LOWER COLUMBIA WALLEYE FISHING BY LANCE MERZ | MACK’S LURE PRO STAFF
I had the opportunity to fish with Mack’s Lure Pro Staff Ted Beach, a professional walleye angler whose knowledge compares to that of an encyclopedia. When Ted talks about fishing, people listen. He gives various seminars throughout Washington each year and loves to teach how to fish for walleye — and there is an art to fishing this species of fish.
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MOST ANGLERS WILL TELL YOU THAT IF YOU CAN CATCH A WALLEYE, YOU CAN CATCH JUST ABOUT ANY SPECIES OF FISH.
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Walleye fishing on the Columbia River is a destination hot spot for anglers who seek this predatory fish. In fact, most walleye anglers will tell you that if you can catch a walleye, you can catch just about any species of fish. Over the past two years, Departments of Fish and Wildlife in Washington and Oregon have lifted the limits while fishing the Lower Columbia for these fish. Studies are showing that walleye are eating the salmon and steelhead smolts and they want to eliminate the species all together. Only one rod is authorized per angler, but there is plenty of fish to be had for all.
We launched in an area of the Lower Columbia, just below the McNary Dam, in a place called Crowe Butte. We were fishing in attempt to find some fish to catch for Northwest Fishing Reports (NWFR). Due to the harsh winter that was felt by all, the current of the river was moving quite fast. Instead of moving into the main current, Ted sought his attention to areas of the river where current wasn’t as swift. Normally, these areas are closer to the shore and range in depth of 5- to 25-feet. We were trolling with bottom walkers with a 5- to 6-foot leader, primarily using Double Whammy® Walleye and Smile Blade® Super Slow Death Rigs tipped with a night crawler.
who knows the water. There are parts where channels are very shallow, which can take out a lower unit very easily. There are even areas of the middle of the river that can be as shallow as six inches. Ted and I fished throughout the day — a fish here, a fish there. The fishing was consistent, but it wasn’t lights out, for sure. The water temperature for walleye was still a bit chilly — about 57 degrees — and the clarity of the water was the color of chocolate milk. Then, the wind picked up. It is imperative that if you’re operating a boat on the Columbia River, that you are aware of the weather conditions at the time you are going to fish. Without warning, the chop on the water can produce 5- to 6-foot swells and without enough knowledge of boat operations, it could be catastrophic.
It wasn’t long after we started trolling that the first fish of the day came into the boat — a 16-inch walleye that knocked the funk off. A slow troll downstream revealed a few more fish in the live well — this was going to be a good day! There are parts of the Columbia River that can be very intimidating and if you’ve never been on that particular area of the river, I’d recommend going out with a guide
Since the wind was so severe on the main channel, Ted decided to tuck into a slough, which protected us from the wind. Not only did we
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start to catch walleye, but we also began catching smallmouth bass and perch, as well. Since walleye are a predatory fish, catching these other species was a good sign. The next day, we decided to fish in another area of the river, adjacent to the town of Plymouth, Wash. Ted made this decision because the forecast was calling for wind gusts of up to 22 mph that day, as well as rain. We met with the NWFR crew and began to film the show.
