Wet, windy, foggy, cold., Balsam walleye opener.

A few days late but we made it out yesterday. Met my friend at his boat late in the afternoon. Headed out to find the walleye in some great weather. Wind was mostly from the south and manageable. No luck with walleye for a few hours as sunset was approaching quickly. A few SMB were active in the cold water and some perch. Started catching walleye, when the rain started to fall. Wind was south to south east for the rest of the night. We fished hard through the night, fourteen hours in total. I would say we averaged one walleye each per hour. Quite a few bluegill and no crappie. We stayed away from crappie as they are spawning now. My usual baits were not working so well, pulled out my Gary Yamamoto baits. Three to four feet under a bobber, up and down with the waves. My friend was using my jerkbaits and crankbaits all night. Sometimes shallow, sometimes not shallow, wherever the wind pushed us.

My baits.

Most of my walleye looked like this...too small.

And and some bigger, but still too small. All the walleye I caught were legal to keep on Balsam. I have never understood keeping fish with no weight, just because the regulations say you can. Let the fish grow another year or two, so it can grow to spawning age.

Quite a few big bluegill like this went on the cutting board. My friend kept one big walleye about 25 inches, I didn't measure it. A great night of fishing, considering the weather. Went through three pairs of gloves, cold and wet hands can be dangerous fishing in the dark. We didn't see any other boats out there. Slept all day today...out of fishing shape. LOL.

And hear I thought 'the Joker' worked 'every day, every time out'....lol.
Smart call on thin looking Walleye, as some just need a couple of years to fatten up.

Cheers,

Wow...Night fishing under windy condition.
I like your old school lures LOL. Anyways, I do not see a lipless crankbait in the picture. I fished lipless more than any other lures during the cold spring days.

You mean strike king's joker? That's true. It also eliminates the little guys.

crapeeman, you still amaze me on how you can fish that long at night. you do seem to have them figured out though. I need a bit of weight to my walleye as well, I don't keep under 15" and fat, and I try to through anything over 22 back as well unless it the only fish I have for supper. Boy what I wouldn't do for some bluegill like that, my favourite eating fish.

I’m glad you got out. My fishing buddies were not to be found.

The Joker is definitely my favourite soft bait, very durable. Last night only a couple fish hit the Joker. After switching to the other more natural Yamamotos, the fish seemed to like them better. I am very superstitious, once a switch is made and works, that's it. Hope you find a bait shop that can help you out in Muskoka.

If I fished a bit deeper water and a little quicker on my retrieve, those lipless cranks would be a good choice. I fish so slow with lures and jigs, you would be be bored watching. LOL. Great comment though, lots of places perfect for lipless cranks. By the way, welcome to the Fishing Forum. Lots of great people on here.

You mean strike king's joker? That's true. It also eliminates the little guys.

Yes, Electric Chicken is my favourite. Catches small, medium, large and monster fish. Perfect soft bait spring, summer and fall in the Kawarthas.

Weather kept us awake and on our toes overnight. We have chatted about walleye sizes last year. Down where you fish a 15 inch walleye is heavier/fatter/grow faster, than where I fish. You have a great fishery down there, like a walleye factory. LOL. Love your posts with the waleye layed out on the grass. Changed my personal slot for walleye to 17-19.7 inches last year, except for Balsam Lake of course. I dont keep smaller walleye anymore like the top two in this older picture, maybe should have let them go to grow. Guess we get wiser as we get older.

Great report Jamie. I mostly live vicariously through guys like you on the soft-water season as due to my business schedule most of my fishing adventures happen on the hardwater.