About Oregon Walleye Fishing
Walleyes have made their reputation for being excellent table fair, but
aren't known for being great fighters. I think that's because most walleyes
that anglers catch are in the 2- to 4-pound class. However, when an angler takes a
guided trip with a professional Oregon walleye guide and hooks a 15-pound walleye,
it brings on a whole new view of this fishery.
Walleyes up to 6 pounds are the best eating. Most guides discourage clients
from keeping the big females unless they're going to be mounted. A mount
that would memorialize your catch and provide you with a lasting memory of a day fishing the great Columbia River is a great way to go.
 Head
out now for the big ones
Walleye
fishing should continue to improve as the water warms up, according to Don
Schneider of Reel Adventures 1/15.
(Photo): Get fishing below
the John Day Dam to nail Columbia River some walleye like these.
"When the Columbia warms to
48 degrees, the fishing will really pick up," he said, "and it will stay
good at least until August. That's when the shad smolts move down through the
system, flooding the river with easy prey. When that happens the walleye
will be next to impossible to catch."
Columbia River monthly
temperatures
This is the time to fish,
though, especially if you have your eye on a real wallhanger.
"Right now (Jan-Feb) is
the best time of the year to catch the big females," said Schneider.
"Fishing will remain good for
numbers as the weather warms, but the fisherman that wants a really big one
should be on the water now."
Water temperature, more than
the time of year, is what triggers the bite. April is usually the best
month, but the Columbia has been slow to warm this year, so the peak could
easily stretch into May.
The mighty Columbia River
offers the best walleye fishing in Oregon, possibly in the country. Brownlee
Reservoir is the primary lake for walleye fishing in Oregon. Walleye are
also found in some of the smaller lakes and rivers. The Columbia River
has produced both the Oregon state record walleye and the
Washington state record walleye.
The next world record will likely come from the Columbia River.
|
 Oregon Walleye |
Washington
Walleye |
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25 lbs - 0 oz |
25 lbs - 0 oz |
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19 lbs - 15 oz |
19 lbs - 3 oz (photo)->> |
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38 - 60 Degrees |
38 - 60 Degrees |
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Prefers slightly stained to murky water with
little or no current. |
Prefers slightly stained to murky water with
little or no current. |
Oregon walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to
migrate from the lake or river up into feeder streams to spawn. If this
option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean
bottom surfaces near deep water.
This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its
mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects.
They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water.
Where to
go
One of the best places to
try your luck has traditionally been the reach of river below the John Day
Dam, even after the floods of '96 slowed the fishing down. You'll still do
very well here, whether you're seeking a monster or just looking to take
home some tasty walleye fillets.
Compared to many other
states, the limits here are generous. You can keep five walleye under 18
inches and five fish over 18 inches, one of which can be over 24 inches.
However, Schneider and other guides who work the area suggest you release
the big females after a photo or two, to insure they keep contributing their
"big" genes to the gene pool. Likewise, they also encourage you to release
most of the smallest keeper-sized fish to provide the recruitment necessary
to sustain this quality fishery.
Here are your best bets
for John Day walleye:
The Deadline:
Walleye can be caught from a number of different locations below the dam.
The Deadline is a
good hole to take some big ones, but it's a difficult stretch to fish, and
not a place for beginners. It's very snaggy and the currents can be tricky.
There are also some nasty shoals and rocks that lie just under the surface
of the water. If you're not familiar with the area, you can get into trouble
quickly. I strongly suggest you fish with someone who's done it a couple
times before.
Preacher's Eddy:
Just downriver from The Deadline, Preacher's Eddy has long been famous for
its big fish.
While not as difficult to fish as The Deadline, this stretch has an
undulating bottom, running anywhere from 12 to 32 feet. Schneider considers
this prime depth for walleye. As you troll or drift downstream, you must
continually adjust the depth of your bait to keep it on the bottom.
