SPRING WALLEYE ON WA LAKES

BY RICHY HARROD | HARROD OUTDOORS

rods to spread out your gear. TERMINAL GEAR A 7-foot to 7-foot, 6-inch moderate action, medium power graphic bait The selection of lures first casting rod works very well for the depends on whether or not you’re front side of the boat. in the back or , obviously, but corner of the boat, I like to run a more importantly on walleye 9-foot, 6-inch steelhead rod to forage. Walleye feed on small fish, get the trolling gear out as far as particularly perch or crappie fry, possible so not to interfere with the leeches, crayfish, or insect larvae. front rods. If you find concentrations Lures that match the forage color Walleye are probably my favorite of fish, I like casting jigs or blade will improve your success. fish to catch and, most definitely, baits with a 7-foot spinning rod the best eating of our freshwater with fast action and medium light or Checking out the gut contents . Late winter and early medium power. can help you determine what forage spring is a great time to go walleye walleye are targeting. Tipping lures fishing on Washington lakes. Braided line is a must for me. All with nightcrawlers is preferred by of my walleye rods are spooled with most anglers, but live or artificial

The number of fish caught may 20-pound, green colored braided worms or leeches are preferred by not be as great as in the late spring line. Braided line doesn’t stretch, others. Scents can be used as well, and summer, but the average so it allows you to feel the bite very but I personally think nothing beats a size is greater and the fish are in well. “ big nightcrawler. great condition. There are many techniques for catching walleye, but I troll almost exclusively with Mack’s these methods have worked well for EARLY SPRING IS A GREAT TIME TO Lure Smile Blade® lures because me from year to year. of the large range of color options FISH FOR WALLEYE ON WA LAKES. and because of the action the Smile TOOLS OF THE TRADE “ — RICHY HARROD Blade® provides. There really isn’t one type of fishing If you have never fished with braid, rod that will fit all your fishing needs you have to learn not to set the hook when targeting walleye because as you would with monofilament. You you’ll want to try trolling and casting can literally rip lips with braided line. to see which yields the most fish. Some of my friends perfere to top Trolling allows you to cover the most shot their spool with fluorocarbon to water to find elusive fish. lower line visibility.

You are allowed to fish two rods My kokanee and sockeye rods are in most walleye lakes, so with four top shot, but I’ve never worried about Dark colors on cloudy days or early to six rods in your boat, it’s a good it while walleye fishing, and it doesn’t in the morning work well, while lighter idea to have a mix of short and long seem to matter in my opinion. colors work well in bright sunlight. MACKSLURE.COM Page 1 The new UV Glo® Burst, UV Copper, Use a GPS to mark spots where UV Lemon Lime and UV Purple Haze you catch fish and troll back over Smile Blades® have become my Walleye are largely found near the those spots, or mark them with a favorite colors. bottom, so I use bottom bouncers or smal lbuoy and jig those spots. I find heal weights to keep my lures close that my marked spots consistently In the winter or early spring, small to the bottom. In the late winter and produce fish year afte ryear. I see profile lures, such as the Smile early spring, you want to troll slowly lots of fishermen trolling all over Blade® Slow Death or Smile at speeds of 0.4 to 0.6 mph. As the the place and not focusing on any Blade® Spindrift® Walleye are water warms, faster speeds up to 1.0 particular spot. My saying is “troll perfect for slow trolling for lethargic mph work better when walleye are with purpose.” if you want to catch fish. Double Whammy® Pros, Cha chasing bait. more fish, fish spots where fish are! Cha® Crawlers or the dependable Wally Pop® Crawler work well when Walleye can be suspended at times, the fish are more aggressive. so don’t be completely focused on the bottom. Spring storms create the “walleye chop” and fish can move into the shoreline or along rock walls to find baitfish. I have run bottom bounces on one rod and another rod off my downrigger to position my gear in the middle of the water column. Watch your electronics and I hope these tips and tricks help position your gear where the fish are. you put more fish in your boat. The most important aspect of any type of Rod position is important when fishing is to let fish tell you what they trolling with bottom bouncers. The want. Pay attention to the details. If rod tip should be low near the water. you start catching fish on the outside Your main line should be at about a rod when you turn, then consider 45-degree angle into the water, so speeding up your troll. Likewise, Regardless of my lure selection, choose a bottom bouncer weight slow down if you catch them on the I always run long leader lengths of that will allow you to achieve the inside rod. Shorten your worms if at least 4-feet to keep the lure back proper angle for your speed and you’re missing bites. Constantly be a from the bottom bouncers and to water depth. student and you’ll become a better allow the Smile Blade® to move the . lure more freely. A should be a sweep of the rod tip, parallel with the water Give Richy a follow on Instagram Walleye are gregarious and surface. If you jerk the rod tip away and Facebook at @HarrodOutdoors groups of fish will locate on bottom from the water, you often will pull the and checkout his website for more - structure, so jigging can work very gear away from the fish and you’ll HarrodOutdoors.com. well, especially as summer comes. A miss the hook set. lead head jig with twister tail plastics and tipped with a nightcrawler is Jigging technique is important, very effective. However, my favorite as well. Lead head jigs should be jigging technique is to use a Sonic dropped to the bottom, lifted slowly BaitFish™ rigged so that it behaves and dropped back to the bottom like a blade bait. Perch colors or without putting slack in your line. silver and blue have worked well for I like to lift the jig about two feet me. before I drop it. Walleye will often hit the jig on the way down. Plugs can be very effective for catching walleye, as well. Fish move Jigging Sonic BaitFish™ is similar, into shallower water after the spawn except the lift from the bottom and as the water warms. Plugs that shouuld be short and quick so that imitate small fish work perfectly, the lure will vibrate and flutter on the especially when pulled at higher way down. The bite on a jig is often speeds (2 to 3 mph) along weed aggressive and, unlike a crawler lines. carness, they aften set the hook themselves.

