Pale blue eyes and a expert hunter

[Pondhopper8]

Got out for a few hours this week mid day fishing. Water was 32.5 dirty, high and the weather was wet and cold. Before heading out I met a gentleman on the river hunting ducks with a Harris hawk. He explained the hawk would grab onto the ducks and hold them under until they drowned. They are native to the southwest so his handler said they don’t do too well hunting in the chilly weather we were experiencing. After launching I shot upriver to a spot. Very light pickups but I managed two very pale blue looking walleye and missing a few other short strikes that pulled off my meat on the jig. Took a beating in my jig box losing alot of jigheads to the river rocks but that’s part of the game. Made another short trip the next day and managed another eye on a tube looking for some wintering smallmouth that were reluctant to play. All eyes were released back to the river! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!! Wishing everyone health and big fish in the New Year!

[AndyS]

Nice !! Always so many "cookie cutter" size, even way up river, any reason for that ?

[Pondhopper8]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Nice !! Always so many "cookie cutter" size, even way up river, any reason for that ?

I have noticed that too. I just started really targeting them this past couple months and it has been that way. A lot have been very slender with not much girth. I am going to start to experiment with some larger offerings. There’s definitely no shortage of them that’s for sure. I feel that whenever larger fish are taken they are usually harvested. When the water was super low in the fall I saw more than a few nice eyes belly down in the middle of the day while fishing for Muskies and smallies. I’ll update on the progress here.

[AndyS]

Thanx, I read the reports from my guide up in NY and it's always the same when it comes to walleye. Rarely and I mean rarely do they score a large walleye.
Definitely no shortage with NJ stocking 300,000 walleye annually.

[NJSquatch]

Tons of cookie cutters but always willing to bite. I do find the color variations in the walleyes to be curious. Only ever seen those blue patterns in the river. Losing jigs is annoying. I try to stay as vertical as possible while drifting. Spot locking is a sure fire way to get snagged up.

[Pondhopper8]

Originally Posted by NJSquatch

Tons of cookie cutters but always willing to bite. I do find the color variations in the walleyes to be curious. Only ever seen those blue patterns in the river. Losing jigs is annoying. I try to stay as vertical as possible while drifting. Spot locking is a sure fire way to get snagged up.

Absolutely, can’t be mad at hungry fish! Yes that’s always ideal, but the river was ripping and they were in tight, in small pockets.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Dying to get out there but my boats a hot mess. Great catching dude!

[Pondhopper8]

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

Dying to get out there but my boats a hot mess. Great catching dude!

Your always welcome on my boat Eddie