Its time

[ctom]

I don't know about ya'll but its time this board got put up. We have too many people posting here that fish these tooth riddled fish and for those that do fish them they know that things can get specific.

Different geographic regions of the country can have specific tactics used to catch these fish and learning from area to area can help everyone. And having a specific place here on site helps to reduce searching for posts or threads relating to these fish. I think this section is gong to be super.

[Muskygary]

I agree Tom, a lot of us don't get to fish walleye as often as we would like, but most of us target walleye on our northern vacations. Its great to be up on plastic molds and colors that work. It can get old fishing just a jig and minnow. New ideas give us something ti try!

[Lamar]

   I'm all in on this too. I normally go to Canada twice a year. It's about the only time I take the time to target walleye. I refuse to troll for just about anything. Boring at best. But I love to take a jig and bounce it down a ledge and feel that little pop at the end of the line. I could do that all day long and never get tired of it. The only thing I stop for is to cook a few of them up for shore lunch over an open fire. To me that's as good as it gets. I've done this for 47 years now and it's always been my favorite time of the year.

[ctom]

When I was on staff with Culprit as a crappie specialist I was able to order plastics for bass too. Its amazing how much of the bass tackle will swing right into the walleye/sauger arena. Maybe a nip here or a snip there and wallah! But now making the stuff myself, things are going to assume a different level of appreciation.

[WALLEYE WACKER]

I really like the toothy ones.I started to make jigs 1 because of the price the bait shop's charged and 2 to make colors you can't get. There is no greater satisfaction when you can catch a limit with something you made. I make all kind's of jigs,3/8 and 1/4 oz.blade bait, tail spinner bait,and buck tail's with blades from #5 UP TO#12, And now pouring my own plastic there's no need to pay the high price's any more. I have found over the year's that walleye, sauger, really like  3.5"swim bait and musky,pike prefer 4.5" and up. If you get a chance look at Red October bait's you see some really cool video's on some big tube bait's. mike

[ctom]

Man Mike, that really says it all and I can't agree more with you.

I do two baits that are what I call walleye-specific and they are both of a super poplular couple designs. They both have some flexibility to two color use and that will be sweet.

I got hold of some custom shot plastics for walleye fishing a couple falls ago. The party I bought them from let me dictate the color schemes in each plastic and I ended up with some real serious walleye fodder in the 3 to 5 inch ranges to use when the water temps sunk below the magic 50 degree mark up here. One day we came back to the launch after putting on a clinic for a few locals who fish with nothing but branded baits. And I do mean a clinic. The guys just sat there because they didn't have the colors we had. These guys met us at the ramp. Everything had ice on it or in it and the rods in the holder with our baits were not the exception. After getting trailered up w e set about cutting lines and storing the rods in the back of the van when three of these guys come over and asked to see the baits we had. The jigs with the plastics were laying there so we told them to go ahead. Of course their scrutiny led to the big question, "where'd you get these?". Internet is all that was offered. "Got any we can buy?". "Nope". I did take those plastics we'd used off the jigs and handed them to one of the guys and wished him well. There were two boats full of these guys, only three came forward while the other three stayed with their boats and the six all are pro-staffer for a popular plastics and jig manufacturer in SW wisconsin. On the site they post the most on everyone of them , if asked what color is the best, will list every color in that company's color chart. I didn't see then nor have I seen since and colors like we used. 

[WALLEYE WACKER]

ctomI I agree there are some baits and colors best kept to yourself. Here is one of my secret walleye jig colors pink head with hot pink sheep hair for streamers the only thing is if you don't stick them in some foam they get matted together. I also had same thing happen. There are a few friends over the years that you fish with that you share secrets with. In my case I have a couple of guy's I work with on different bait's and one of them is a member of walleyes unlimited. That is way I like ccm so much is so many people welling too share information that's way it's so great. Have you seen the new VMC spin shot with the EWG worm hook? A store by me has them in 1/0,2/0 and 3/0.As always sharing means more fish in the pan. mike

[ctom]

I picked up some of the regular spin-shot hooks and then found the wide gaps and got some 1/0 to try for the waldos.

[WALLEYE WACKER]

ctom I was in the store  and had some baits with me .I took out a 4" carrot and put next too the 3/0 there was about 1" to a 1.250" behind the hook well have play around and see what work best 2/0 or 3/0 I know the 2/0 is the key for the 3.5 swim bait.I also like the fact that they used standard hook and not the braid hook. I pour my own swim bait hooks  and you get a better hookup percentage with the standard vs. the braid hook. the small diameter hooks up faster. I always use 1/8 oz. 2/0 EWG on the 3.5 swim bait  it falls slower and you get alot more side to side roll too the bait at a slower retrive speed. 5"wutz it I would use 3/0 possibly 4/0.I have also found that if you are using 5"wutzit and carrots as jerk bait  with out weighted hook the braid hook has just the right weight to give you the best action. mike