The Willows and
downstream: The Willows, just down from Preacher's
Eddy near the Washington bank, is an easier stretch to fish.
The bottom is less irregular and
it's easier to stay in the strike zone. While some good walleye are taken
here, this stretch is better known for eating-sized fish.On the Oregon side,
you'll find 106 Hole, another good spot. In fact, there is good water just
about everywhere.
"There is good walleye water
near the Highway 97 Bridge, and other good water all the way down to The
Dalles," said Schneider.
"A good trick is to look for
the buoys of the tribal fishermen, since they're almost always set in the
right depths for walleye."
How to
hook 'em
We were fishing with
nightcrawlers rigged on bottom-walkers, one of the easiest ways to catch
walleye in the Columbia, especially when the winds are up. The rig is
simple. Attach the bottom-bouncer to your main line, and run a 4 or 5-foot
leader from the walker to the bait. Set a few beads and a Spin-N-Glo on the
line directly above a double hook rig.
Chartreuse and green are good
colors. Pass the worm's head through the first hook and set the stinger hook
in the worm, an inch or 2 below the first one, leaving some slack in the
line between the hooks. This allows for the stretch of the worm once you've
dragged it through the water for a while.
Let the bait to the bottom
and troll downstream. Be sure to keep adjusting your line so that the
bouncer is ticking the bottom at all times. If you're not on the bottom,
you're not fishing for walleye.
Jigging blade baits such as
the Rattlin' Ripple Tail and Schneider's favorite, the Heddon Sonar, is
another good technique. You'll have to handle your boat a little more
precisely in order to keep the bait near the bottom, as the boat will move
down with the current.
Expect to lose a few baits,
since those two treble hooks will occasionally bounce off the rough bottom.
Other good bets are tipping
Li'l Hummer spinners or jigs with worms, or trolling crankbaits, a technique
that works best in the areas with level bottoms.
A last
word
There are boat launches
close to the action on both sides of the river: one at Rufus on the Oregon
side, another at Maryhill in Washington. Even though the run to the action
is short, the wind in the Gorge is treacherous, and you should check the
forecast in advance — and keep an eye on the weather at all times.
Walleye
school
Don Schneider will
be holding walleye seminars at Fishermen's Marine at Delta Park at various
times. Check with Fishermen's Marine for dates and times.
Book your trip now!
Oregon Walleye
Fishing Guide 970-871-4803
E-mail:
walleye@abproguides.com
(Best to contact us by email)
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Jack Glass |
"Team Hook-Up Guide Service"
Jack Glass or Brandon Glass
Email:
jack@hookupguideservice.com or
brandon@hookupguideservice.com
Web site:
www.hookupguideservice.com
Top Oregon fishing guides, a father and son team with over 25 years of
experience fishing walleye on the Columbia River. Very well know in the
sport fishing industry. Always provides a fun, highly successful and enjoyable trip.
Visit Jack and Brandon's
Columbia walleye trips page for more information or to book a trip. |
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Paul Woodrum
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"Wildlife Fishing Adventures"
Paul Woodrum
Email:
paul@wildlifefishing.com Web site:
www.wildlifefishing.com
Another well known and experienced northwest walleye fishing guide who
genuinely loves the sport and is a joy to spend the day with. Paul knows
where to find the best eating size walleye and has had good success
guiding clients to trophy fish as well. Visit Paul's
Oregon walleye guides page for more information. |
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Don Schneider |
"Don
Schneider's Reel Adventures"
Don Schneider
Email:
reeladv@aol.com
Web
site:
www.donsreeladventures.com
Don provides guided trips for Columbia River walleye year-round below
the John Day Dam, and mid July through November below Bonneville Dam.
Former tackle shop owner and sponsor for several walleye lure
manufactures. Don knows his stuff and packs all the best lures for Columbia
River walleye fishing. Walleye training trips also. Visit Don's
Oregon walleye fishing guide page for more information. |
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