Did You Know?

That we catch Walleye in the Missouri River and occasionally on the fly? During spring and fall, they are particularly aggressive and can be caught on the fly IF you know where they are. Walleye typically take the fly lightly. Even the big ones, and they do get big. Fish up to 10 pounds are not uncommon. No, they don’t really fight that well, but they are great eating. Speaking of eating, Walleye prey heavily on juvenile trout. Don’t cry too much when you whack one for dinner. You just saved the life of many Rainbow and Brown trout.

Walleye aren’t easy to catch. You need to get the fly down in there face and keep it there. Imparting a little action doesn’t hurt, but Walleye generally won’t take a fly on a fast retrieve. They like it slow and touching there nose. A sink tip helps you get the fly right in front of their nose, but you sacrifice some connectivity between you and your fly. In other words, the bigger the tip you have on, the more difficult it will be to feel the take.

The best flies for Walleye on the Missouri River imitate minnows and leeches. Buggers and baitfish patterns work well, especially when tied heavy. Think jig. Buggers and leech patterns should be black or brown, and baitfish patterns that imitate small Rainbow Trout are our favorites.

Look in deep, slow inside water. Walleye tend to congregate, so when you find one, there should be others present. Hopefully enough to feed the entire family.