The Walleye That Got Away - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

MudCat08 · #1 07-03-2016, 11:14 PM

Yesterday came really close to finally catching a walleye, but lost it right at the boat as soon as we went for the net..
Have been trying to find walleye for the past year or so, and yesterday was the closest I have gotten to finally adding them to the fishing list haha.

The fish wasn't big and it bit on a texas rigged soft plastic lure meant for smallmouth bass. We fished the upper Delaware River in NY state.

We caught some smallmouth bass, a sunfish, and quite a few large fallfish during the float trip. We also lost another walleye. Other lures used included spinners, crankbaits, and grubs. Also saw what looked like at least a 19" Rainbow trout cruising lazily around. There were also suckers swimming around in spots.

Except the lost walleye, there were no keeper fish on this trip, but it was extremely fun and I can't wait to go back again when I get my own kayaks or boat! The elusive walleye will be caught this year!

23cardinal · #2 07-04-2016, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MudCat08

Yesterday came really close to finally catching a walleye, but lost it right at the boat as soon as we went for the net..
Have been trying to find walleye for the past year or so, and yesterday was the closest I have gotten to finally adding them to the fishing list haha.

The fish wasn't big and it bit on a texas rigged soft plastic lure meant for smallmouth bass. We fished the upper Delaware River in NY state.

We caught some smallmouth bass, a sunfish, and quite a few large fallfish during the float trip. We also lost another walleye. Other lures used included spinners, crankbaits, and grubs. Also saw what looked like at least a 19" Rainbow trout cruising lazily around. There were also suckers swimming around in spots.

Except the lost walleye, there were no keeper fish on this trip, but it was extremely fun and I can't wait to go back again when I get my own kayaks or boat! The elusive walleye will be caught this year!

That walleye skunk must be contagious lol, I have it too. That's a good trip. Yea a friend pulled a 26in rainbow out in northern walpack a week or two ago. There are big uns still.
What were u floating down stream in?

MudCat08 · #3 07-05-2016, 12:10 AM

We were floating down in an 11 ft aluminum paddle boat; i also took the opportunity to learn how to drive it with a trolling motor haha.
I saw tons of kayakers floating along with us and some were fishing. I'm definitely going back with my own kayak once i get it. Amazing place to be.

That's a massive rainbow especially since it's wild up there.
I think they should consider stocking the delaware there if they don't already, because a ton of fishing pressure and kept fish = dwindling resource. just a huge amount of chubs since no one ever wants to take them haha! Lots of guide boats in the river there.

It's all right, we will both get those walleye eventually, if we don't give up!

Skunk City · #4 07-05-2016, 01:13 PM

You remember the ones you lost more than the ones you land! Keep at it and you will scratch Walleye off your list sooner rather than later. Get out there at night, you'll have the river to yourself and the fish will be more eager to take your offering.

23cardinal · #5 07-05-2016, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MudCat08

We were floating down in an 11 ft aluminum paddle boat; i also took the opportunity to learn how to drive it with a trolling motor haha.
I saw tons of kayakers floating along with us and some were fishing. I'm definitely going back with my own kayak once i get it. Amazing place to be.

That's a massive rainbow especially since it's wild up there.
I think they should consider stocking the delaware there if they don't already, because a ton of fishing pressure and kept fish = dwindling resource. just a huge amount of chubs since no one ever wants to take them haha! Lots of guide boats in the river there.

It's all right, we will both get those walleye eventually, if we don't give up!

Absolutely!
New York and Pa stock The Delaware above high point/matamoros, not sure if Pa still does till the bridge. This yr new York did like 4000 fish in the upper regions
NJ stocks lmb and others. Believe they alternate years for the deleware

bulletbob · #6 07-05-2016, 11:50 PM

walleyes in the rivers don't bite quite as well this time of year.. I catch a lot of Walleyes, but really don't target them much in July/Aug as you really need to fish at night ... As for daytime fishing,Oct gets things started, but my best month is usually Nov, sometimes into Dec, and then March through May.. Low light conditions are a must at any time of year for Walleyes.. If you don't want to fish in the dead of night thats fine, but I would be on the water before daylight until maybe 8 am, and then from about 6 PM until dark.. Walleyes simply don't like the combination of warm water and bright sunlight regardless of where they are found.. I always do well with a FinS or sluggo in silver black, kind of a shad color, bounced along bottom, on a 1/4 jig head.. Also have caught a lot of 'eyes on chartreuse twister tails or paddle tails, or plain bucktails in natural colors.. best bet is to use a plain bucktail with a minnow hooked through the lips.. You simply can't get a better lure than a bucktail/minnow combination... bob

Bruce Litton · #7 07-06-2016, 05:18 PM

Brings back Barryville memories! Couldn't get up there last summer and can't get up there this summer, but who knows, maybe next or the next. Lots of smallmouths, and every other trip or so--a small walleye, 16-19 inches. Once I caught four, but the river was on its way down after a flood--turbid water good for that.

MudCat08 · #8 07-07-2016, 08:46 AM

Thank you for the advice guys. I will be focusing on the walleye more come October and November.

It took me two years and change to get a striped bass, I wonder how long it will take to find and catch a walleye now haha! I can't believe i was that close to landing one though.

Chrisper4694 · #9 07-07-2016, 09:18 AM

when i first started fishing, it took me almost an entire season to catch a freaking pickerel...go figure, i think it's all mental haha. now i just want them to leave me the hell alone when i'm bass fishing haha.

Fred E. Goose · #10 07-07-2016, 12:19 PM

Well, the hardest part is finding them...the second hardest part is hooking them, and then the third hardest part is landing them

So, you going 2 out of 3 aint bad! I've got the walleye skunk, but I'm starting to see them swim by and once in awhile even follow certain lures. We'll get 'em, MudCat...we will kick that skunk down the road! And all this effort will make it even more rewarding for us when we do!