Mike Carey, owner of NWFR, jumped in the boat with Ted and I and his crew started fishing in another boat. We launched the boat and the conditions were perfect — calm water and no rain. We decided to take advantage of the early morning by fishing what Ted calls “The Plymouth Slough,” a branch of the Columbia River just off the main channel which, if needed, could protect us from the gusts that were coming later in the day. The fishing was consistent and, again, we were all using Double Whammy® Walleye crawler harnesses and Smile Blade® Super Slow Death Rigs. The hot Smile Blade® on the day, however, was the UV Glo® Burst, which produces a tremendous amount of flash and attraction, even in the murkiest of waters. We pushed the limits and decided to then fish just below the McNary Dam. There was only one guide boat on the water and the preferred method was to troll up to the border, a line just below the dam where no
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one is allowed, and drifted down. All but one chute was open at the dam and the water was swift, to say the least. Even without the wind, the swells were at 5- to 6-feet. A few more walleye were caught in this area before the wind picked up, which forced us back down to the slough, producing more fish — this time in the rain. In all, 40 fish were caught in a two day period. Not bad. Ted is an excellent teacher. I learned a different way to rig up the walleye rod and even learned a new way to thread a worm on a hook. What I learned most from Ted, however, was that preparation is essential when fishing for walleye. As with any other fishery, having the line in the water longer will eventually lead to more fish. Ted’s boat was filled with additional tackle and riggings that made it very easy to slide off each lure and try different color combinations. That same week, Mack’s Lure’s Bob Loomis and Richy Harrod, owner of Harrod Outdoors and The Northwest Outdoorsmen, took their shot at fishing the Lower Columbia, as well. They fished in an area of the Columbia River adjacent to Biggs Junction, Ore., in a place called “Peach Beach.” Trolling was their preferred method that day, just off the main channel using Wally Pop® Crawler harnesses, as well as Double Whammy® Walleye and Smile Blade® Super Slow Death Rigs, which, of course, we had success with earlier in the week. Although there are no limits on parts of the Lower Columbia River, it doesn’t mean that all fish have to be caught. I have seen firsthand where anglers will go out fishing and catch in excess of 100 fish or more in one day. In my opinion, catch what you’re going to eat. Set a limit for your boat, which will allow other anglers the ability to catch fish, as well.
SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF)
TIPS & TECHNIQUES
MAXIMIZING YOUR TECHNIQUE WHEN HORIZONTAL-JIGGING A SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF) BY CAPT. PETE ROSKO My greatest satisfaction in sport fishing is in seeing the joy on the face of a successful angler. These are my time-proven tips in dramatically increasing your catches when horizontally-jigging a Sonic BaitFish™ (SBF). Basically, horizontal jigging is done best when you know exactly where your lure is in relation to bottom structure. Once the angler becomes proficient with this technique, no other technique will be so effective.
This article was featured in a previous issue of the Mack Attack Magazine. For more info, head to MacksLure.com for the latest reports.
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TECHNIQUE 1) Always fish with braided line. The lighter, the better. Braided line is superior to monofilament line in the increased sensitivity of detecting light strikes and feeling your lure being jigged against structure. Attach 2- to 3-feet of fluorocarbon leader to your main line with a double uni-knot or a knot of your choice. 2) Rods. As with braided line, choose light and strong. A 6-foot “mag-light” G. Loomis spinning rod is an excellent choice. The lighter the rod, the better the sensitivity for feeling your lure and bottom. The rod action should be no less than medium with a “fast action” taper in the 1/3rd end of the rod. Spinning rods are superior for this technique. When jig-retrieving, fish with a half turn of the reel between each 6- to 12-inch rod lift. Do not jig with a whippy rod and hard jerking. The SBF is a finesse jig that requires very little rod movement to bring it to life. Hard jigging can spook fish. Finesse jigging attracts and triggers strikes.
hook snags far less than double and treble hooks. A siwash-tupe hook, with a deep throat and wide bend, is best for increased hook-ups. 5) Always try to cast directly downwind, or upwind, to maximize sensitivity with a tight line. Avoiding a bow in your line dramatically increases bite detection and the feel of your lure being worked against the bottom. This is critical! 6) During periods of mid-day bright sun, dead-calm wind, abnormally hot or cold weather and weatherrelated fronts, most fish descend and bury themselves in deeper bottom structure. It is critical to swim-jig the SBF through the structure and not above it. From shoreline, locate deeper holes by timing how long it takes for your lure to reach the bottom. After casting, timing starts once your lure hits the water’s surface. Keep your line taut. Once your tight line goes slack, the lure has reached the bottom. SUMMARY As with anything in life, knowledge leads to success. This technique is without equal, especially on calm days, from the shoreline or in a boat. Calm days permit the angler to methodically, and thoroughly, finesse-jig the SBF in structure with maximum feel. This technique is equally effective in both fresh- and saltwater. The SBF is so successful because of its deadly injured baitfish actions, which include darting, flashing, fluttering, gliding and swimming. Its hydrosonic vibration also makes it effective at night, especially when jigging wit the Glow White finish. Horizontal jigging is just one of many different effective techniques engineered into the versatile Sonic BaitFish™.
