrow..... I have heard about jigging or bottom walkers.... so that sounds good....

Jordan wrote:hey thanks for the help... I will probably be going down to Potholes pretty soon..... I am going to Banks Lake tomorrow..... I have heard about jigging or bottom walkers.... so that sounds good....

You might try PMing YellowBear. He knows this lake well.
Good luck to you

Walleye are like trout in some ways, what you use to catch them in small streams won't work well in big lakes.

OK, so more information is in order. In deep clear lakes, like Roosevelt, fishing 40 to 90 feet deep, using jigs, is not at all uncommon, and is often the best way. Fishing with the bottom walker style trolling rigs works, but if you use the 1/2 oz rule for every 10 feet of depth, that means you would need 4.5 oz to fish 90' (ouch). Limit trolling rigs to early or late in the day and fish somewhat shallower.

On shallow lakes, like Sprague, when Sprague was an option, meant fishing the shore line, near the weed line, with crankbaits, leaches, etc. If you find that you are fishing similar conditions, keep this in mind.

On normal lakes, like McNary, you should still consider deep trolling, even with large crankbaits. I have caught a lot of walleye in 25 to 30' using large deep diving cranks.

Fishing on windy days, cloudy days, low light days in general, allow for shallower fishing. Clear and Calm means go deeper, or fish early and late.

Fishing in the early spring, or late in the fall, means fish more on the shallow side of things.

There are good books and videos on fishing for Walleye, far more than there are for trout. Check out the internet for some of them and good luck.

Anglinarcher-
thanks a ton for the tips those all seem to make sense!! I really want to get into Walleye fishing since Potholes and Banks are only an hour and a half away from me, and from what I hear they are 2 of the best Walleye fisheries in the state.... so I want to take advantage of that......

Jordan wrote:Anglinarcher-
thanks a ton for the tips those all seem to make sense!! I really want to get into Walleye fishing since Potholes and Banks are only an hour and a half away from me, and from what I hear they are 2 of the best Walleye fisheries in the state.... so I want to take advantage of that......

Not just the best in the state. Pretty much the best in the nation(no kidding) Theirs guys traveling from the midwest to catch some BIG eye's over here.

Anglinarcher-Thanks,very helpful:salut:

Rumor has it that the FWIN studies for Moses is out.
It seems the Walleye make up 40% of the biomass.
It seems that the WDFW would like to see it at 9%.
As the quality of the Walleye fishery in Moses has been in decline for some time now,
what can we expect at 9%.
Potholes will be the next Walleye fishery that will become a dim glimmer of a glorious past.

YellowBear wrote:Rumor has it that the FWIN studies for Moses is out.
It seems the Walleye make up 40% of the biomass.
It seems that the WDFW would like to see it at 9%.
As the quality of the Walleye fishery in Moses has been in decline for some time now,
what can we expect at 9%.
Potholes will be the next Walleye fishery that will become a dim glimmer of a glorious past.

I sure hope this is a rumor. The state would be foolish to lower the walleye numbers(IMHO)
If this turns out to be true.I'll have to make a venture to Olympia(not that they would care what I have to say but I would feel better)

Go ahead and make a trip over to Olympia, it wont do any good. This state could care less about walleye. When they get involved in the management of a walleye lake the fishing gets worse as well as the population of walleyes. Lets look at Sprague for example, it used to be an 18 inch minimum, then the state lowered it to 16 inches. When the minimum was 18 inches the fishing on Sprague was fantastic, as soon as the minimum size limit was lowered the fishing got progressively worse. Now lets look at Moses, just 3 yrs ago the minimum size limit was 18 inches, ask anyone who fished that lake in May and June those yrs and they will tell you the fishing was second to none in this state for QUALITY walleye, then the state lowered the minimum size limit to 12 damn inches, since then the fishing has gotten worse every yr. THis state's fish and game could give a rats ass on the population and quality of walleye fishing in this state. Whats important to them is the stocking of dog food fed, nasty tasting trout in the state's lakes that any schmo can throw a hook with just about anything on it for about 1-2 months out of the yr. Sorry for venting, but I grew up in MN and have lived here for 6 yrs, this state has the ability to have world class walleye fishing for both size and numbers, but never will because of the fish and game (and a lot of citizens) disregard for this species of fish.

FISHBOY wrote:Go ahead and make a trip over to Olympia, it wont do any good. This state could care less about walleye. When they get involved in the management of a walleye lake the fishing gets worse as well as the population of walleyes. Lets look at Sprague for example, it used to be an 18 inch minimum, then the state lowered it to 16 inches. When the minimum was 18 inches the fishing on Sprague was fantastic, as soon as the minimum size limit was lowered the fishing got progressively worse. Now lets look at Moses, just 3 yrs ago the minimum size limit was 18 inches, ask anyone who fished that lake in May and June those yrs and they will tell you the fishing was second to none in this state for QUALITY walleye, then the state lowered the minimum size limit to 12 damn inches, since then the fishing has gotten worse every yr. THis state's fish and game could give a rats ass on the population and quality of walleye fishing in this state. Whats important to them is the stocking of dog food fed, nasty tasting trout in the state's lakes that any schmo can throw a hook with just about anything on it for about 1-2 months out of the yr. Sorry for venting, but I grew up in MN and have lived here for 6 yrs, this state has the ability to have world class walleye fishing for both size and numbers, but never will because of the fish and game (and a lot of citizens) disregard for this species of fish.

