Potholes Walleye...

[C-Money]

Bluegills were thick as flies on traditional walleye grounds last year. I could not fish worm harness rigs on some of my old honey holes cause of all the gills! I will be surprised if walleye fishing is good this year on Potholes. To many clues pointing towards a low population.

[Skillet]

My guess is it will be a couple years before it comes back if there was a successful spawn the last few tears. Way to many fish taken out of the system. Way more people fishing them with all the other fisheries getting cut back. I would think next year you will start to see the smaller fish start showing up, 12 to 14 inchers. It will take awhile to get a few age classes built back up. Something to think about when everyone is killing those big females. You want good consistent fishing, then its up to us to manage it that way, the state isn't going to do it.

It's definitely not the case that "everyone is killing those big females."  Been fishing walleye for a lot of years, cashed a few tournament checks as well. One thing I know to be true is that people who consistently catch the big fish typically release the big fish.  I don't begrudge anybody their perogative to legally keep a walleye of any size for the dinner plate. Even the occasional big one that they luck onto.  The spillway used to be a problem, but the regs regarding that seems to have slowed down the snagfest significantly.

As far as waiting for ice out, if you want a shot at a big walleye your opportunity is right now.  Best to find some moving walleye water (hint: it rhymes with Bolumbia) and get on it.

[plugger]

Absolutely, the diehards release most of them, and all the big ones, me included. keep a few to eat fresh, there damn tasty. and I don't blame people for keeping fish, most the time, although I must say seeing a pic of a big dead walleye does kinda bother me. Its the amount of fish and the size limits that the state allows that turns my stomach.

[Skillet]

Yah, you look at the 10# club on walleye central and see a few guys on there catch the bulk of our big fish. And one guy in particular had a bunch of those fish pics taken with dead fish in a bait shop. At some point I think "really?  You don't keep a camera with you when fishing?"

But I'll never lecture a guy at the cleaning station.  It's his perogative.

 I saw a monster walleye some years back in a cooler full of trout at 7 bays when a guy was trailering his boat.  His young kid kept looking in the cooler on the dock every 30 seconds, so I went over and asked what he had in there. He hefted up a big ol walleye,  way over 10#. Caught it trolling a wedding ring and a worm out over deep water. Total fluke. No way was I going to rain on this kid's parade.

[C-Money]

The big ones are harder to run an electric filet knife through anyway...ribs are to big. Oh how I love a fish dinner of 16-20 inchers.... Fingers crossed the fisheries in our area are healthy, and I hope last year on the Potholes was a fluke.

[Angry Perch]

In my experience, Potholes will do that. Have a great year, then a tough one, then another good year. There's  a lot more in play than just population.

[rasbo]

I just wanna catch a keeper,

[Blacklab]

I fished banks last yr first time loved it. Went for walleye two days only. Marked tons of fish caught 1. Park ranger says should have been here the other day, couldn't keep them off the hook  Beautiful area and water. All you Eastsiders 

[jessie88]

Bluegills were thick as flies on traditional walleye grounds last year. I could not fish worm harness rigs on some of my old honey holes cause of all the gills! I will be surprised if walleye fishing is good this year on Potholes. To many clues pointing towards a low population.

]

dang haha wish i knew where to get gills. ive never hooked one on potholes in all the time ive spent trolling.

[Bill W]

We caught a real big bluegill last year on Moses fishing for walleye.   The guy took a picture and put it back.  My guess is it was close to 10 years old.

[BigGoonTuna]

I found a dead one washed up at the mar don swim beach about 20 years ago.  Had to have been nearly 2 pounds!

I remember how great the spiny ray fishing was when i was a kid.  Seems like all i catch there any more are walleye and bass.

[jessie88]

I found a dead one washed up at the mar don swim beach about 20 years ago.  Had to have been nearly 2 pounds!

I remember how great the spiny ray fishing was when i was a kid.  Seems like all i catch there any more are walleye and bass.

im sure the introduction of walleye decades ago took a huge toll on the panfish. 

[Cap.Silver]

There is no walleye in Potholes 

[Bill W]

Ice report:  One guy out fishing on Moses today when I drove back from town.

[rasbo]

Ice report:  One guy out fishing on Moses today when I drove back from town.

he looked so lonely too,went to sportsman grand opening,and then sportees for breakfast,came back through mardon,didnt see anyone there either