walleye

January 18

~ James Skinner

Recap of the fishing week. We had some really nice weather lately so I hit the ice twice. We went out Thursday the 17th after school. Picked up 3 nice pike in about an hour right at dark st the opening to lewis and clark. Weather was overcast with a possible rain storm coming that next morning.

Move ahead to saturday, a little colder but not bad, clear blue skies, I try multiple spots. Went out of lewis and Clark about 1/4 of the way out and found 19 ft of water but no fish. Moved back in to the hole and found 22 ft of water and got one Walleye on a tip up with a trip minnow hook. Then moved to pike alley at evening and only managed one small pike with no other bites. Wondering if the clear skies had anything to do with it. Oh well, still a fun day!

Samantha gets a whopper!

~ James Skinner

Went out ice fishing today, second time this year, with lots of information to update. People have been doing really well at long creek for walleye the last few days. Temps have been warm, near the 40s, and good weather. However we got a big snow storm on Wednesday that brought along much colder temps. We tried for walleye today just outside of long creek bay in 19 fy of water but got nothing. 

We then moved to my pike spot at lewis and Clark, depth was about 17 ft. We didn’t get much for a while but right near sunset things picked up fast with 4 pike hotting the ice in quick succession. Fish at 13, 8, and 6 lbs.  Then Samantha catches a mpnster, 43 in 21 lb fish that is a ND whopper club size! She got her fish on a bucktail jig with a half smelt. The others came on a rattletrap and the 13 lb on a minnow and tipup. Weather was colder, 15 for a high with shifting weather from cloudy to clear and windier. 

pike video

Kota Ray 8/17/17

~ James Skinner

Well went out in rooke’s boat to Kota-Ray again today to mixed success. We did managed some nice perch off of the weed edge across from the back fishing dock and got a few small walleye there as well but no big bass. Weather was odd with cooler temps, cloudy, and a storm passed that seemed to shut them down. The smaller spinner jig bait worked well as did minnows on slip bobber and dead stick jigging. Overall not a bad day but not great. Also manged a trout and a nice bluegill.

White Earth fishing

~ James Skinner

Went to white earth bay today. Water was same quality as lunds so I am not sure it is worth the trip. Managed to get 3 keeper walleye in 9 ft of water or so. Weather has taken a cool dip with some rain last few days so that may have pushed them shallow. Caught them on worms with no spinner was best.

Double!

~ James Skinner

Went out fishing at Lunds today along the rocks hoping for some eyes, didn’t find any but as the wind shifted and came up we did find some frenzy feeding white bass and a great time was had. I even managed to get 2 on one rattletrap! They really like the silver with green top on Sakakawea. Some were really good size at 2 lbs and change. 

Late spring eyes

~ James Skinner

Walleye have been biting great the past week. Went out Thursday and got 5. All of the fish are shallow, 6-10 feet of water or even lesd. Got 3 of them on a yellow and silver clackin-rap but worms on lindys did well too. Weather has been really warm and water is pretty muddy but they don’t seem to mind. Surface temp was 60 degrees or more.
No pictures sorry.

Update on spring

~ James Skinner

Went out yesterday, water temp were around 51 degrees, didn’t get any walleyes nd the general was a slow bite. Did get 2 white bass and they seemed active.  Tried on lake side of point in lewis and clark for crappie but no luck, might try shallows this weekend.

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Went out a week ago from shore at Lewis and clark and did well, fish were holding in about 3 or 4 feet of water, and catfish were ravanous!

First day in boat!

~ James Skinner

Took Rooke’s boat out today for first time. Ice came off of this end of the lake about a week ago.  Fished in about 8-10 feet of water at 50 degrees. Managed two good walleye and a slab crappie. Jigging powerbait minnows with a slow retrieve worked well along with dead sticking a minnow below the boat.  Water was super brown but they still seem capable of finding food.
As far as spawn goes, neither of the eyes had eggs but they may have been males idk.  Crappie may start spawning soon so I need to watch for that. 

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