Walleye Fishing again., Balsam Lake update.

Finished work 6am Sunday, Got some sleep then headed up to Balsam. Met my friend at his dock and headed out on the boat to fish around 7pm. A nice breeze around 15km from the NW. Set up the boat in the north and started drifting south. An hour went by with just some perch caught. Back up to north side again and drifted back down with same results. Went north again and so on. Sun was going down and the bigger fish started biting. Not too much bigger though, just a few 15 and 16 inch walleye and a couple smaller bass. As the night went on a few more walleye not big enough to keep. Then my friend caught a couple bigger bass that he kept, and a 24 inch walleye. While he was catching those fish, I was catching crappie and one 22 inch walleye. All the fish were cruising very shallow because we were only fishing two feet under the surface after dark. In total my friend caught about 10 bass, 5 walleye, a bunch of perch and 5 crappie. I caught about 5 bass, 5 walleye, some perch, and 20 crappie. He kept his 5 crappie about 10 inches. I kept 1 walleye 22 inches, 1 fat bass, and a pair of 12 inch crappie. It was great to finally get to fish Balsam this year. We got lucky last night, and it was nice to fish with my friend. Our schedules never match up, so we only fish together once a year. Now I can't decide where to fish next time, Sturgeon or Balsam. Maybe I can swing two nights up there and fish both if the wind cooperates. You never know what Mother Nature will bring you before you head out. She was kind to us last night and there was only a few mosquitoes. Stay safe.

Great job CM. You guys did really well and great to get out fishing with friends I didn’t manage to get out much on my last week of holidays,but managed a few small bass and one walleye, but i am still struggling with the walleye. My normal spots and tactics have not been working so i have to change it up a bit. I plan on fishing most weekends and have another week vacation mid August. I hope you get out soon.

Thank you. I always say it was a lucky night of fishing because first you have to find the crappie and walleye. Then you have to hope the crappie and walleye are hungry. My only fishing skill is patience. Sometimes the fish are not quite ready to feed. You know they are there but they just won't hit the bait. Then you get lucky and find the right speed to trigger a reaction in the fish. One more skill is restraint that keeps me from losing a fish. Waiting for the fish to pull me is better than ripping back to set the hook too soon and then the fish is gone. The walleye are out there waiting for you. Think deep and slow retrieve during the day around the weed drop offs and hump drop offs. And shallow and quick at dusk and dark around the shallower water. Good luck next time you are out.

Great report and nice catches.. Well done

You guys did well fishing into the night and persisting.

As stated it takes some time to determine a pattern, but once you get it figured out, fish on!

Enjoy the meal!

Thank you for the comment. It was great to get back on the water. I hope everyone has good luck fishing this weekend.

nicely done

Thank you. Can't wait to get back out there.