Hey guys,
I'm new to this site and have read a few posts on this site.
I have been fishing Rainy for the last 15 years and I'm curious why everyone is fishing so deep for the walleye's.
I don't know if it's just because I fish the North arm where there's less traffic, or that it's a big secret, because I never fish deeper than 14' and just hammer the walleye's on bottom bouncers.
Are the walleye's bigger on the Canadian side?
I rarely catch one under 25" with many in the 28" and a couple over 30" every year. Just wondering because I feel they're alot easier to catch in shallower water
I even get them that shallow in the middle of the day under blue skies.
What do you think?

Shhhhh. There are only Small mouth up there. Lots of them.

You're right.
That's what the owners of the island I stay at say.
I'll quote them.
"I haven't seen a walleye up here for over 15 years" They're all on the states side.
That day I caught 10 over 25" on bottom bouncers.
My hot color is white spinners.
Tried every other color and white wins every time for me.

Yeah, ever since they netted all of the walleyes up there, it's never been the same..........

HEY GUYS,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE WALLEYES IN THE NORTH ARM ARE IMPROVING, I HAVE A LOCAL FRIEND WHO HAS A CABIN THERE & HE DOES CATCH EATER WALLEYES. AS FAR AS THE WALLEYES ONLY ON THE STATES SIDE, THAT IS WAY OFF BASE, THERE IS AWESOME WALLEYE FISHING ON THE CANADIAN SIDE OF RAINY.
SINCERELY,
FISHMEISTER

Last year was the best shallow walleye bite I have ever had on Rainy (36 years of fishing Rainy). I had five fish over ten pounds and most were caught at mid-day in shallow water with bright sun. This year though I have had to go deeper for more action. Got a 28" & 25" walleye in 12-15 feet today. Also a huge gut 38" pike in same depth. Several smaller ones. Most all on X-Raps or Lindy 3" Shadlyn and 3/16 oz Sickle Meister jig head.

No minnows, no crawlers, no leeches allowed. X-Raps work great in 10 feet or less. I have been coerced (buddy catching more than me) into using bottom bouncers this year. I just switch out the rear single hook for a small treble and hook on a Lindy Munchie Worm. Only done this a few times fishing against crawlers. One day I caught more on Munchies, the other day was about a tie.

We are pulling nite crawler harnesses in deep water. I will have to try that 14 foot with these!

Lots more 12-21 inchers in deep water. I guess that is why so many guys stay deep, they want eaters. I want porkas.

Capt. John...when you use X-raps are you trolling or casting? I assume you are casting... Thanks!

I do both. When I am in known good spot I usually cast. But I troll them along good looking shallow water. They will run about twice as deep on a troll - about 8 foot deep for a #10. That is what the big one in the picture hit.

Nice Fish! I hope to land one of those pigs next week. Hopefully the weather holds out for us. Thanks for answering my question.

I'm heading way up on the Canadian side in two weeks.
I'll be running my bottom bouncers in 12 to 15' and I'll let you know how we did.
Last year we boated 147 walleyes over 25" in a weeks time.
Can't wait.

RJN - send me an email before you come.

John Kolbeck
jakolbeck@charter.net
phone (218) 240-6086

Shoot.
I can't make it up there until the 22nd of Sept. Had some family issues.
I hope it doesn't get too cold up there at that time.
I'll email you before I leave.

I wore my ice fishing suit this morning. So best bring some warm clothes. Water in North Arm still 67 degrees.

I had one of my best bass days ever in November a couple years ago during a snow storm. Got over 100 and nearly all porkers. I bring plenty of clothes and rainsuits!

IT was nice later in the afternoon today, but nippy in the a.m. Not much action today. About 21 fish. equal numbers of bass, walleye, and pike. Nothing big, 26" walleye, 33" pike & 17" bass.

I can catch those walleyes deep on the bottom bouncers but must be doing something wrong in the shallow water. This is the first year I have ever used these. I prefer to cast for bass but these rigs have just been producing too much to not use em.

Are you trolling them bouncers on 12-15 foot deep flats or on breaklines of that depth next to deep water? I tried both but nary a walleye on the bottom bouncers shallow. I even tried a 12 foot hump but again no hits. I did catch one walleye casting in 7 feet of water so some were up shallow. But all the rest came deep.

It's really easy to get them shallow. Troll
.8 to 1.2 mph with the electric motor and 3 important factors. 11 to 14' of water, points, and windblown shorelines. I'm guessing that the wind blows the baitfish up against the shore and it brings the big ones in. I think the most important thing is speed. The slower you go the more you're going to catch. Also, don't need too heavy of line. 12lbs. test allows the spinner to spin at slower speeds. I thought that I had a few really good spots, but last year I tried new locations and did just as well.
There's so many up there that it doesn't matter where you go as long as the areas you're fishing doesn't have too many weeds.
And trust me, I've never lost a bottom bouncer in the last 10 years. For some reason they always find a way to free themselves from any snag in the rocks.

...not on bouncers. Went again yesterday but could only catch em on bottom bouncers in deeper water. My biggest walleye was 27" casting a fluke on Sicklemeister jig head in about 10 feet of water. So fish were shallow and deep but could only catch them casting in shallow water. I have already been doing what you suggest as to speed and location so will keep at it. Still only have a few hours experience dragging these so will get lucky soon.

Do you get many pike and bass doing this? I get lots of pike but few bass with the bouncers. I have modified some of my harnesses to avoid bite offs. They seem to work fine (deep) and have landed many walleyes and pike on them. Stop by when you come up and I will give you one to try. I'll even put a white blade on it!

If you would like to fish together one day when you are here let me know. Where will you be staying?