Wow, did I ever stumble on to a honey hole!

Last couple years I was getting a few walleye here and there at an upground reservoir 20 minutes from my house. Fishing pressure really ticked up in the last 2 years though and pretty much all the fish over 15" or so have disappeared.

On a whim, I tried a different upground reservoir (still only 20 minutes from home, but opposite direction) that I haven't fished for years. Skunked with walleye on first 2 trips but was catching some really nice bass. Came back and switched up my tatics a little and started catching some walleye. After several trips now, I think i have refined my search area and technique! My freezer is full and will just be fun fishing up until ice season I think.

Last night I caught easily 25 walleye fishing from 6:30 to 8:30. All but maybe 2 fish I would have kept any other time. I kept 3 fish to top off the freezer.

Catching some fish on the popular stick bait cranks.... Husky Jerks and X-Raps. But the vast majority of fish are coming on the Keitech 3.8 and 4.8 fat swing impact swim baits. It has been some amazing fishing. I've had 3 separate nights now catching over 20 fish in a night. Took home my limit (6) on 2 nights and a couple others here and there. Some BIG fish too. 28" fish last week and a 27" fish last night.

Technique has been pretty simple. Rigging the big swims on light 1/16 or 1/8 heads with heavy oversized hooks. Casting parallel to shore and counting down a couple seconds then start slow reeling. After 5 or 6 slow cranks, stop reeling but keep the line tight and they will thump it on the drop. Man oh man has this been some fun fishing!!!







Biggest walleye I've ever caught at 28"!







This is why those big 5" baits have been working. This was the stomach contents of the 28" fish. Had some other smaller bluegill in ot as well. Pretty digested but I am guessing it was a perch.

Had a friend over for bucktailing cod in front of the shop yesterday morning.









Trout used to show every evening lately so I made a few casts in the shallows around dusk. Got some small and pre-spawn ones together with this well fed 53cm keeper. You can spot my lure maker nemesis, the savage gear run-through sand eel. Its the most effective seatrout lure I have come across. I use it as a reference to see if fish is around or simply when I am frustrated and want to make some meat. You don`t have to be a seatrout angler to understand, but it helps. 



Since things were going well, I thought I go after zander in the dark. It started out well with a small fish released, one lost and one 56cm landed within half an hour.





Two or three hours later without another bite, I came across this. Wasn`t expecting that. First northern for me in the canal and also the first to stretch a meter. 

Yes, Im bored.  Today I was looking at fishing tackle for sale on the used market thru a local buy, sell trade market.  Once in a while I find a bargain,  Anyhow, Guy has for sale a blue tooth reel  and a blue tooth rod. Sure enough I went looking and the technology is out there.  Yes I take a phone fishing but its not for any reason other than a call for help or a call to find where someone is fishing.  Now they have a reel with a built in bite alarm and a rod with the same technolgy,  Not that I want to need a phone to go fishing but I am curious if anyone has tried these contraptions.

Couple hours ago, knock on the door.  Hobbled over and lo and behold 2 of my fishing buddies.  yada yada yada... Fall bite is in full swing, we brought you something.  2 five gallon buckets of fresh walleye fillets packed in 1# PACKS.
WOW, I said you did not have to but thanks, I was hoping for a few, I got saugeye in the freezer but wont last long.  Big Dave said this should carry you thru till spring.  If not call me, I got plenty and gonna get a lot more.

Long story short, They collected from everyone fishing today and got me a good supply.  Ive a reputation for helping anyone in need and most graciously donated.  They told me a couple guys that remembered me cutting my day short to help them with boat/trailer issues gave their entire catch.  Its nice to know my efforts were remembered and reciprocated.

Although my hip surgery has me sidelined, I still check on fishing.  Historically when my favorite Lake drops to 742 feet, winter pool is 740, Fall fishing really heats up.  Its at 741.6 today dropping level is down to .1inch per day.  Prime fishing and I gotta be a couch potato. Aarrrrgh.  I wonder if I can give my buddy my license so he can get double limits.... No I wont pay his fine.

Dunno if senior laziness was a factor, but nowadays I mostly use Power Bait & Gulp minnows on jig heads instead of formerly nearly all ties when I first hit NE 5 years ago.  Fishing mostly rock snaggy bottoms easier to spend a few bucks on softies than take the time to tie.

Altho I remember getting some nice fish back then with 1/8 oz ball head #2 hooks Boolies, gradually switching to "plastics" seemed just as or maybe even more effective on warm water species than ties, and lately I've only used softies for warm water species with satisfying success.

However, yesterday AM only got bout 5 short wallys but when that 3" PB Twitchtail broke off decided to try a vintage 1/8 #2 white rabbit Boolie and bam! first cast a 5# drum in the same small area I was flailing bit, tho that was it for the session.  Many/s the doll fly (plain white hair jigs) experts I've admired over the years getting as many or sometimes more wallys than my plastics, so wondering, hmm, maybe tied jigs are worth a revisit?

Trying to stay positive, Hip was replaced Tuesday afternoon 1:30.  Pretty quick, I was in recovery not sure but fully awake at 4:15.  Got into my room at 5:45.  After meeting all the care givers and finally getting a drink of water 24 hours is too long to wait. was still in lala land, wife was there and I said I love you, but you should go home, I wont be much company.   Around 7 my nurse came back, more water yeah.... She asked if I had ordered dinner,  Did not know I could do so.  She ordered me a cheese burger fries, apple pie and ice cream.   around 830 dinner arrived hot,  burger was cooked better than most, 7 fries, Inhaled almost instantly 36 hours since last eating, I was hungry.   Slowed a bit to eat the pie and ice cream,  it was sweet and did soothe my throat.  First shock of the night, they came to check my blood sugar.  Gee following ice cream and that sweet apple pie, no wonder it was slightly elevated.  Surgery alone raises it.  

