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New User
Posts: 2
| I need help guys
I am new to Walleye fishing. 
We fish at the Spring River in Arkansas.
The river is narrow and shallow, loaded with Rainbow trout and some nice Walleye I am told.
The water temperature is cold for this part of the world about 60 to 65 degress most of the year.
I have fished with rooster tails, jigs and minnows with no luck except hand size fish. 
Do you have any ideas on what to try
Thanks for your help
Allen |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Allen.
The river that I specialize on is a very shallow river for the most part. There are some deeper holes in this river, and thats where I consintrate most of my efforts during my trips. But, the best time to fish this particular river is during the migration periods of the walleyes life cycle. That being early spring and again during late fall into the winter months. Does this river your talking about, have a bay or lake where it either starts or empties into would be my first question?
Not that this would drastically change where the walleyes would be in the system, but may change where and when they would look for forage, the size and type of it, and where they would stage while doing so. I know the few summer hold over river walleyes in the system I fish, are better caught during the last couple hours before dark and just a little after. With that said, the way you would fish for them may have to be modified to more closely match their feeding habbits and needs.
Edited by walleye express 4/25/2004 8:42 PM
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Location: Rhinelander | Express asked an important question. If indeed the river stands alone near where you are fishing, look to deeper pools, current breaks, and wood and rock cover that breaks up the current, too. There are several shallow rivers here that are full of walleyes. The walleyes we get in the shallow rivers we get on cranks and timber jigs with plastic tails in the heavier cover. |
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If my guess - of this Spring River being clear - is right, I would fish the shallow water above the deepest holes late at night! Cast large stick baits and slowly make a steady retrieve. |
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New User
Posts: 2
| Thanks for the help
The spring river is crystal clear. It is fed by Mammoth springs one of the largest springs in the country. If I remember right 9 million gallons an hour. The river goes from the spring for about 20 miles and feeds into the black river. The closer to the spring the colder the water 58 dergees at the Spring. What is the best water temperature for Walleye.
Thanks again
Allen |
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I have an idea for you Trout. Why don't you consider joining the PWT Walleye tournament there at Bull Shoals as an amateur? Great way to learn the trade! Check it out in this link: http://www.in-fisherman.com/pwt/tournaments/04Arkansas/ |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Thanks for the help
The spring river is crystal clear. It is fed by Mammoth springs one of the largest springs in the country. If I remember right 9 million gallons an hour. The river goes from the spring for about 20 miles and feeds into the black river. The closer to the spring the colder the water 58 dergees at the Spring. What is the best water temperature for Walleye.
Thanks again
Allen
Trout.
In this particular instance, the best standard/acceptable water temperature for active walleyes may not apply. As these walleyes would have to adapt, conform and adjust their own life cycles and habbits to this confined environment, in this river the way it is and stays. And doing what Rick suggested would indeed give you a leg-up on the reservoir fishing startegies in the area, but probably wouldn't help your fishing game plan that much, if you just want to fish this area river your talking about. As the techniques and timetables used for doing each given the variables you explained, would not jive IMHO.
I'd start by gathering some info from the locals. This includes the bait shops and the guys you observe fishing at the public access points. Stand back out of the way and just watch what they are doing and how they are doing it before approaching and asking anything specific. Maybe take a canoe ride one day from point A to B on this river and make it a fact finding/gathering mission versus a fishing trip. Look at the bottom and everything else you can visually see in the river. What type and size of the minnows you see. Where the deepest holes are and where the access points nearest to them would be.
You also may have to consider that the walleyes in this system may indeed simply be stunted. If they are planted in this river system versus naturally reproducing, what you see may be what your going to continue to get. Like all the other sports, you have to learn to walk before you can run. Thats all I got, other than good luck.
Edited by walleye express 4/27/2004 9:49 AM
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