After several weeks of severely high water across Missouri and Kansas, I was getting down in the dumps, like most anglers. Not only had I not been able to fish much, but when I did, it was also super slow.
A part of me didn’t want to mess with even getting the boat out. But every time I get in one of these moods, I always remind myself that no great fishing experience occurs from staying inside.
So off I went to Longview Lake. While normally a bass fisherman, I decided I would target walleye by trolling with a flicker shad and jigging nightcrawlers.
At 6:30, the water temperature was hovering a degree or so above 80. I tied on a silver/shad pattern (size 5 I believe) flicker shad. I began trolling with my 25HP real slow almost immediately from the main marina towards the danger buoys.
As soon as I reached the no wake buoys, I noticed the depth changed quickly up to about 6.5-7.5 feet. Within moments, there was a tug on the line. Although there was virtually no fight, I caught my first Longview keeper walleye in the first couple of minutes.
After two years of throwing jerkbaits and every other kind of walleye method, I was ecstatic to catch my first keeper out of there. I wish I could say I filled a stringer, but that was the only fish for the night until I started dragging nightcrawlers on a jighead. That yielded several small channel catfish.
I did spend a little bit of time throwing a buzzbait along the bank leading into the Mouse Creek boat ramp and did not have any action.
The water is very muddy across the entire lake. I didn’t notice too many other folks catching a lot of fish around me, but there were about 4 or 5 boats working the small flat area inside the danger buoys near the main marina. Obviously there must be something to that!
By the end of the night, I was showing about 78.5 on the water temperature. The bugs started getting bad and I got off the water around 9:30pm. Overall, another outstanding night on the water with gorgeous views and fun memories.
Still a lot to learn about these walleye, but that’s part of the fun!
Sounds like trying different techniques is still the key… Trolled near the dam in large circles (just above idle) with cranks, 1/2 oz spinners, etc. Couple of bass, but no Walleye…
I’ll keep reading from folks like you to get some ideas… Muddy water everywhere is new for me, so I’m learning with ya’ my man!
I’ve honestly not heard much from folks about the dam being real great during the summer. Only heard things about it during the spring spawning cycle. I’m planning to try jig and crawlers a lot more in the coming weeks. I’ve been told they will be surprisingly shallow, according to the local biologist.