i cant catch walleye! help!!!

[wolf man]

hey guys, ive never caught a walleye , ive targeted walleye several times this year. ive done a bit of reading on techniques and i have had no such luck.im not sure what im doing wrong. probably a combination of everything.
i wanted to go back to Lake Hopatcong with an idea of how to catch them since what ive read hasnt worked yet. what is the best time and what is the best location to target them there? live bait or lures?deep or shallow? please pm me or let me know. or if you are willing to go out with me on my boat and teach me, let me know. thanks in advance for any help!

[catfishonthelake]

Have you tried fishing at night?

[wolf man]

Have you tried fishing at night?


yep, but i gotta be doing something wrong. any advice catfish?

[FASTEDDIE29]

I would try swartswood if i were you. I consider it a WALLEYE AQUARIUM!

[AndyS]

For what little L.H. walleye I have caught I stuck to my usual. I got to the bait store just before closing, picked a spot on the lake and started live lining herring in the dark, musta got 5 or 6, all small, but I got some.
Live lining is a PIA on a good day, it really blows at night but I caught some fish.

[Lard Almighty]

White Mr. Twister grub on a jighead. Catches everything. :cool:

[wolf man]

thanks guys! what kind of spot should i look for at night? shallows?

[catfishonthelake]

Where are u fishing man? The walleye will hang off those deeper water points and weed edges during the day and come in shallow at night to feed on herring. You should be able to see the herring start breaking the surface at dusk and if you don't see that, there's no bait around and probably no walleye. Look for shallow coves with 5 to 15 feet of water off the main lake with weedgrowth and fish stickbaits over and around the weeds. Once the weeds come up higher, you can catch them on topwaters. Keep in mind that fishing is fishing and only time on the water and trial and error will bring success. Let me know if this makes sense and let me know where or the kind of structure you were fishing at night and maybe I can be more specific in a PM.

[shucker]

White Mr. Twister grub on a jighead. Catches everything. :cool:
This is true

[wolf man]

thanks catfish! i dont know the specific spot on hopatcong that i fished, i went to a cove that the bait shop recomended but had no luck. i didnt see too much surface action so maybe that is why i did not have good luck. i was using live bait. i do not expect to walk away with fish every time i go fishing, i know better than that, was just looking for some helpful pointers since im failing and trying to teach myself as i go. many thanks to everyone for all the helpful info!

[catfishonthelake]

Keep trying man. Look for structure like I told you DIRECTLY off the main lake and you will eventually catch them. Live herring will work just as good if not better than artificials. Some nights they just ain't gonna bite, but I can tell you fishing is good right now. I caught two nice walleye on musky lures on a cloudy day yesterday and my boy has been pounding some big fish almost every night. It took me forever to start catching fish on that lake but it's gotten a lot easier and it's super rewarding when you start learning and figuring it out. Make sure you have a depth chart of the lake and ALWAYS mind how deep of water you're sitting in. BTW, it never hurts to motor around and see where other people are fishing at night.;)

[wolf man]

Keep trying man. Look for structure like I told you DIRECTLY off the main lake and you will eventually catch them. Live herring will work just as good if not better than artificials. Some nights they just ain't gonna bite, but I can tell you fishing is good right now. I caught two nice walleye on musky lures on a cloudy day yesterday and my boy has been pounding some big fish almost every night. It took me forever to start catching fish on that lake but it's gotten a lot easier and it's super rewarding when you start learning and figuring it out. Make sure you have a depth chart of the lake and ALWAYS mind how deep of water you're sitting in. BTW, it never hurts to motor around and see where other people are fishing at night.;)


great! i think ill pick up a depth map i saw the other day. thanks for the advice! hopefully ill be able to report something on thurs or friday night

[FASTEDDIE29]

Ill add something, if your going to fish at night, stay late! Fish until at least 1 or 2 in the morning if you have the time. Night time is the right time and try to stay way from the bright lights at the marinas or docks!!! Ill be out there thursday night. If theres a storm I'm gone wait it out and fish, Who's in???

[wolf man]

Ill add something, if your going to fish at night, stay late! Fish until at least 1 or 2 in the morning if you have the time. Night time is the right time and try to stay way from the bright lights at the marinas or docks!!! Ill be out there thursday night. If theres a storm I'm gone wait it out and fish, Who's in???


cool maybe ill see you out there

[Fishon1982]

I have a lot of luck using bombers and reeling them in really slow just so they are making a lil wake like catfish said deep drop offs to shallow water for night time also like he said no herring more than likely no eyes

[wolf man]

I have a lot of luck using bombers and reeling them in really slow just so they are making a lil wake like catfish said deep drop offs to shallow water for night time also like he said no herring more than likely no eyes

yea, this time instead of looking for spots that look "good", im going to look for the herring breaking the surface! i learn a lot from you guys!!! Thanks!!!!

[Fishon1982]

You will get one it took me 2 years to get my first one not a monster but a 6 1/2 # from greenwood good luck

[bunker dunker]

This Is All Good Advise.just Remember Not To Set The Hook Till Ya Feel The Fish.they May Blow Up On Your Plug And Miss It.listen
When You Pull Into A Cove,if There Is Bait And Fish You Will Hear Them.the Most Important This Is To Be Careful When Unhooking These Fish At Night.make Sure You Have A Flash Light.good Luck

[muskynut]

Cast the largest floating rapala (F18)....steady retrieve...in the dark along rocky shallows...even small walleyes will lay into it but so will the large ones...long skinny profile; sometimes I quickly flash a spotlight along the shoreline and can see their eyes glowing...they have a membrane, the tapedum lucidum which reflects light back (like our retina)...and if they're around you'll see the eyes under the lights but be careful not to spook them; during the day....down deep Rapala tail dancers off of planer boards (125 ft) behind the boat; will bring lure down 20-25 ft....look for the thermocline and look for fish marks....use tattle flags on the boards and when the walleye hit the flag either pops up or down...fish on!!!! be a zombie and hit the night bite....less people and lots of walleyes feeding....also...try Greenwood.....really big fish in there with many AVERAGING 5 lbs. and many over 10......good luck and keep me posted....Capt. Dave Vollenweider :)

[wolf man]

Cast the largest floating rapala (F18)....steady retrieve...in the dark along rocky shallows...even small walleyes will lay into it but so will the large ones...long skinny profile; sometimes I quickly flash a spotlight along the shoreline and can see their eyes glowing...they have a membrane, the tapedum lucidum which reflects light back (like our retina)...and if they're around you'll see the eyes under the lights but be careful not to spook them; during the day....down deep Rapala tail dancers off of planer boards (125 ft) behind the boat; will bring lure down 20-25 ft....look for the thermocline and look for fish marks....use tattle flags on the boards and when the walleye hit the flag either pops up or down...fish on!!!! be a zombie and hit the night bite....less people and lots of walleyes feeding....also...try Greenwood.....really big fish in there with many AVERAGING 5 lbs. and many over 10......good luck and keep me posted....Capt. Dave Vollenweider :)


great advice! i do have that f18 rapala! ill give it a shot. thanks!!!!

[muskynut]

Wolf Man....hope you're walleye fishing....because its happening right now!.....last Thurs. night 10 fish up to 7 lbs. keep throwing that giant rapala and be ready....let me know when you catch your first! :) Capt. Dave

[birddog]

get a knucklehead popper at dows and fish great cove from 10pm-2am!

[wolf man]

thanks guys!!! unfortunately i cant get out till after sunday with work and a wedding. i hope they are still active by then! thanks for the help and advice musky and birddog!