3) Always use the lightest lure to effectively reach your target. It is critical to feel bottom with the lightest SBF so it can flutter and glide through the structure. Heavier lures will more easily snag when jigged through structure. In calm weather, a 1/10 oz. SBF can be fished in depth down to 15- to 20-feet. 4) Always use a single hook, attached to the tail, with the line/ snap attached to the nose. Because of its versatility, the line/hook attachments can be reversed on the SBF. A single
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GUEST COMMENTARY
In the next edition of the Mack Attack Magazine, look for my walleye jigging column that I use for the rock piles located in the western basin of Lake Erie. Until then, thank you for subscribing to the Mack Attack Magazine. Be sure to check out the Sonic BaitFish™ Tech Guide at MacksLure.com for more info.
KAYAKING: FINESSE JIGGING THE SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF) BY Brad HOLE, MACK’S LURE PRO STAFF It was seven years ago when I first got into kayak fishing. With some help of local anglers, I taught myself how to fish for cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, lake trout and kokanee in lake close to my home in Seattle, Wash. My experience has taught me that trolling with lead core line is a great way to cover a large area of water to locate fish in the upper part of the water column. However, there are those times in the summer and fall when fish are holding deeper than my line can reach. Faced with the dilemma of not wanting to install a downrigger on my kayak, I woul dhave considered any fish 60- to 100-feet a missed opportunity. That was until I tried finesse jigging. First and foremost, there’s the wind. When it comes to jigging, avoid windy day forecasts. You’re going to be most effective when you can stay right on top of the fish. Heavy chop on the water is going to make it hard to feel strikes. If the wind picks up, point the nose of your kayak towards the wind. A Hobie MirageDrive, I personally find essential, in that I can keep my rod steady and keep my kayak in position. Have faith in your electronics. A color fish finder will typically illustrate better than a black and white screen. When I come to a spot on the lake where my fish finder is telling me that fish are holding deep in the water column or right smack down on the bottom — dropping a jig down can often turn a fishless day into multiple hookups. Depending on the time of year, fish will fluctuate at which depth they stage. Temperature, oxygen level and food all
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play a roll. Trout and kokanee generally like temperatures between 45 and 60 degrees. If you’re marking multiple fish at a certain depth, then you have probably found the right thermocline. Though small electronic devices like the Fish Hawk can be trolled or lowered down into thew ater and will accurately tell you the temperature every 5-feet and how deep you are in the water column. The gear. I have found a 7-foot medium- to medium-heavy rod with a sensitive tip to be enough to jig for trout. Bait casting reels have their advantage, as they are easier to free-spool and thumb the line as it drops through the water column. A depth counter on your reel can help you get pretty close to the fish. A spinning rod is also a viable alternative. Braided line with 12 to 15-lb. monofilament leader, I find find to be more sensitive to feeling the most subtle strike. The tackle. Do your research and find out what the trout in your area are feeding on and try to “match the hatch” with the appropriate color and bait size. The weight of your jig can vary from a 3/8 oz. to 1 oz. depending on how deep you’re fishing and if your kayak is drifting on the top of the water. A fish suspended off the bottom won’t think twice about whacking a fluttering jigging spoon falling in front of its face. Lures like the Mack’s Lure Sonic BaitFish™ are great jigging spoons that look like wounded baitfish falling through the water column. Spoons (because they’re metal) are also easier to see on your fish finders. There’s nothing more captivating than watching your lure drop in a zig zag motion on a fish finder and watching a fish grab it.