MACKSLURE.COM Page 2 in addition to its swimming action on fish with loving care. Thank you for SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF) the troll or retrieve. When vertical subscribing to the Mack Attack and jigging, the actions on the fall join us next month for the May issue. TIPS & TECHNIQUES include darting, fluttering, flashing and vibration. The accompanying photo (right) shows a 1/10 oz SBF. The BF has been altered by me. (I have about ten different ways, thus far, that I can catch fish on every alteration. That’s the beauty of the versatility of a SBF.) The alteration includes using the provided snap as an attachment for the hook and Indiana attractor blade. I would prefer to have the hook and spinner blade to be attached to a split ring COOK YOUR CATCH instead for added strength. Then, THE DESIGN OF THE 1/10 attach a snap swivel to the nose of TUNA CASSEROLE OZ SONIC BAITFISH™ the SBF to minimize line twist. Always make sure the snap has a wide bend, BY CAPT. PETE ROSKO similar to the one included in the When I designed the 1/10 oz SBF, I package. This prevents the loss of had two primary types of actions in lure action. The blade action creates mind besides vertical jigging. They extra flash and vibration in addition were swimming and “skittering”. to helping the planning action of Swimming is self-explanatory. the SBF. The SBF will skip over the On the other hand, I do not think surface on its flattened side with a skittering is even a word. It could gurgling/darting sound similar to be a remote derivative of skittish, a the all-time surface bass killer, the real word. It means lively, nervous Fred Arbogast Jitterbug. Practice or easily frightened. Whatever with your 6 - 6 1/2 foot spinning rod Ingredients (5-7 servings) interpretation is applied to it, held vertically with a constant fast- skittering can produce strikes when twitching retrieve between 11 to 12 • 1 (12 oz.) package egg noodles; all else fails. o’clock. By becoming proficient with • 2 cups frozen green peas; this technique you will be rewarded • 2 (10.75 oz.) can condensed Generally, when I’m casting to with impressive strikes! Glow white, cream of mushroom soup; near-surface freshwater fish, like and glow chartreuse, are two of my • 2 (6 oz.) cans tuna, drained; largemouth bass, trout and walleyes, productive finishes. TIPS: Cast to • 1 onion, chopped; my retrieve is slow and steady. The surfacing-feeding fish anywhere that • 10 slices American processed swimming, darting and vibrating occurs. Or, cast parallel to outside cheese; action of the SBF is very effective edges of shoreline vegetation or rip • Ground black pepper to taste because it imitates a real swimming rap. Near-dusk can be a magical and semi-frantic . However, time with this skipping technique. Directions I deviate from that action when largemouth bass turn negative to VERY IMPORTANT: The attractor 1. Bring a large pot of water to a the swimming action. That’s when blade, and hook eye, MUST be free- boil. Add noodles and frozen skittering can dramatically change swinging to be effective. Binding peas. Cook until noodles are the day! Bass find it extremely of either adversely alters the SBF al dente, drain well. Return difficult not to attack something that action. FINAL TIP: To enlarge the eye noodles and peas to pot. is attempting to escape from it. If I hole of the attractor blade, use a have a thousand bass photos, with a drill bit in reverse. This will prevent 2. Mix soup, tuna fish, onions, SBF hanging in its mouth, 75% were binding of the bit into the metal and processed cheese, and pepper caught by skipping the SBF over the will still enlarge the hole. Place the into the pot. Stir constantly surface. I touched lightly on this convex side down against a block of until all of the ingredients are subject in last month’s Mack Attack. wood, or tree stump, before drilling. well-mixed and the cheese has Better yet, use a bench press. melted. The relatively thin design of the 1/10 oz SBF was formed for a As always, be safe on the water 3. Drain on paper towels and frisbee-type action on the surface and handle your catch & release serve.

