Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk AL Fishing Talk Walleye Help?!

If anybody out there has ever been to Canada (Ontario), fishing for walleye and northern pike in any of the natural lakes, could you please post some fishing techniques? Going on a 7 day trip in July, and don't really have the foggiest idea of how to fish for 'em, other than what I've read or seen on video. Speaking with someone with 1st hand experience would be great. Any advice from experience would be great!

Fish with small plastic grubs, gitzet (sp), small worms, etc. for walleye.

I have had my best luck for pike with small spinner baits and fire tiger colored crank baits.

Both species hit live bait too.

Good luck!

Pike will eat anything swimming! Crankbaits, spinner baits, spoons, grubs...and don't forget the topwater stuff. When going after pike, don't forget leaders. I lost an antique creek chub darter of my dad's to a pike back in '86. Man, I still kick myself about that.

Walleyes are a little different. They'll still eat grubs, crankbaits, and spoons...but they're not quite as aggressive and take to live bait a little better (minnows, leeches, nightcrawlers).

Unless you're going WAY up north, you should be able to get into smallies too. All the above will work, I just went heavier with the soft plastics.

Also, everything I read says I need to get a portable fish finder to take. The lakes are really clear and the "books" say you should spend some time locating fish before fishing. I've found some in the $150 or less range, anybody ever use one?

Will you be fishing from a boat or canoe?

If you're in a boat, find out if the outfitter has anything in it other than a paddle, outboard and maybe a trolling motor. If not, do try to find a sonar unit to take along ... maybe contact your local bass club to see if anyone has one of the portable Humminbird models.

If not, you may be reduced to trolling around obvious points on the lake with your rigs to locate fish. Walleye feed mostly at night, so during the day they will move deeper. Early morning and late evening they probably will be in shallower water.

I don't know squat about walleye lures ... you probably could Google "walleye bait trolling techniques" and get some ideas. Definitely some shad-style diving crankbaits like the Rapala Shad Rap ... the aforementioned grubs are good on a round jighead ... you also can't miss with leeches (double-bag the Ziploc; they won't kill you) and probably some nightcrawlers.


As for pike, I love catching these anytime I go north. They are aggressive, will chase baits in shallow water and weeds, and put up a fight.

I've caught them on Spooks, the No. 5 Mepps' Spinner with gold or silver blade and dressed or undressed hook, Rooster Tails (white, chartreuse, orange, some bright color) in 1/2-ounce or bigger ... they'll also hit big spinnerbaits (the really big ones, like 1-ounce or up with giant willowleaf blades) and probably would hit swimbaits, although that would be an expensive proposition.

I haven't been in a few years, but next time I go my tackle will be very limited for pike to what I mentioned above. Probably wouldn't bother with the spinnerbaits, which bend.

Definitely take some 6- or 10-inch wire leaders to avoid bite-offs by the pike. SevenStrand makes a good one; if you're anywhere near a Bass Pro check in their saltwater line for leaders. I opt for the longer one instead of short 4-inch leaders.

www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/common/search...h-box.jsp.form1

On my first trip to Canada, I had to use braided Spiderwire for a leader. Amazingly, despite fraying, it held up and never broke or was cut. I think it was 50-pound test. Worked in a pinch but I preferred the steel leaders.


Gary Roach is one of the most knowledgeable anglers on walleye and has good advice here:

www.walleyesinc.com/baitrig/roach051109.htm

His "Grappler Shad" is a good trolling or casting shad-crankbait.

www.lurenet.com/productdetail.aspx?id=cd14422

(On that link, click on "Cotton Cordell" right above the CD14 in the headline and it will take you to the rest of the lures ... there are some jointed Grappler Shads, which I also like. The Wally Diver is a good one, too, with more depth options.)

THanks for all the info guys. I may be putting too much thought into it, but I've just never had any fishing experiences north of the Tennessee river! And BTW Clem, you are the 1st one to tell me about the steel leader, they don't even mention on the DVD I got from 'em, thanks! Other than that, this is basically all I know, directly from their website.....


Shekak Lake, 35 miles (20 minutes) north of the airbase is 4 miles long x 1 mile wide, shallow up to 20 feet deep and is sandy & weedy.

The new large cabin is of log construction and has a large deck with gas barbecue. There are 4 bedrooms with 12 built in bunks and foam mattresses, a kitchen area equipped with a full size propane cookstove with oven, a full size propane refrigerator and a wood burning air tight for heat. This deluxe location also features electric lights, two bathrooms with sink, toilet and shower, hot and cold running water. All cooking utensils and dishes are supplied.