to drop before lifting the rod again. Anything faster will only spook the fish. Most strikes will happen on the drop, though I have had fish follow the lure on the retrieve. If you don’t get a strike after a couple of minutes, reposition yourself and drop again or move on to the next area. Finesse jigging for trout can not only be very rewarding, but it also help to break up a long day of trolling.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
When it comes to success on the water, gear organization plays a major role. The more prepared and easily-accessible your gear is, the more time can be spent fishing. This all new Original Pip’s™ Box does the trick. “The Pip’s Leader Caddy is simply the most ingenious way to store your tied hooks,” Mack’s Lure President Bob Schmidt said after its release. “So, when customers asked for a smaller version, we responded, not only with a more accessible, but also upgraded design that includes anti-reverse and a selflubricating surface for a smoother spin, mimmicking the features found on the Pip’s™ Leader Caddy.” The Pip’s™ Box (and the Leader Caddy), available in six colors, is ideal for storing tippets and hooks tanglefree and its small 3 3/8” size fits easily in your pocket for quick and easy access, allowing for fast turnaround time when replacing or changing leaders when on the water.
PIP’S™ BOX & LEADER CADDY Mack’s Lure, Inc., manufacturer of the industry’s most effective leader holder, the Pip’s™ Leader Caddy, recently released a newly designed version of the Original Pip’s™ Box.
You can now purchase the all-new Pip’s™ Box and Leader Caddy at MacksLure.om and be sure to look for it at your local bait and tackle shop. ————
CLICK HERE FOR PRODUCT VIDEO
If you’re targeting big Mackinaw (Lake Trout), the spend much of their time laying right on the bottom or suspended just off the bottom. LEad headed jigs slipied into a bass tube baits or plastic fluke or shad tails threaded up the jig shank are better suited for fish directly on the bottom. Have a variety of colors and sizes available at your disposal depending on the light conditions. Whites, greens and chartreuses are effective colors. I alway shave on hand on rod rigged with a 1/2 to 3/4 oz. Sonic BaitFish™ and one with a tube jig. The key to drawing a strike is “finesse jigging.” When you drop your line to the desired spot, only lift the rod tip between 2- to 6-inches and allow it
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QUESTION
HOT DEAL OF THE MONTH
OF THE MONTH Have a question? We’d love to answer it for you! Shoot us an email at media@ mackslure.com with your question and you may see it featured in an upcoming issue of the Mack Attack Magazine! Q: How do you rig a night crawler to a Smile Blade® Slow Death or Super Slow Death Hook or crawler harness? A: There have been many people asking about this, so Mack’s Lure Pro Staff Ted Beach made a video about it! But we’ll answer it here, as well.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH Ryan Zoch caught this awesome picture of a rainbow trout who simply couldn’t resist the Cripplure™ in the Rainbow Trout pattern. Ryan is an amazing up-and-comer.
A nightcrawler is an effective bait for many species of fish, but particularly walleye. Although they come in many sizes, using these worms can be extremely effective and add to your movement. For example, when using a Smile Blade® Slow Death or Super Slow Death Rig, start threading the night crawler up the hook and all the way to the eye. Make sure the hook itself is not exposed and the barbs on the hook make the crawler stick in place. Once the crawler is threaded, bend it so it’s perpendicular to the hook, then pinch off the crawler an inch from the back of the hook. This is only a preference. Click the on the video below to view how Ted rigs up his Slow and Super Slow Death Hooks.
PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN ZOCH
VIDEO OF THE MONTH Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Brad Hole targets cutthroat trout on Lake Sammamish in an episode of Angler West TV. Hole shows the versatility of the Pee Wee Wiggle Hoochie
Follow Mack’s Lure on Facebook and Instagram and tag us with #MacksLure. Facebook.com/MacksLure @macks_lure To submit your catch, send us an email at media@mackslure.com or tag us on social media using #MacksLure.
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