Shore fishing walleye.

[andr3wxmma]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__X_P-HVdIY after seeing that video I've wanted to try my luck for some shore walleye(Don't have a boat in WA) since I moved here last summer. I was hoping someone knew of a similar fishing situation closer to me(Fort Lewis). As of right now, I plan on heading out towards Moses next weekend or the following. Driving over 3 hrs there and back can be exhausting though and will probably limit how many times I can fish them this year. If you're wondering why I'm willing to drive 3 hrs just for a chance at walleye it's because growing up I got to hear stories of how our state(VT) ruined our fishery of them and how it was my dad's favorite eating fish. I understand people have honey holes and they don't give information easily but general locations or information over pm will be greatly appreciated.

[Skillet]

That's a tall order in WA. You don't live close to any walleye, you're going to have to travel for them.  I don't know any shore fishing spots that would produce on the loeer Columbia, so I'd be looking at heading East towards Moses (alder street fill) or Mar Dons dock on potholes.  Banks has ok fishing from the dam, and you can rent a boat from coulee playland.  That puts you in some good spring walleye water on Banks.  All of the above will produce this time of year.  A little farther and you can fish Roosevelt.

Limiting yourself to shore fishing for walleye is going to result in a lot of subpar days compared to fishing from a rental boat, imho.

I used to tow a boat over Stevens pass 15 + times a year for Banks, Roosevelt and Rufus Woods walleye.  It's worth it.

[Jonathan_S]

You're a long dang ways from walleye fishing, even farther from shore fishable walleye, farther still from good bank fishing. Upper Columbia is most of my experience though. Might be something on the Lower.

[Okanagan]

I've caught way more walleye from shore than from a boat but it was mostly in Saskatchewan, in both rivers and lakes.  Since I've done it so much I feel like I know how to fish that way better than when in a boat, though have fished with friends and caught plenty from a boat.  I've no idea where to go to shore fish for walleye in WA but if the water holds walleye and has a clean enough shore to fish, I'd try it. 

My best shore rig was a lead head jig with a replaceable black rubber head/chartreuse marabou tail that had a few silver strands.  I used to buy them at Black Sheep in Cour'd Alene but when I can't find them, I buy black and chartreuse and tie two doubled strands of Christmas tree tinsel right behind the hook eye to trail back 4 strands of silver.  Trim to match the marabou.  When legal, a frozen minnow ups the catch.  Have also caught them on many other colors of jigs and double frog leg latex bodies, yellow, red, chartreuse, green, plus plugs and spoons from shore. 

Also when legal, adding a stinger hook ups the catch. 

We would cast out on mostly rocky bottom but sometimes sandy, let the jig sink to the bottom and then hop it back along the bottom.  Try different things like swimming it, or a super quick short surprise jerk on it after a steady series of several hops.  That sudden quick move hooked a lot of fish that I had not felt.  If the bottom is too snaggy, bottom hopping won't work of course but if your touch is good, pumping it just above the bottom seemed to be as effective. 

My best shore walleye went 8 ½ lbs.  One time on Tobin Lake in Saskatchewan a friend and I fishing off a riprap marina jetty were catching walleye so consistently that guide boats returning with clients that afternoon started trolling so close in front of us we had to cast around them.  I'll not mention the times I got skunked... 

[JJD]

I know it's a long way from where you are, but they have some success around Ft Spokane on Lake Roosevelt.  They have a campground at the Fort, a federal park, if ya have the gas $$ to make the trip.  Best fishing there is at dusk or night when they come up shallow to feed.  Usually better in summer months.  If there is anything on the west side, I've not heard of it.

[hunt_fish]

Your best bet for shore walleye fishing right now is alder street fill like another said.  Mardon's dock is more of a winter fishery from what I understand.  You can catch some from the I-90 bridge on moses lake during the summertime casting/flipping towards a couple of the pillars.  I've caught a couple smaller walleye fishing the spillways on the orv road too on crappie jigs, where it drains from moses lake to potholes.  If you can find someone with a boat right now off the forum to go fishing at moses in 2-3 weeks I'd do that.  Limits should be easy in a couple weeks.

