Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Bluemoon on December 22, 2017, 10:36:21 AM

Title: Walleye Help
Post by: Bluemoon on December 22, 2017, 10:36:21 AM: I have a few friends from back East who want to come out to Washington this Spring to catch "Big Walleye". I know nothing about this fishery. I am looking for information on the best spot to go and who would be the guide service to go with. Thanks for any input you may have.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Skillet on December 22, 2017, 11:30:38 AM: I think your best chance at a real big fish is going to be late Feb thru March in the Tri-cities. :twocents:

I don't know if Kimo Gabriel is guiding up there, but he is a serious big-fish hunter. Mandatory C&R on the large fish on his boat, I believe. Been a while since I've talked with him tho.

Edited to add my buddy's Feb 2017 fish from Tri cities. Three days fishing - not a lot of fish, but they were all 6+#

A 16.7 and 18.1
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: runamuk on December 22, 2017, 11:56:54 AM: Kimo Gabriel is still guiding for walleye, I dont know him but heard many good things about him this past summer.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Hot Lunch on December 22, 2017, 08:27:02 PM: Kimo is a great guide. Another great walleye guide is Tj Hester of Hesters Sportfishing. TJ will likely deploy several different techniques during the day.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Jolten on December 22, 2017, 09:08:50 PM: Might sound crazy but I've had decent luck trolling a buzz bait at lake Roosevelt.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: bowhunterforever on December 22, 2017, 09:27:26 PM: Quote from: Jolten on December 22, 2017, 09:08:50 PM
Might sound crazy but I've had decent luck trolling a buzz bait at lake Roosevelt.
Are you trolling it top water or what? At night?
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: plugger on December 23, 2017, 04:39:11 AM: I know Kemo well, No one, and I mean no one knows the river better than him. He still guides and unlike most guides in the area, he respects the fishery and has strict release policy's. But if you want big walleye, That's who I would recommend.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Jolten on December 23, 2017, 07:45:42 AM: Quote from: bowhunterforever on December 22, 2017, 09:27:26 PM
Quote from: Jolten on December 22, 2017, 09:08:50 PM
Might sound crazy but I've had decent luck trolling a buzz bait at lake Roosevelt.
Are you trolling it top water or what? At night?

I've done it top water closer to shore and using a down rigger set 15-20ft down.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: hunthard on December 23, 2017, 06:19:53 PM: If they are coming out here in the spring I would hit up Moses lake or Potholes, the walleye fishing seems to be fairly good around that time. Night crawlers on slow death hooks, green, orange or gold blades should get you some action.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Skillet on December 23, 2017, 06:31:46 PM: You'll get numbers on those places, but a comparatively low chance at a real big fish compared to the Columbia in the known big fish spots. :twocents:
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: DoubleJ on December 26, 2017, 11:38:43 AM: Quote from: Skillet on December 23, 2017, 06:31:46 PM
You'll get numbers on those places, but a comparatively low chance at a real big fish compared to the Columbia in the known big fish spots. :twocents:

:yeah:
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Bluemoon on December 26, 2017, 11:57:07 AM: Thanks for all the information, Please keep it coming. So far Kimo sounds like the man. I have got his contact information and reached out to him. We are not looking for large numbers of fish. Just one big one that can go on the wall.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Skillet on December 26, 2017, 12:00:59 PM: Great choice. If you go with Kimo though, I think your gonna have to be happy with a replica. But his policy might be different now - could you report back on what he says?
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Russ McDonald on December 26, 2017, 03:35:00 PM: Big Wallys Guide Service. Keith is a great guy. Fishes Banks, Rufus Woods, Moses and Potholes lakes. He knows his stuff.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: WALLEYEGUY on December 26, 2017, 04:06:07 PM: Everybody has a different definition of a big walleye and what is acceptable. We happen to live in the greatest big fish area (outside Lake Erie in some people’s opinion). As stated in late Feb early mar in the tri cities good shot of a fish over 13, Rufus in Apr a good shot of a fish over 10, and not mentioned Apr -May with YJ guide service in the arm a fish over 8. So many choices and I love them all, they make me want to :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Hot Lunch on December 26, 2017, 08:23:44 PM: I would book 2-3 days if you are serious about landing a big fish. The Tri-Cities area is where you want to be, the current state record and past state records for WA and OR have come from that stretch of the Columbia.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: jagermiester on December 28, 2017, 07:58:24 AM: Quote from: Skillet on December 23, 2017, 06:31:46 PM
You'll get numbers on those places, but a comparatively low chance at a real big fish compared to the Columbia in the known big fish spots. :twocents:

:yeah:

I talked to the guys at hooked on Toy's in Wenatchee about this last year.
The Columbia holds some pretty big fish. Not the numbers that the potholes or Moses but you got a chance to catch a 10+ pounder.
If you want big fish, you might want to focus your attention to the Columbia.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Ridgeratt on December 28, 2017, 08:31:28 AM: I have several giant's on my phone that I have been sworn to secrecy. But I don't think you could go wrong with a Hint from Frying Pan.

Quote from: Skillet on December 23, 2017, 06:31:46 PM
You'll get numbers on those places, but a comparatively low chance at a real big fish compared to the Columbia in the known big fish spots. :twocents:
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: jagermiester on December 28, 2017, 02:53:48 PM: I've been on a handful of guided trips for Salmon and Trout and Walleye. Every trip but one was a bust, not worth the money.

The one good trip was with Top Guides.

Erik Brigham
TOP GUIDES NW LLC
1087 Lewis River Rd Suite #139 Woodland Washington 98674
Erik# 360-513-2331
Office# 360-558-2977
TopGuidesNW.com

He sent me a solicitation email today and it looks like they fish for Walleye as well.
Check him out. He was an unreal Steelhead guide, worth every penny.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: Hot Lunch on December 28, 2017, 09:01:26 PM: Eric is a great guide but if he is fishing walleye it is more than likely due to the lack of any salmon or steel head opportunities. I would stick with a walleye pro who has been doing it for years. If you go with TJ or Kimo the boat will hook between 5-15 fish, they are very consistent.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: lonnie197272 on December 30, 2017, 04:50:04 PM: I just did a podcast with Kimo Gabriel and it will be out on youtube and Itunes next week. We go over what he is looking for on the river for big walleye and lures that he uses. It is great info, I will post a link to it when it comes out.
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: plugger on January 01, 2018, 05:45:06 AM: A shot of all his way points would be some great info :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: lonnie197272 on January 02, 2018, 07:04:52 AM: Here are the links for the Podcast and YouTube.

http://getbitoutdoorspodcast.libsyn.com/columbia-river-walleye-with-kimo-Gabriel

Enjoy!!
Title: Re: Walleye Help
Post by: plugger on January 02, 2018, 03:37:54 PM: I was wondering if I knew you Lonnie, Turns out I do. I was fishing the same water as you in the spring classic in Umatilla last year. Good pod cast, any info from kemo is good info.