Fishing Forum

It's not consistent. But you get it once it just makes you keep going until happens again. My wife says I need help. I tell her people don't give eye secrets very much. Just have to keep it
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Yup eyes are a special closed mouth following, I'm an accidental eye guy everywhere but Willard and Oneida. But they're small eyes in those two spots and fairly numerous unlike the other spots I try for them. I can see the addiction potential if I could figure out a couple questions so I felt like my chance was good that I could catch one if I crossed its path. Questions are where / when on my pond and what to use and how to use it. Pretty much need all the important stuff. I see pictures from Utah Lake of guys with multiple big eyes per trip and I almost dare brave traffic to try it. But so far I still chicken out. One day I'll give it a try. Funny that a fish that doesn't fight very good has such a following, but I know not many eyes get released so I think they are hunted like halibut more for the table fare than the sport. They sure do look impressive though, those wolf like teeth and marble eyes. I can definitely see the appeal. Thanks for sharing your compulsion. Later J
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"Funny that a fish that doesn't fight very good has such a following"

[#0000FF]That is a myth perpetuated by folks who either can't catch them at all...or who only catch them on heavy gear while trolling at mach 3.

I have caught hundreds of walleyes...from just about every walleye water in Utah...and many other states. I usually catch them on light tackle...while casting. I feel the hard thump strike and the heavy headshakes very well. And I have had more than a few that make at least short runs. They will not outbattle a catfish, a rainbow trout...or even a carp of equal size...but they do fight.

They also have some special wally tactics to help arrange their early release...for bad behavior. No other fish I know of is as capable of making that last second open-mouth, head-shaking maneuver that gives you back your jig as you watch those lovely fillets disappearing back into the depths.

I wish I had a dollar for every nice walleye I have lost right at the net...after carefully battling it and coaxing it in. Heck, I just wish I had a dollar.
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I think it more about figuring out how to get one just look at it long enough to set the hook and out smart there tactics, it takes a lot of time on the water to get the feel for it, a lot of skunk, its the challenge for me, the fillet is just icing on the cake, I use the light tackle to, you have to be able to feel everything cuz you cant see it on UL, its not the fight its everything to get the fish on and at the dinner table. its had to say no if you have ever been double dog dared to get me in the net by one.
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Pat got to somewhat disagree with you on that one, I know I've caught nowhere near the number of eyes you have, but out of 30 some eyes, I've only caught two that fought much at all... One was an 8 lber and it did fight pretty well, the other one was about 24" and took it on a curly tail jig while fishing for bass and it didn't fight as good as the smallies I'd been catching but it did fight some... Most of the rest of the ones I've caught come in like a piece of drift wood floating on top of the water until they get to the boat and try their patented escape roll and I have lost more than I want to remember to that nice maneuver, they play possum and then execute the great escape.. Kokanee have a similar last second escape plan, but in general I'm sorry I can't rate a walleye fight as that memorable... But I do love eating walleye so I never complain when I catch one in fact I'm always quite happy about the occurrence... Later J
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[#0000FF]I have been a walleye addict for over 50 years. I hope they never have a "Walleye Anonymous" or a walleye rehab treatment, 'cause I don't wanna be cured.

I think that for most of us wallieholics the thrill is not so much in the final landing process but in the hunt, the strike and the solid hookup. Oh yeah, they are mighty toothsome on the table as well as in the water. But fishing for walleye is more about the quest than the goal.

I still maintain that more walleyes are caught by accident...by guys actually fishing for something else...than by the "specialists" who target them. And anybody who claims to be able to catch them on every trip will lie about other things too...like being able to understand women.

I've caught plenty of walleyes on purpose. But I have to admit that I have caught just as many while fishing for "anything"...with a bait or lure that has general appeal for all species in an area. Some of my biggest Utah Lake walleyes have been caught on light rods and small tube jigs being fished for white bass.
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[#0000FF]I don't claim that all walleyes are bodacious battlers. A lot has to do with what waters they come from and what time of year...water temps and all that. They are a fish of cold deep waters. That doesn't describe many Utah ponds...especially Willard or Cutler. Now if you were to fish them deeper in Starvation...or Deer Creek...or even Yuba...you may have a different opinion. Once the water gets over about 70 degrees they will fight about as good as a cutthroat at those same temps.
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Nice done dude of tubes!
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Now my squeaky wheels are turning, rock shelf or beach?
Hmm, I thought I was out of luck due to no tube, but besides my tinnie I have a 12ft Portabote that has wheels on it for rough launching with no ramp, has a 6hp short shaft, Maybe I can use that, doesn't need much water to go, Might have to give it a shot unless it gets too hopeless
Never been to Lincoln but its closer than Lindon.
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Not much the last month and a half. Had a couple little health set backs. Looking forward to wetting a line soon.
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[quote 1sthound]Now my squeaky wheels are turning, rock shelf or beach?
Hmm, I thought I was out of luck due to no tube, but besides my tinnie I have a 12ft Portabote that has wheels on it for rough launching with no ramp, has a 6hp short shaft, Maybe I can use that, doesn't need much water to go, Might have to give it a shot unless it gets too hopeless
Never been to Lincoln but its closer than Lindon.[/quote]

Sounds like you're set.[]
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[#0000FF]Lindon...like most other marinas and launch spots...is only about 2' deep right now. And you have to go halfway across the lake to find 3' of water. But at Lincoln you can launch off the rocks...like I did last Monday...and be in 5 - 6 feet pretty quickly. That's much better depth for the fall fishing.

I plan to do some recon in the next week or two to see where the low water launch points might be. Let me know if you are coming over and I can either meet you or pinpoint the spots on a map for you.

At the end of the last big drought...in 2004...about the only place on the lake that you could launch a boat was off the rock shelves out off the orchards. When a call came in for search and rescue us angler types had to show them where they could launch...since the Lincoln Ramp was waterless.
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[#0000FF]Sorry to hear about the health problems. Hope all is well...long term.

Give me a shout if you wanna get together. Haven't seen you in a while.
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