Kevin J Legg

I tried casting jigs, sticks, and cranks without using a light but couldn't get them to go so I went back to trolling. Ended up with a limit of eaters around 23", a bass and lost another one. Two came on bottom bouncer and one on deep diver. I also had what I thought was a monster until I saw it was about a 15 lb. drum which I threw back. They sure do get your heart pumping.

Many time while wearing my headlight in the shallows I've see them approach my offering and turn away at the last second. i always assumed I needed something more to trigger the strike ( scent, glow or lure action, profile or color). I tried many approaches including live bait. Perhaps the issue was my light all along. I will be experimenting. Thanks for the advice.

Great advice. Perhaps my inconsistency is do to the light. I can spot lots of fish with spot light but I know that bothers them as they slid into deeper water .My headlight doesn't seem to bother them as much but obviously must have an effect. Next time out I'll try to anchor or tie up above some of my known spots and cast without the light and see how I do with a stealthier approach. Hope it works as it would be more fun than trolling and easier on my wrist. Perhaps I'll try tomorrow.

Trapper, I was casting the same baits I troll off long lines. I've caught them casting stick baits in the shallows and shad raps in mid depths also. Kind of a spot and stalk method as you can see their eyes glow but although I've had a couple successful nights it's less reliable than trolling for me. Just another weapon in the arsenal.

I actually believe it's much safer out there at night with no other boats than during the day with the intense boat traffic. Even on a very dark or foggy night the GPS lets me know where I am and I also know the lights on the shoreline and channel markers to help in orienting in the dark. The full moon makes it very easy. I never feel I'm put myself in any danger summer walleye fishing. Fishing and duck hunting the big lake in late season (Dec. and Jan.), now that can be dangerous. i am always cautious then and we often go out in two boats. I also have a 9.9 kicker for extra safety.Marine radi and cell phone also.

Are they the dipsy duel or regular duel style can't tell from the photo. Also what type of base do they have?

I'm interested but need to make sure I can use them using my Lund Trac mounting system. I'm pretty sure I can as I have previously done some investigation on the Great Lakes planer rod holders. I think I just need to buy a 45 degree mount for the trac.. Where are you located? I live near Alexandria Bay near Thousand Island Bridge,

If you can get heavy slip sinkers simply slide two six ounce and a two ounce on the coat hanger wire and make a bend in the wire to Keep them from sliding off. I have some lead so am using it up.

Justin, The ones I use are about 10-14" and are straight coat hanger (no right angle bend). They have a swivel on the top and I attach a foot of wire above the bottom bouncer that I attach to the 65 Lb. braid with a swivel. The wire above the bottom bouncer helps eliminate zebra cutoffs. I then can attach my leader by a snap swivel to either swivel. I've considered running a spoon off the top swivel and a stick off the bottom one. I'll send you a photo when I get a chance.

Thanks Pap as I think that's a compliment but a Facebook friend posted "You're nuts" today and sometimes my wife might agree. I call it passion, she calls it obsession!

I posted this earlier but don't see it so I'll try again. I didn't plan on fishing but when I woke at 2:00 and the weather was still good I decided to try to get one more trip in before the rain and wind. Well, it was nothing like yesterdays bite. After making a few trolls and picking up one on a bottom bouncer I couldn't get them to fire although I cold see some lined up along a steep wall. I decided to tie up above the wall and cast to them as they were an a small 2-10 foot deep shelf dropping straight to 30 feet. I caught a nice one on the first couple casts and caught another small keeper and lost a good one. I tried a variety deep diving off cranks that I normally. I also put some Berkley walleye sent on the lures. I then tried trolling again to see if I could upgrade the one 18" but was only able to catch one short on a deep diver and no more on the bottom bouncer. Some different than yesterday but still got a limit.

At night I like something with a lot of flash and often run something with chartreuse. After sunup I often go to more natural colors like perch, bronze and silvers.

I made up a few more bottom bouncers today. I haven't lost one all year but my fishing partners lost 4 and the accompanying lures in the last 3 trips. I either have a more educated touch or have been incredibly lucky. If you drag them on bottom rather than bounce them, the zebras will claim them. I thought my bouncers were around 12 oz. but I weighed one and it was just shy of a pound. I think most of them are 12 -15 oz. Guess it's no wonder I have some issues with carpel tunnel as you can't leave these in a rod holder effectively.

TD 11 and reef runner

Nice catch they must have feed up everywhere last night on the full moon.

Sounds like the bit continued till morning as we had an outstanding early morning of fishing. From 4:30 -5:30 we boated 5 between 4.5 and 7.4 lbs. Glad your getting them dialed in trapper!

I took my good friend Mike Ringer for and early morning on the river and we were not disappointed. We fished from 4:30-5:30 and boated 5 walleyes between 4.5 and 7.5 lbs. After the sun came up they shut down and it took us two hours to scratch out the sixth walleye and a couple bass. We caught 3 on bottom bouncers and 3 on deep divers on the long lines. I love fishing a full moon at night. They really seem to be on the feed. I did well during July's full moon and August may be even better. I believe this morning was the best walleye morning I've ever experienced on the river. Wish I had started at 2:00 as we only had them pounding for about an hour before sunrise. I tried trolling a wire rod with heavy bottom bouncer and although it did take a couple fish, the 65 lb. braid has less drop back and I like the feel better. I guess the thin diameter of the braid has less drag in the current.

I had what I believed was excessive tongue weight and moved my axle too much and had sway issues. I moved it back near the original position and have no issues now. You've been given good advice.