Walleye at Philpott

[pbrobe]

I'm just wondering if others are targeting this species now? What are you tactics? Bottom bouncers? Jigs? Live bait?

Thanks

[johnr]

Power fishing to get reaction bites is my first choice.

Finesse live bait is my next choice.

Finding them is the hardest part now.

[pbrobe]

Thanks. Im gonna try to do some power fishing. As far as finesse live bait, are you referring to lindy riging? I was thinking the topography of the lake might prevent you from doing that

[johnr]

Lindy rigs work but only so-so right now.

Slip bobbers and drop shot are better now. I use livescope to target fish for these techniques. This is aggressive finesse fishing.

[pbrobe]

Gotcha. I have been playing around with my livescope on the lake some but like you said earlier I'm having some trouble locating fish. Do you generally locate fish with sidescan/downscan and then set up your livescope or just cruise around with the livescope and try to pick off fish?

[johnr]

I get on some structure and start scanning it from a stationary position, looking 60-100’ out. Even fish “on the bottom” are visible with the right settings and a little practice. Spot fish and slowly move in on them.

This tactic works well during summer and winter when the fish are “out” on the structure. In spring and fall when the walleyes act like bass by using shoreline cover, this doesn’t work so well. There’s still fish available to this technique, just fewer of them.

[pbrobe]

Great. Thanks for the tips! See you out there