01-10-2017, 03:38 AM
I guess all I can say is there are stripers in Powell and it did not seem to bother the eyes there, so I'm not sure why it would matter in Mead. You can find them shallow in Powell so I doubt it would have any effect on them in Mead, stripers or not. I do think they have an ideal range but just like stripers, eyes will go where the food is, if that is shallow, then they will be there but eyes are a lot different than stripers in how you fish for them, just a matter of learning the method that works best. Lots of folks in many states use bottom bouncers and worm harness, even cranks work well at times but eyes tend to hand closer to the bottom, of the water they are in. That being said, I've caught them when casting into boils, so you just never know. IMO, I think you will find them in water that is 10 to 40 ft depending on the time of year. Eyes are easier to catch in low light conditions or murky water. Find where the wind is blowing toward the shore and making for murky condition and you will find eyes. We have done well at the shore early in the morning, before sunrise by casting a jig with a full night crawler, right to the shore and bouncing it back to the boat, as it get lighter, you have to go deeper but you can use the same setup and vertical jig for them right on the bottom in 30 to 40 ft of water. I bet the eyes have been in Mead since you ask that question 7 years ago but anglers can be tight mouthed at time about catching some fish, especially when they want to keep quite. If you guys start trying different methods this year and start targeting eyes, I bet you will be surprised where you will catch them. It could be their numbers are low there or maybe the guys that are catching them just want you to think they can only be caught deep. Walleye like to ambush their prey, so rocky areas are best but as I said they will come up into the shallows, in low light conditions. Good luck this year hope you guys find some of those tasty fish there at Mead.
[signature]
[signature]