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I have been monitoring the weather reports and all the fishing reports here at WL.COM just itching to put a Walleye on the Ice. I chose Billy Clapp lake as the destination and did my homework mapping and GPS ing my locations on my Hot Maps computer program. Finally the stretch of good ice making weather came and I hit the road on the 3rd with great anticipation, when I got over the pass and saw that Kachees still had some open water my heart sank a little figuring now that Billy Clapp probably was not good enough ice cover to fish. So my backup plan had the Evergreen and Scootney Reservoirs both smaller and shallower with Walleye populations, so as I got closer to the Columbia I had made my decision to head on to Scootney even though Evergreen was closer. I rolled into the Scootney Park, (closed) for the winter and parked outside the gate as close to the shore as I could get, it was gettin on 2pm and I hurried my gear together and found there were 3 latinos fishing close to shore, I chose to go out furthure checking the ice thickness every so often and looking with the Vexilar to see if there was any fish. When I started marking fish I started drilling holes in a staggered pattern in a chosen direction. I had come for Walleye and my choice of gear was Chubby Darters and Lindy Rattlin Flyers with no bait, I began catching nice Perch of which some were in the Jumbo size and all were fat and healthy, I chose to keep nothing under the 7" range. I kept drilling and moving and now started to put Perch eyes on the hook and soon after had my first Walleye, undersized but welcome if for no other reason than to inspire confidence. About the magic time when the sun was getting low I started getting into very nice jumbos and first keeper Walleye, I was now fishing like a mad man encouraged by success I realized that I was alone and night was falling. Well these Lindy Rattlin Flyers I chose with the glow in dark and now it was show time, except for a couple Jumbo Perch I found no other Walleye. I was thinking about packing it in for the night when a huge red mark appeard on the Vexilar, I started to jig the Flyer and on the 3rd drop I lifted and set the hook and some real weight, it took off, my heart was pounding and I thought for sure the rod was going to break, this was a big fish and I was sure it was that monster Walleye, so I decided to fight this as long as I could figuring I had a good hookset and running 6# line. It was now very dark and the lights from the Vexilar were blinding to the point of ruining my night vision and not remembering to bring my flashlight I pointed the Vex toward the hole and removed the transducer as the fish began to hit the ice. I had a heck of a time getting this fish to nose first to the hole and it put in a good many runs until I managed to get the better of him, as soon as it appeard I realized it was not a Walleye, turned out to be a nice fresh water Ling about 5#, tried to photograph it but camera just was not able to hold a focus, I took a flash shot and the result was a black image, see my photos of this trip at my photo section. I spent all day the 4th and the morning of the 5th fishing. I tried to get across the lake to a rock wall that has in the past produced good Crappie fishing but the ice thinned to 3" and I dared not proceed any further and in fact the next morning the edges of the lake turned liquid and the ice thinned to about 4" in the areas that I fished. Tuesday I drew a crowd and there were a bunch of Russians who came out and helped hammer the Perch, we talked, fished and laughed, it was fun! My arms and shoulders truely are still sore from all the drilling and jigging that was done, as I drilled well in excess of a hundred holes in grid type patterns, the Russians taking up each hole I would move off. The take for the combined 2 days of fishing was 3 legal Walleye, 58 Perch, two Crappie, one nice slab at 14.5" and one Ling. The Walleye population seems to be smaller here than I remember and probably is the reason for a more liberal catch. I would highly advise anyone treading on the ice to get or make a set of ice picks just in case you go through, mine are on a rope that always hangs around my shoulders for immediat acces, ice fishing is great fun just give it your respect or go where there are community holes and company. I hope the weather gives me another opportunity to get on the ice again. Klahowya!

Mike Carey

1/6/2011 4:09:00 PM

wow! great trip and report. Thanks!

kevinb

1/6/2011 4:27:00 PM

Excellent report and nice fish

BMGW

1/6/2011 4:31:00 PM

I had fun but was really hoping to scout out Billy Clapp and a little more serious Walleye fishing water than the Scootney. I did get a tip from one of the Russians that they were icing nicer Walleye at Moses Lake right in front of the hotel by the freeway...

jbball50

1/6/2011 5:21:00 PM

Nice fish, one of these days when I'm not lazy and off work I need to head up there for some ice fishing, never have done it before. That's if I can muster up and sit in the cold and wind out on that lake.

Jay K

1/6/2011 6:04:00 PM

Very nice report and finally something different from the usual fare. All this talk of walleye has me deliberating the 2hr+ drive I'd need to make to the closest walleye lake. I've only eaten walleye "once", and those were these frozen fillets I'd bought at Costco. Are they really that much better than perch? I'm sure the fight is definitely more fun given their size. Thanks for sharing - was a really great report.

MarkFromSea

1/6/2011 6:05:00 PM

Awesome report, nicely written! Incredible fishing, looks like that Vexilar paid off!

BMGW

1/6/2011 6:31:00 PM

JB: Dressing for the ice is important! I am kinda a woos when my hands get cold to the point I loose my dexterity, Im done, so dressing for extreme weather in layers is the trick..

BMGW

1/6/2011 6:33:00 PM

JayK: Perch definitely has more flavor and a hint sweeter meat, but the Walleye fillet is superb and yes it fights better than a Perch and fills the freezer a lot quicker...

The Jigmiester

1/6/2011 6:34:00 PM

That is one of the best detailed reports that I have had the privilage to read in a while. Jay K, walleye are awsome eating, with flakey white meat and a mild flavor all thier own. Deep fried, sauteed or baked, they are on par with yellow perch fillets. iIt's nice to hear of a positive outing with our Russian anglers, of which some are extraordinary fishermen. As usual BMGW, you inspire all of us with your great reports and fish pictures to boot, making the winter doldrums easier to weather till spring. Jiggy

panfisher

1/6/2011 7:37:00 PM

Great report. Nice to see any Walleye ice fishing!!!

DakotaElkSlayer

1/6/2011 10:07:00 PM

A burbot....didn't even know that lake had them in there! Great job!!!

Jim

randy n' lizzie

1/7/2011 7:50:00 AM

Hey Don,

Great report. I fish Scooteney a lot in the spring before the water gets too warm and it's always a producer. The groundskeeper there told me he sinks a big brushpile in front of the handicapped dock every year. Might try that area next time for crappie. As always, enjoy the report. I'm getting ready to put your Don's Dandy's to the test over here on Lake Cassidy. I'll post when I do.

bob johansen

1/7/2011 8:06:00 AM

Great report. Scootney has been one of my favorite destinations for many years -- never on ice but many times during the spring and fall. Nice place to camp too.

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