A 14 ft aluminum boat with 6 hp outboard is available for each 2 adult fishermen.

Tackle recommended for Northerns are spinners, spoons, plugs, anything BIG, 15 lb test line, medium action rod and for Walleyes are jigs and minnows/crawlers/leeches, 6-10 lb test line, ultra light rod.


There are no other outfitters on this lake and we will limit Shekak Lake to 100 fishermen per season to ensure a high quality fishing experience.

Damn, that sounds like a blast.


-- Definitely take the steel leaders. If you're fishing for pike they may help prevent that "OhmyGodwhatahugefishlookatthat ... DAMN! It broke!" situation.


-- If there are weeds, especially shoreline "reeds," then you also should take some weedless spoons and add a Zoom Fat Albert grub or maybe a 7-inch worm as a trailer. It will look funny b/c you can't make the plastic go all the way up the hook shank on the spoon, but when you're retrieving it the durn thing will give you a woody. Make sure the hook is sharp.

-- I would use 17- or 20-pound fluorocarbon line for the pike gear or a co-polymer, for abrasion resistance and less stretch. Mono probably would be fine for the walleye.

-- Dunno if I would take an ultralight rod ... I would be hardheaded and pack a 6-6 medium action rod maybe for crankbaits and a med-heavy for pike

I have fished Canada several times and it has always been fantastic.

I always take salt dried minnows. Walleye love them. Night crawlers are awesome but you cant take dirt so you have to take them in cellulose. Well at least I think that is correct.

Pike: Johnsons silver spoons with an uncle josh trailer is always a killer. Spinner baits are good. Any cheap swim bait as it will be destroyed. Leaders are a must.

Walleye: Jigs 3" white w/ good size jig heads. Just gently bounce them along the bottom. Also we did great with rattle traps.

Electric Fillet knife is a must.

Fresh Pike was good to eat. Fresh Walleye cant be beat.

You can easily troll for pike if you get a little tired. We used large swimbaits like 8" long rapala looking things about 150' behind the boat. It is awesome.

We mainly used baitcasters for pike, and spinning gear for walleye. You can catch pike by putting your walleye on a stringer and leaving them in the water tied up to the boat.

Also pike are good at following your bait back to the boat and then going under the boat. Do a figure 8 at the boat with your lure when this happens and they cant resist it.

If you have any additional questions just ask.

-CB

Great advice about the spoon and U-Josh pork trailer, which would be much more durable than a worm.

www.unclejosh.com/unclejosh/modules/cart...#product_images

Thanks again guys, I'm still reading all this and learning. If ya got any more tips, keep 'em coming, we ain't leavin till July 17th.

Haveuseen1?,
were you using the weedless, single hook spoon or one with a treble hook?

And how did you rig up the wire leader? I was thinking a barrel swivel on the line end end, and a snap swivel on the lure end? With maybe 8" of wire?

We use the single hook with a weed guard. I believe it is called a Silver Minnow. (http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0012390110877a.shtml) 1/2oz and 3/4oz. It is the classic johnson silver spoon. After about a dozen pike the weed guard will usually be gone.

We use a black leader (not sure color matters) about 8-10' long. Swivel on one end to keep that spoon from making a real mess of your line.

I have also attempted to catch them on my 9wt fly rod. I have hooked 100 +/- and landed maybe 5 or 6 smaller ones. I have hooked them as large as maybe 36" but they just are to much for my fly rod. They wil take you into your backing almost immediately and then it is over. I use a red deer hair mouse and they demolish it.

One more thing on that uncle josh trailer. You need to remember to remove it while it is still wet at the end of your fishing. That thing is nearly impossible to remove once it is dry. You will have to cut it off. A real pain.

www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0012390110877a.shtml


www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/lin...rset=ISO-8859-1

I had one guy tell me that the best thing he took up there was 3 dozen clorox jugs. Whenever his arm got tired of reeling fish in he started jug fishing. He said calf liver worked a lot better than chicken liver. He tried blasting caps but the border patrol took them when he got to Canada.

Thanks for the help guys, even your advice Wade. Just for you, I've included a 5 gallon jug of Rotenone - just in case they ain't biting!

When's the trip? How was it? Have you been yet?

Leaving July 17th, coming home the 27th. Think I just about got all my gear ready. Will post details and pics when we return!