Giant Walleye Action!

[Duck-Slayer]

Took my 8y/o son over to the Columbia River this past 4 days. Great trip. I caught my personal best, tipping the scale at 15.55#! (We) Drake caught his PB and first walleyes ever. His went 14# and 32”. Also released an 8# and 7#. Kept 10 for the freezer (males). Second to last picture is the 15 and the last picture is the 14.
Matt

 

[Art Vandeley]

Looks like fun!

 

[Muskeez]

Holy Guacaomoly! Congrats , those are incredible fish! We are about going stir crazy here. The MO river in SD is locked up tight but we are hoping to be out in a couple weeks. What type of presentation do you use on the Columbia this time of year? We mostly pitch jigs with plastics 95% of the time, occasionally drag minnows on a lindy rig or vertical jig with minnows.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Holy Guacaomoly! Congrats , those are incredible fish! We are about going stir crazy here. The MO river in SD is locked up tight but we are hoping to be out in a couple weeks. What type of presentation do you use on the Columbia this time of year? We mostly pitch jigs with plastics 95% of the time, occasionally drag minnows on a lindy rig or vertical jig with minnows.

We troll big cranks on leadcore in 20ft of water. Water temp 35.1
Matt

 

[BrentD]

Those are amazing walleyes. Back in the day, the Minnesota state record was 16.5# and that stood for years in what I consider the premier walleye state. But things change I guess.

 

[Sytes]

Great event, pops! Fantastic walleye! And forever memories for your young lad!

Good job and grats on your fishing.

 

[Jorgy]

holy crap, nice fish. Even better because you have your son with you

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Those are amazing walleyes. Back in the day, the Minnesota state record was 16.5# and that stood for years in what I consider the premier walleye state. But things change I guess.

Columbia River is probably the premiere destination in the western half of the country for giant Walleye. Biologists say the next World Record is in the Columbia River system.
Matt

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Great event, pops! Fantastic walleye! And forever memories for your young lad!

Good job and grats on your fishing.

Yes definitely, he is a great young netter and fisherman.
Matt

 

[BrentD]

Just for fun, I googled to see if the old Minnesota record stills stands. Well it does and it doesn't. What I did find was an interesting story about an especially honorable man, Don Mickel. https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/n...ial-state-record-cant-register-it-because-reg

 

[fishing4sanity]

Congratulations to you and your son. A 14# had to be pretty exciting for your son, maybe even more exciting for the dad to watch it happen.

 

[fulldraw]

A friend of mine fished the Columbia River three years ago and had similar success with walleyes. Those are some outstanding fish. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Sawtooth]

Nothing will fatten up fish faster than a river system full of salmon fry. These non-native fish are putting the hurt on the salmon runs. Good job and keep at them. I hate to imagine the number of salmon those big boys can eat in a year.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

White fish, smallmouth, largemouth bass. Every predator fish eats them, don’t single out the Walleye. Plenty of salmon make it. Don’t forget the the sea fishy’s too that gorge themselves on salmon.... lol
Matt

 

[Irrelevant]

If you want to see the timeline for introduced fish into WA this report has a pretty good table (pg 5). https://www.nwcouncil.org/sites/default/files/isab2008_4.pdf

 

[JohnCushman]

Good on you, dad!! Amazing fish!

 

[PNWGator]

Great looking fish!

 

[Flatrock]

Wow man. Congrats on some great fish!

 

[jvanhoy]

That’s awesome congrats! They are about to start the spawning run up the river here. Will be trying them out soon.

 

[Bulldog0156]

Holy wow! I've been thinking I might need to head over to the Columbia to do some walleye fishing in another year or so. Might have to ask you for some directions if I do. Those are some tanks!