MR Walleye Fishing the Tailrace

[Vollmer]

Two of us fished the Tailrace, yesterday. We got there around 6:00 am and fished until around 6:00 pm. We cruised down to our first spot, in the dark, and got setup on an area we thought would be promising. We caught a couple of small males pretty quickly. We spent the entire morning in that area, cruising up river a bit, then slipping back little by little, rinsing and repeating. We caught quite a few smaller males, ranging from 12"-17".

Around lunchtime we decided to go try out a few other spots, looking for other pods of walleye, and hoping for some bigger fish. While bopping around, we picked up a big sucker and a burbot, but no walleye.

We finished the day back in our initial area. The area was still loaded with the small males. We got right back into catching, almost immediately. (never leave fish to find fish, as they say) We were using our electronics to locate pods of 3+ fish and casting at them. I was pitching a jig/minnow, and my buddy was casting a jig/plastic, all day. The catch rate was about 50/50 between the two setups. In the end, I would guess we boated over 60 walleye on the day.

It was a REALLY nice day out, and I was quite surprised at the lack of boats that were there. We had that spot that we were in all to ourselves almost the entire day. I don't know if there was ever more than 10 boats on the water at one time.

 

[Rowdie]

They were all south. On the drive to Biz yesterday there were A LOT of boats in Ft Rice and Hazelton area.

 

[Pheasant 54]

On Saturday Hazelton had them parked all the way up the road almost to the highway

 

[Allen]

At ~0900 on Saturday, my buddy counted 71 boat/trailer combos at Hazelton. I am guessing it was higher by 1000.

All we could find were smaller (12-18 inch) males. And a 12 lb northern. I caught all mine sitting in 6 ft of water pitching a twister tail up on to a sandbar. I am guessing every bite I had came in 3 ft of water, or less. My buddies were sitting just a few yards away and were catching fish out in somewhat deeper water.

 

[Wall-eyes]

For some reason tailrace has not been good we went up 3 weeks ago only two fish and that was it. Been south gun range rest of time. I will say best fishing I have seen in a while and they are all over the place and depth

 

[Rowdie]

At ~0900 on Saturday, my buddy counted 71 boat/trailer combos at Hazelton. I am guessing it was higher by 1000.

All we could find were smaller (12-18 inch) males. And a 12 lb northern. I caught all mine sitting in 6 ft of water pitching a twister tail up on to a sandbar. I am guessing every bite I had came in 3 ft of water, or less. My buddies were sitting just a few yards away and were catching fish out in somewhat deeper water.

Thanks for the report. You'd think one or two guys would at least brag a little with that many boats out. BTW I'd take a limit of 16-18 inchers ALL DAY!!

 

[v193]

tailrace has been very good. some big fish coming out of there too. gotta get that super early or late bite.

 

[svnmag]

tailrace has been very good. some big fish coming out of there too. gotta get that super early or late bite.

IME that's always. Then there's those rare dark days in May/early June when the ambient temp is 68/75ish; it rains sporadically in big, warm lazy drops: Lightning is not an issue...cherish these rare days.

Back in '08/09 I dropped the family off at the airport at 5am on a Monday. I noticed the soft "feathery" feel of the slight breeze and smelled that "stone" scent. I went up to the Darling Dam. The water was cut off yet it was still near "full pool" with beautiful emerald clarity. Within an hour I caught a 3lb walleye on a 3/8oz spinner bait and two "double digit" pike on a Super ShadRap twitched on top.

As common with ShadRap lips; it became a glide bait after a bump on the rocks. I got pissed and realized I was hungry. I went back south to Hardee's (wishing they had a Mushroom/Swiss Burger in Minot).

Got back to the house; cracked a beer; checked the weather and realized the whole of ND was in the same weather pattern: I gathered my shit, put ice in the cooler from the 'fridge and went down the East Bank. There was one guy on the "point".

The weather hadn't changed. It was awesome: I caught my limit in a 1/2hr: The guy on the point was happy for me. FWIW: I KNOW what happens on the point...hue hue hue:

That is all:

 

[svnmag]

^^^^I've observed nothing illegal or unethical on that point. My apologies.