MACKSLURE.COM Page 3 erratic burst like action to the lure, put your favorite Cripplure™ on the GUEST COMMENTARY which encourages a striking reaction surface about 300-feet behind the from the trout. boat, set your RPMs at 1,200 and you’ll catch plenty of fish. That being Introduce this trolling technique said, there is a very special event regardless if you are long lining or that takes place every May on Shasta fishing off a downrigger. Find a Lake. It is the unique and exciting consistent speed that is making your trout bite in plankton bloom and I lures work the most effectively. Then, have only found it to be present on every couple of minutes, adjust your one arm of the lake, the Pitt arm. throttle to mimic a bait fish bursting through the water trying to escape Why the Pitt, you ask? Good from a predator. question. I don’t have an exact or scientific reason, but I suspect it’s When practicing this method, be because the Pitt River from the TROLLING TIP: ALTER SPEEDS sure to select lures that mimic a bait Lassen drainage runs through the BY DANNY COYNE, MACK’S LURE PRO STAFF fish, such as plugs, spoons, Wiggle fertile farmland and ranch lands of Hoochies™ and a variety of bucktail the Burney and Fall River basin. Many flies. I can guarantee you that this of the nutrients needed to create this Most anglers are aware that will increase your hook up ratio and massive bloom of plankton is flushed paying attention to trolling speeds is put more fish in your net. out every spring down into the Pitt critical in achieving a successful day River, then into the lake. Now, I’m of fishing. If we troll too slow, some of not educated enough to explain the the gear we use won’t work correctly. GARY’S FISHING CORNER entire process, all I know is that every And if we troll too fast, our gear May, we get this massive bloom of can actually repel fish rather than plankton so thick that it’s easily visible attract them. There are numerous as you travel up the river through it. factors to take into consideration when selecting your trolling speeds, The key to finding this bloom such as the lure you’re using, the is water temperature. As you’re species of fish you’re targeting and traveling up river, the water the time of year, to name a few. The temperature in the main body of the one trolling technique that remains lake is usually in the low- to mid- consistent when targeting predator sixties. As you approach the upper fish, such as rainbow and lake trout, reaches of the Pitt arm, you’ll see the is not to troll the same speed for the water temperature drop drastically entire time in which you’re fishing. THE TROUT PLANKTON BLOOM from the sixties into the fifties. This We hear and read all the time that is important to notice because this is precise trolling speeds can be ideal, BY GARY MIRALLES, MACK’S LURE CONSULTANT the proper temperature needed for however this doesn’t mean that you the bloom. Once you begin to notice only troll that one speed consistently. The weather is settling down and the temperature drop, look close the fishing will be improving as the for signs of the bloom. Usually, you Predator fish like to chase their barometer settles down and the will notice a lot of surface clutter, prey! When a bait fish is trying to water temperatures get warmer. May such as leaves, needles, stick and escape a predator, it doesn’t swim has always been one of my favorite branches. I’ve even seen huge logs exactly at one rate, but rather months to fish Shasta Lake (Calif.). in this area floating on the surface. they make quick bursts through the The lake is always at its highest level water. Think of casting a spoon or in May. That means that there is 365 Often times, you will see the fish a crankbait and how we retrieve it. miles of beautiful miles of beautiful, feeding in these areas as they We don’t just keep reeling the lure tree-covered shoreline to witness as cruise the surface, inhaling massive in at one speed — we jerk the line, you fish the many areas of the lake. quantities of plankton. Once you speed our retrieve up and down observe this scenario, look closely to create more action to the lure. One of the biggest advantages at the water for what looks like a The same idea applies to trolling. to fishing Shasta in May is that the massive wall of rolling mud. You can Many anglers experience very good trout are prevalent, active and on literally watch the fish swimming results when using planer boards the surface. You can practically through this massive wall of nutrient- and there’s a reason why — when the catch fish anywhere on the lake in rich food as they inhale large planer board surges in and out of this month. You can even catch trout quantities with every pass. the water with the waves, it transfers trolling behind your house boat. Just

