Walleye on the fly?

[MBM1969]

Has anybody ever tried for Walleye on a fly rod? Could they be caught fly fishing during the spawn when they are shallow? I think I am going to add Walleye on my bucket list for 2015 and give them a try this spring.

Mark
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I have caught a lot of walleyes on the fly. Deer Creek, Utah Lake, Willard and Starvation are all good places to try.

As with most other species, the most difficult thing is to find active fish. Walleyes are hard to find and finding them is no guarantee of getting bit. They feed mostly during low light conditions on most lakes. But you can catch them all day long on Starvation...and on other lakes during certain times of the year. Best time for aggressively pursuing aggressive walleye is the post spawn period...from late April through about the first of June. That's when they are cruising shallow and looking for groceries to replace energy lost during the spawn.

Buggers, Clousers, streamers and even just large nymphs will get bit by walleyes. White is a universal color...followed closely by chartreuse and/or black. Purple is also a good color. When the water is cold and/or murky you will usually do better with high vis patterns. Black is always good. Chartreuse or white with hot red head or fibers is good too. Contrasting colors are better seen under those conditions.

In Utah Lake and Willard you will usually be fishing in shallow water...5-7 feet at Utah Lake and maybe 10 to 15 feet at Willard. At night that can even be much shallower. And at times they will feed in less than 3-5 feet near rocks or shoreline structure. So you can often use floating line...or a sink tip. 6 weight rigs are generally plenty heavy but if you are slinging big bushy flies a 7 or 8 weight might be better...especially if it is breezy (in Utah?)

There are a group of fly flingers who regularly fish Starvation...mostly for the rainbows...who also score some nice walleyes up to about 24 inches on the same flies and presentations. This past year a lot of them came on type 7 lines, dredging green or black leeches or buggers in over 20 feet of water. They started showing up in March and were still being caught in September. Walleyes often rely on small invertebrates as a part of their diet but are also in those areas to feed on the smaller fish that are there for the same tidbits.

I fish mostly plastics these days. But I probably catch more and bigger walleyes on small 1 1/2" lures than on the biggest stuff. There have been a lot of days in my tube when conditions suggested that I might do well with feathers instead of plastics.

Most of the walleyes you catch on flies will be under 20 inches. I prefer those for keeping and eating. But there will be plenty over twenty. And I know of one caught two years ago by a flyguy that was about 34 inches and 12 pounds. The fly was a size 6 white crystal bugger.
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[MBM1969]

Thanks for the info TubeDude!! I am excited to give them a try.

Mark
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]If you fish from a tube or toon, give me a shoutout anytime after about mid March and we can meet up somewhere to chase those toothy critters. Every year is different and a lot depends on how fast it warms up and current weather conditions.

But once spring sets in and the spawn is over the walleyes really become a lot easier to find and catch.

I am planning to wave my fairy wand more this year so I will be after them on feathers and fur too.
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[kochanut]

I catch them at Powell and over here in Germany quiet regularly. They are called Zander over here. Deep and slow with streamers has worked wonders in the past.
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[cje04]

Thanks for the info Tubedude. Walleye are on my list to catch on the fly as well but I just haven't spent the time on them. Do you need to use any type of bite guard when fishing for them?
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Walleye teeth are like needles...not like the sharp edged teeth of pike and muskies. Good quality mono or fluoro is usually adequate. I have caught several hundred (if not thousands) of walleyes over the years and most of them have been on 4 or 6# mono...often while fishing for other species.

Not many lost to line cuts or breakoffs. Far more lost to the characteristic open-mouthed headshake just as you are reaching for them with the net. If they don't like your fly or jig they open wide, shake their head no and give it back to you. Always best to keep them swimming with their heads down while you guide them over the net...rather than pulling them to the top and letting them do that self-release thing. Impatience will cost you fish.

Even the anglers who fish for them specifically generally use light gear to present light lures on light lines and to be able to detect light bites. However, when walleyes are post spawn and in an active feeding mode you don't have to worry about feeling a light bite. They usually slam their jaws down on their prey to stun or kill it...and that feels like a solid thump on your end.

Catching walleyes...on any tackle...is like many other things in life. A puzzle and a mystery until you have done it a time or two. Then once you get the feel and the technique working it becomes much simpler. Simpler...but not always easier.

Those fish frustrate even the pros. They feed on their own schedule and bite (or not) for their own reasons. If you hit it right you are golden. If not you smell like skunk. With many species the hard part is finding the fish...but if you find them you can usually catch at least some of them. With walleyes, finding them is never a guarantee of catching. You earn every one you bring in.
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[gofish435]

Hey Pat I never thought I would hear you talk about going after fish with the fairy wand. I know you have done a lot of fly fishing but it seems like it is usually in combination with other tackle on your light spinning gear. I have been enjoying going after walleye on the fly for a few years now and they are a lot better fighters than most people give them credit for. I know that Green Meenie pattern of yours is a great fly in the spring when they are in the post spawn mode.[fishin]
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Thanks Tom. I know you have done well at Starvy with the long rod...both on trout and walleyes. I know you got several this past year over 20 inches.

In years past I deliberately targeted walleyes with flies and did well...both on a flyrod and fishing flies dropshot style on spinning gear. I have kept telling myself each year that I will return to the past but suddenly the year is gone and my poor flyrod sits whimpering in the corner of my garage.

I built a 9 1/2 foot 6 weight about 4 years ago specifically for fishing warm water stuff on it. I have had a reel and slow sink line on it for the past two years and have never fished it yet.

This will be the year I go so...along with losing weight, getting more exercise, etc.

I will be making up some of my used-to-be-good walleye patterns. Mostly whites, blacks and two tones. Will shoot you some pics when ready to rumble. I have no doubt that the green meanies will continue to work at Starvy...and other waters. But there are some bigger and meaner patterns that do well too...especially for bigger fish in Utah Lake.
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[DKStroutfitter]

My son and I chase Wiper with fly tackle.
Only one Walleye so far.

I think that we are fishing too shallow for the Walleye to bite.
I may have to try fishing deeper next spring and see if I can catch a few Walleye.

It would be fun trying this at the inlet, if there were not so many snaggers there.
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[MBM1969]

Lots of good info guys. I'm excited to give Walleye a try this spring. I had a lot fun chasing warm water species this past Sumner on my fly rod this past year and I'm looking forward to doing more in 2015.

Mark
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[gstott]

I caught a 27" out of Deer Creek fishing a brown mohair leech on a sinking line.

Up in southeast Idaho where I now fish, I have found walleye especially shallow and active in September and October.
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[flygoddess]

Me too. California Leech. Type 4 to type 7 line.
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[DrewT]

The Mo below Holter. Great fishing for rainbows and browns and a lot of walleye.
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