What the heck just happened?, Tried a new lure

I went to Balsam yesterday after six weeks of no fishing due to moving. I went to my usual starting spot and caught a bunch of perch with a worm harness. I moved to spot number two and same thing, only perch. Time to switch it up. I bought a new lure last year that looked interesting, but has a weird head and a leech body. I figured it would attract some walleyes at least. I threw it a dozen times but seemed to be catching on weeds a lot, and then gets free. I was wrong. I was reeling it in about three feet form the boat when it got hit, and hard. I thought for sure it was a pike, but it was a decent walleye. I didn't get another hit, just weeds again. I move to spot three (which is the very near spot one), where I have been getting some decent fish this year.

On my first cast, same lure, I get snagged, but then it moved fast. Not a snag, but another walleye. I got him good in the top of the mouth, and figured that those snags were actually fish. On the next six casts, I get six more walleye. On the seventh cast, I lost one. I tried for a while longer, but I figured I hit a walleye hole, and now they are gone. On Balsam, the slot size is reversed, so they all went back. averaging 17-18 inches.

The last time I fished like that, I was about 13, so it's been a while. I can't wait to go back and see if this is repeatable. These are the days we dream of. Pics to follow, once I figure out what's wrong with my pc.

walleyes.

Bonus bass. I'm guessing 4 lbs, maybe bigger. same lure

All the walleyes swam away, although some needed some additional reviving. They are not as hardy as bass it appears. they weren't in the livewell for very long. The bass was fine, although he will be dinner.

Here's the lure. This is a different colour, but you get the idea. I don't know what it is about the head design, but it works.

Looks like an awesome outing with a really cool lure. That is awesome and amazing fish. Congratulations! Balsam is a special lake. It has and always will be my favourite Kawartha Lake.

In my first ever fishing experience at Balsam, when I was 6. And I still remember this vividly! My dad was throwing a white crank bait and hooked into a 51 inch Muskie. We landed it and that was my first ever time seeing a truly massive fish (his too). That was what got me hooked on fishing! Crazy stuff. Many great fish were pulled out of there. But I’ll tell ya, we never had an outing like that. Again congratulations on the incredible fish and action.

Just bought a similar looking lure (willow spinner below the jig head) from Cabelas although it didn't have any plastic with it.
After your post, I'm anxious to give it a shot.

Thanks

That is some awesome walleye fishing on Balsam. Beautiful fish that will grow to be Balsam monsters. Cool looking bait as well, I bet that just might turn into one of your favourite lures to throw. Just thought I would let you know, you can't keep those fish in the live well unless they are the keeper size to take home or keeper size if you were in a tournament. Also you were fishing by yourself, you were over the limit. I know you said you put them back in the lake, but if you had been boarded by the OPP or MNR your total of FINES would have been in the hundreds and hundreds.

Nice report and great fishing for walleyes! Glad you had fun after a six week break .
Thanks for sharing

That’s a very good lure - road runner . There are many varieties of it called an underspin , which is basically a jig with a rotating single blade under it.
Good lure which will catch all sorts of fish .

Second what the Crappeeman said about temporary keeping the walleyes in your live well.
Check the regulations .

Nice haul , bet you will pick up more of those lures now lol

Colanut those are some great walleye and a great outing. I just finished 2 weeks vacation on Balsam and fished most days, i have noticed the fishing in general has slowed over the past week. The weather was up and down with the threat of thunderstorms and water has cooled a bite as well. Worm harness generally has worked for me but i have also been getting perch, so i may have to change this up. Good job on the walleye and glad you were able to finally get out. I managed a few walleye and some nice bass my first week as well as a 36” pike and my daughter got a 23” walleye early the second week.

I guess I am just the bad guy but this post upset me.

Those fish are not legal and are supposed to be release immediately not tossed in a live well to be stressed. Many fish die after being stressed. I can’t believe anyone would purposely break the law and advertise it on line.
Get some better ethics and treat the fish properly by releasing immediately fish that are not legal to keep.

I was trying to lead in a bit on my post before I gave my advice yesterday. My better half said the same thing as you Disco. She actually went a step further and said some of those fish looked dead because a few of their tales were bent the wrong way, and none of them were moving in the picture. She said how can you get all those fish to stop flipping and flopping around at the same time to get a still picture. She said so many of my pictures are blurry of live fish because they are moving when I take the picture. Walleye is a very fragile fish and should never go in a live well unless you are bringing some home to eat, especially with the water temperatures where they are now. So I told her, and I quote. " I don't know the condition of those fish in the picture, I was not there." I also said. " If I was there, I would have showed him where to catch big walleye on Balsam.

As I mentioned, all of the fish swam away. They weren't in the livewell for more than ten minutes. It took a few attempts to get them all in one picture as they were flopping around

No matter what you said you can not legally put fish out of the slot in your live well. You can’t have over your limit in your possession and you did.
You said it took some effort to get some of them to swim away but deleted that part now. The fish were stressed and never should have been and you were breaking the law.

Flat out you need to review not just your ethics but the regulations you were breaking. If you love fishing follow the regulations in place that are there to protect the resource and provide future healthy fisheries.