Anyhow, around 9 nurse comes in with 2 helpers said they had to get me out of bed and moving.  Part of the anesthesia was a very effective nerve block. No pain and thats a fact. they started getting me up and I said I can see my feet but cant feel them and yes I can move them but I dont know where they are.  She said thats normal,  They all got together and had me standing and sorta walking. Acrosss the room and to a chair,  much more comfortable than the bed.  watched TV they had over 100 channels of junk but I did find Mash the movie..... Dozed in and out and around midnight was told had to be back in bed.  Only one helper and almost a disaster,  no feeling in the legs and I collapsed but they caught me.  In  bed and all the braces and circulatory devices reinstalled.  A good dose of pain meds and 5am I could have more.  Learned a trick, when they ask about pain level if you want the good dose tell them pain is about a 7.  Under 6 they only give 1 pill.  Although I was comfortable, hospital beds are not made for comfort and even with the meds, watched TV all night and got my 5am meds.  

Doctor arrived around 7am, told me from his side, all well but my bones are very dense and hard and he wore out his tools cutting and fitting told me and that in 35 years only second time he had to get a second tool set.  But thats a good thing and unless I dont follow instructions, The surgery will be a success.  Rule 1, dont cross your legs, rule 2 dont bend past 90 degrees at the hip, Rule 3, do not try to get up by yourself. Rule 4, if something changes or you start getting uncomfortable tell your nurse and if necessary call me,  here is my cell phone number.  Also, you will be discharged today.  

PT came in a bit a bit later but the nerve block was still working and just a few minor movements.  Lots of BS questions from Nurse, PA, nurse assitants helpers who knows what they all were.  Nurse came in and asked if I wanted breakfast and lunch, If I did I needed to order.  Of course I did.  Bacon egg and cheeese sandwich for breakfast and a cup of yogurt, Lunch grilled cheese and tomato soup and jello, throat was still sore.  Got up and down 4 or 5 times, kept a close watch on meds and maintained my max dose every 4 hours.  Asked about PT, she said they would be there soon, they get off at 430,  400 PT arrived and unless I wanted to wait for a wheel chair I needed to  walk to the PT room.  Not too bad, 200 feet.  my mistake but I made it.  pretty intense therapy.  Lots of things hurt but stopped as soon as the movements were over, so IMO a good thing.  Finally got discharged around 530 just in time for my wife to fight traffic taking me home. Kinda rough trip and I was in pain by the time we got home. Of course no meds at home, but wife got me in the house and went to get my meds of course she had to go shopping as well
and got back around 1030.  I took all my meds, had a good supply of liquids, remote for tv, 2 ice packs in a cooler, dog at my feet and unbeknownst  to the wife a P bottle.  Could not get comfortable, tried to get up and discovered that I could not get off the couch.  Oh well, blankets and TV, I can survive.  Nerve block was still working a bit so I could not quite control my legs. 7am finally able to get up. Disposed of evidence got some ice and a diet dew. Took the dog out, came back in and crashed. Did all my stationary exercises, re-dosed on meds, slept a bit, woke up and took a 1/4 mile walk on crutches.  

Its gonna be a while but I see progress. and no pain unless I push myself. Got in home PT tomorrow.  I know its gonna take some time, but Im glad I finally got it replaced. the no PAIN is priceless.  Trying yo get my lure shop organized, wanna cast a couple thousand jigs and got 4 dozen stick baits ready to paint.

My Thanks to all for your well wishes, prayers, thoughts and encouragement.

Been dealing with my bad hip,  getting replaces on the 19th, I cant wait. Hopefully the pain will be gone. Given limited mobility, fall fishing was pretty much a bust.  I have 19 pounds of walleye and saugeye fillets in the freezer.  A buddy got me a seat on a pontoon boat this weekend for crappie fishing.  I think  can negotiate getting on and off of that.  I tried our fishing boat a couple times and its just too risky right now. I did go out in a friends big lund used a ladder in his driveway to get in and out. Although he is wiling, I just dont wanna be burden like that. So ive been out a couple times bank fishing with some luck but its too the point where I think Im taking too big of a risk to even try. So after tomorrow, fishing is over and I hope by april will be back in the saddle again.  

Wish me luck and if you have a mind send a prayer or two my way,  Happy fishing.

Had spinnerbaits (and walleye) on my mind and tied these 2 thinking of adding a safety pin on style spinner like in the pic. I swapped out the spinner on this one for a gold deep cup Colorado spinner. Never really used this style for walleye but plan on tossing these in my box to give them a try. My last couple trips out have been skunks so will be a little more willing to change thing up.

(Sorry about the pic, not my best by far!)

Rather a confusing topic, since many published jig icons report success on simple hair only ties.  Noticing Bucho's recent post of his successful underspin jig for zander and my recent walleye success with BooHUs (JiggerJohn's shank propeller design on a bead collar Hooksup head) I'm thinking that metal spin flash MIGHT add significant attraction to jigs for targeting walleye at night.  In fact, last outing I switched to a plain jighead with a formerly effective softie during a good bite and quite a few casts yielded zero bites.  Retying the previous (orange head) BooHU got bit on the first cast !

Here's a link to a raising the bar underspin jig creation. 
https://glasswaterleadfreelures.com/store