[BigGoonTuna]

rent a boat at mar don and head for lind coulee or the face of the dunes, troll bottom walkers and you should get some walleye.

[andr3wxmma]

That's a tall order in WA. You don't live close to any walleye, you're going to have to travel for them.  I don't know any shore fishing spots that would produce on the loeer Columbia, so I'd be looking at heading East towards Moses (alder street fill) or Mar Dons dock on potholes.  Banks has ok fishing from the dam, and you can rent a boat from coulee playland.  That puts you in some good spring walleye water on Banks.  All of the above will produce this time of year.  A little farther and you can fish Roosevelt.

Limiting yourself to shore fishing for walleye is going to result in a lot of subpar days compared to fishing from a rental boat, imho.

I used to tow a boat over Stevens pass 15 + times a year for Banks, Roosevelt and Rufus Woods walleye.  It's worth it.

Yeah, I understand I'll probably have to travel for them. I can rent a boat on base and tow it over for around 70-80 a day but they don't come outfitted with any fishing gear(IE down riggers). I'll probably be limited to jigging for them. I'm not familiar with how boat fishing for walleye is done, but I have trolled using downriggers for lake trout and salmon back home.

[andr3wxmma]

Your best bet for shore walleye fishing right now is alder street fill like another said.  Mardon's dock is more of a winter fishery from what I understand.  You can catch some from the I-90 bridge on moses lake during the summertime casting/flipping towards a couple of the pillars.  I've caught a couple smaller walleye fishing the spillways on the orv road too on crappie jigs, where it drains from moses lake to potholes.  If you can find someone with a boat right now off the forum to go fishing at moses in 2-3 weeks I'd do that.  Limits should be easy in a couple weeks.

Yeah if i could find someone already going fishing out there, id be more than happy to help pay for gas and expenses.

[andr3wxmma]

rent a boat at mar don and head for lind coulee or the face of the dunes, troll bottom walkers and you should get some walleye.

do the boats at mar don come any fishing gear Ie down riggers, fish finder, or a setup for planner boards?

[Jonathan_S]

I don't know much about Potholes but generally you troll really slow for walleye and it's easy without downriggers. Bottom walker sinkers are really effective

[Skillet]

 

I don't know much about Potholes but generally you troll really slow for walleye and it's easy without downriggers. Bottom walker sinkers are really effective

Google bottom walker or bottom bouncer walleye.  Pitching jigs is very effective if you have a school located, but you got to find them first.  Bottom bouncers are excellent for that.

Vertical jigging is great in the river when they are pushing water.

Considering your newness at it, it would be a very smart to hire a guide for a day to see how all the techniques work, typical habitat,,etc.   You'd be saving money in the long run, especially if you felt your time was worth anything.

Mark Olsen on Potholes is a friend, and top notch.  He knows that reservoir. 

[Sandberm]

Ive never tried this time of year but my neighbor fishes the inlet at Scootney Reservoir in the spring with success. I have a spot or two on Scootney that I can catch walleye from shore starting late April into early summer.

Ive hiked the west shore of Soda lk to the middle where the flat is and caught walleye from shore. Little bit of a trek but you'll have the spot to yourself save for any boats trolling in front of you.

[DoubleJ]

Sprague lake, along the railroad tracks used to be KILLER for shore fishing walleyes...........


Until they ruined it 

[andr3wxmma]

I don't know much about Potholes but generally you troll really slow for walleye and it's easy without downriggers. Bottom walker sinkers are really effective

Google bottom walker or bottom bouncer walleye.  Pitching jigs is very effective if you have a school located, but you got to find them first.  Bottom bouncers are excellent for that.

Vertical jigging is great in the river when they are pushing water.

Considering your newness at it, it would be a very smart to hire a guide for a day to see how all the techniques work, typical habitat,,etc.   You'd be saving money in the long run, especially if you felt your time was worth anything.

Mark Olsen on Potholes is a friend, and top notch.  He knows that reservoir.

Yeah hiring a guide sounds like a great idea for my first trip out.