Spring Walleye Tactics at Heskett

[fly2cast]

Last spring was the first time I've ever fished the river at Heskett, near Mandan. I caught quite a few male walleye before sunset using a jig. However I never did catch anything but smaller males. I know the larger fish exist in that area because the night fishermen would catch them, typically using crankbaits. My question is where are these bigger fish located during the daytime in that area? They are obviously in the area because they are caught every night. Are they sitting farther in the main river and move shallow during the night? Just wondering if any of you have had any experience finding these larger fish during daylight. I know during spawning the females are more active during the night but its hard to believe that if they are in the area where I cast that none of them would bite at all during the day. I never saw a big fish caught during the day last year.

 

[Sluggo]

The big ones are in the same area as the little ones. The big ones ignore lures until it gets dark but the little ones bite day and night.

 

[guywhofishes]

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those two steamer trays (maybe 4 gallons each) yielded 1.5 qt

that was from one tree for three days - then warm weather hit

we’ll see what happens in the next week - looks promising

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[risingsun]

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those two steamer trays (maybe 4 gallons each) yielded 1.5 qt

that was from one tree for three days - then warm weather hit

we’ll see what happens in the next week - looks promising

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I guess Heskitt must be one hell of a honey hole.

 

[guywhofishes]

oops - meant to post this in the Is Spring Here? thread. Hee hee.

 

[Twitch]

I was wondering what the skaters were experimenting with nowadays

 

[Mr. Stevenson]

Learn to deal with raindrops and insects. Worldwide. Fresh or salt. Pray for dark skies and light rain. Heavy rain is not a detriment. Lightning and thunderclaps don't spook fish. Lightening destroys rods and produces good retard stories for the media.

Learn to deal with insects and raindrops; along with abnormally large presentations: That is the key.

 

[JayKay]

Learn to deal with raindrops and insects. Worldwide. Fresh or salt. Pray for dark skies and light rain. Heavy rain is not a detriment. Lightning and thunderclaps don't spook fish. Lightening destroys rods and produces good retard stories for the media.

Learn to deal with insects and raindrops; along with abnormally large presentations: That is the key.

1) Not sure what you are talking about?
2) Yes, the big ones are in the same waters as the little ones. There are just a LOT more little ones, and I feel that they are less spooky and more active than the big ones. It's how the big ones get to be older (and bigger).
3) I have always had more luck after dark, than even dusk. I find that there is a bite right after sunset, and another later in the night, that works out even better for me.
4) I have caught little ones as late as late-June, but never bothered fishing in the summer at Heskett. Too shallow, and gets too weedy.
5) Again, it seems too shallow to be good daytime fishing.
6) Traditionally, fall is better than spring. But the past couple of springs have been LIT.

Jaykay

 

[Mr. Stevenson]

^^^^When the rain is falling and mosquitos are biting so are the bigger fish IME. Weather doesn't spook fish and don't get fixated on a good bite.