MACKSLURE.COM Page 4 Once you’ve located the area vibration, bringing fish right up to to fish, move back a good three- NEW PRODUCT RELEASE your gear. The high UV blue beads hundred yards from the spot and and red tubing, combined with the begin your procedure of setting out premium willowleaf blades, is proven your lines. You want to have all your to attract more fish. lures in place when you reach the bloom. The Ball Troll also includes an Ultra Release, a simple, ultra-light Color, depth and distance are downrigger release, which includes important. Since the plankton is kind a tension screw adjustment to fit the of copper, orange and gold colors, thickness of your line and can be set I’ve found that similar colors work light enough to release even on the best. But remember, visibility is tough, smallest fish. so bright and fluroescent colors work well. Depth is important because the The Ball Troll is now available at plankton are usually near the surface MACK’S LURE RELEASES BALL MacksLure.com or ask for it at your in the top 15-feet of water. In fact, TROLL DOWNRIGGER ATTRACTOR local bait and tackle shop. plankton are light sensitive and tends to move with th esun and the shade WENATCHEE, Wash. - Mack’s of the surrounding mountain side. Lure, Inc., manufacturer of popular downrigger trolling products such as My favorite lure combinations the Shuttle Hawk and Ultra Release, for this event are as follows: has released the Ball Troll.

1. Sling Blade™ 4” Copper “We are happy to provide a Orange trailing 3-feet back product which is used as a trick of and tied directly to a Hum the trade for many fishing guides,” Dinger® Copper Orange. Mack’s Lure President Bob Schmidt said. “The Ball Troll provides lots of 2. Sling Blade™ 4” Orange Gold flash and action without the drag of trailing 30-feet back and tied the attractor being in-line when you to a Hum Dinger® Red Gold reel in the catch.” Sand. The Ball Troll, which has been field- I set up these combos on my tested fishing for trout, kokanee, SCENTFLASH downriggers at five feet and the and many more species other at 8- to 10-feet, 150-feet back. throughout the country, is a long DECALS ARE I like to use Cripplures on the surface, rotational flasher, designed to snap set at about 200-feet back. I never to your downrigger ball. run more than four rods. NOW SOLD The 26-inch troll is made of large Now that you’re set, just troll 2 mph nickel, willowleaf blades and high SEPARATELY through the middle of the bloom UV beads, which will attract fish while navigating your boat to avoid from further away by combining a CLICK HERE TO VIEW larger surface clutter. You will hook tremendous amount of flash and up one or two fish every time you pass through the bloom. The average size fish range from 18- to 25-inches with an 18-inch rainbow weighing two and a half pounds.

The bloom is only 200- to 300- feet in distance, so make fast, quick turns and head right back through again. Also, remember the plankton are light-sensitive, so you need to be up there before the sun gets above your head, which is normally around 10 a.m.

MACKSLURE.COM Page 5 QUESTION HOT DEAL OF THE MONTH OF THE MONTH Have a question? We’d love to answer it for you! Shoot us an email at media@ mackslure.com with your question and you may see it featured in an upcoming issue of the Mack Attack Magazine!

Q: I’m fishing for trout. How do I know which size of hook to use?

A: That’s a great question! The number one thing you can do is to talk with your local bait and tackle shop as to the area PHOTO OF THE MONTH of which you are fishing. Talking with the The Northwest Outdoorsmen’s Richy Harrod shows off a Rufus Woods triploid caught locals who fish those waters can provide on a Mack’s Lure Smile Blade spinner. Richy and Mack’s Lure’s Bob Loomis had a day. a plethora of information, as well.

There are a lot of great lures that Mack’s Lure has to offer in regards to trout fishing, too. If you were trolling for 15- to 20-inch rainbows, the preferred sized Wedding Ring® to use is a No. 4 while trolling at 1.8- to 2.0-mph.

Trout like a faster trolling speed and a flashy presentation; that’s why our Wedding Ring® spinners work really well.

Try using a Double D™ Ddoger with a 24- to 36-inch leader behind the dodger and see the results. Another alternative to use is the Wedding Ring® UV Spinner. All fish can see objects in the water that are emitted from the sun’s UV rays. This PHOTO CREDIT: Harrod Outdoors spinner looks exactly like a Wedding Ring® Classic Original Series, but all of the components are high UV, which can VIDEO OF THE MONTH be seen on sunny or cloudy days. The Mack’s Lure team joined Northwest Fishing Reports TV to fish the Lower Colum- bia River for walleye using Smile Blade spinners. Tips galore for walleye fishing. If you’re looking for a lure with two hooks, our Ringmaster® Series is a Wedding Ring® with two hooks in a No. 4 size, as well.

Best of luck!

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