Feel free to vent...I'm ticked off too. I love my walleyes...damn shame the state could care less. Its/was an amazing fishery. I've chatted with guys from Minnesota and some other places that come way out here to catch some of these monsters.

From my personal observations, the WDFW has been very successful.

They messed up lake Roosevelt with there slot limits.
The 12 inch limit has made Moses and Potholes a joke.
We all know about Sprague.
Our warm water enhancement team spends more time on Trout and Tiger Muskie than warm water species.
Lets not forget about Liberty lake, has anyone caught a Walleye out of there?
What ever happened to the Walleye they stocked up in the Pend Oreille river?

These are just a few projects that have gone on over the years.

And I thought that I was the only one upset at the jokes they call fishery managers and biologist in this state.

YellowBear wrote:Rumor has it that the FWIN studies for Moses is out.
It seems the Walleye make up 40% of the biomass.
It seems that the WDFW would like to see it at 9%.
As the quality of the Walleye fishery in Moses has been in decline for some time now,
what can we expect at 9%.
Potholes will be the next Walleye fishery that will become a dim glimmer of a glorious past.

I read a few years ago that it was said walleyes were 40% of the biomass in Sprague. Turned out carp were the main species.

I think the 40% figure for Moses may be a bit optimistic.

THE FISHING AT MOSES THIS YEAR HAS BEEN PRETTY DARN GOOD, BUT, HAS HAD A DECLINE. THIS IS COMING FROM GUYS THAT FISH IT 4-5 TIMES A WEEK, WHO I COMPETED AGAINST IN SOFTBALL LAST WEEK-END. WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AT POTHOLES (STEADY DECLINE FROM A WORLD-CLASS FISHERY), SO, WHERE DOES IT ALL END WITH WDFW, AND, THIER DECISIONS. IT SUCKS WE CANT VOTE THESE GUYS IN OR OUT. LAST TIME I WAS IN CONNELL, ALL MY RELATIVES FREEZER'S WERE FILLLED WITH SPINY-RAYS, AND, CANNOT GIVE THE TROUT AWAY. 9%, ARE THEY CRAZY. I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO MOTOR ALL THE WAY TO UMATILLA FOR SOME DECENT WALLY FISHING IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS. NOT WITH GAS GOING UP ALL THE TIME,+ "YOU AINT GOING FISHING" WOULD BLOW A FUSE AT ALL THE CREDIT CARD RECIEPTS FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE INN!lol!:-"

Jordan, sorry for hijacking your thread but I needed to vent a bit.

Anglingarcher has put you on the right track.
Walleyes can be caught on many different types of presentations.
Colors are a important consideration for eyes.
I like Chartreuse, Yellow, White, Red & white, Yellow & white and at times a fluorescent orange.
Live bait should be added to what ever you decide to use, Leech's or nightcrawlers.

Some guys I know in the Spokane Walleye Club were telling me they are catching them on bottom bouncer/harnesses with gulp leeches and gulp crawlers. I have tried gulp just about everything and Im not a fan. I told them I would have to witness gulp something catching fish more than crawlers before I went out and bought any. Especially when you consider that gulp and even more so Gulp Alive is more expensive than the real thing.

while fishing for crappies the other day I caught a couple 4 inch perch and I got to be honest, if I was a craftier individual I would have kept those bad boys alive and went trophy walleye fishing. Ya I know its illegal, thats why I said if I was craftier.

Going to be a lot of pre-fisherman over at Moses this weekend fishing walleye. If you are going there just beware.

Joe Heater wrote:Some guys I know in the Spokane Walleye Club were telling me they are catching them on bottom bouncer/harnesses with gulp leeches and gulp crawlers. I have tried gulp just about everything and Im not a fan. I told them I would have to witness gulp something catching fish more than crawlers before I went out and bought any. Especially when you consider that gulp and even more so Gulp Alive is more expensive than the real thing.

while fishing for crappies the other day I caught a couple 4 inch perch and I got to be honest, if I was a craftier individual I would have kept those bad boys alive and went trophy walleye fishing. Ya I know its illegal, thats why I said if I was craftier.

Going to be a lot of pre-fisherman over at Moses this weekend fishing walleye. If you are going there just beware.

Joe, I won't even go there on the "4" perch" thing.

I will comment on the gulp. I have seen that at times, and not that many for sure, gulp will outfish regular crawlers and leaches, but more often than not, well, let's just say that I tend to agree with you.