Thread: Help with Walleye

I am looking to go to Lake James for walleye. Anyone have any experience with this fish and that lake? I'm told walleye are easiest to get this time of the year. I'd also like to know what bait or lures I should pick up and any tips on techniques. I have eaten this fish and it is unbelievably good. I know walleye are not found in many lakes in NC. I have been told the only place to get them is Lake James, Fontana, and Kerr Lake. Are there other places as well?

They have been stocking them in Gaston as well. They are some fine tablefare I agree. I use to fish with my wifes father in lake Erie for the eyes and he knew how to find them and you had your limit in short order. All he used up on erie was a plastic worm trolled behind the boat. Eyes are known for their habit of biting at night. Good luck and let us know how you do. Better yet bring me some back!

yep!! they sure are tasty!! I used to go to Wisconsin and Minnesota walleye and perch fishing..we would troll using bare roadrunners tipped with leeches or #5 or #7 Rapala in silver/black and sometimes we used the jointed minnows while .. sure miss those days.. would love to go back, but heck of a drive!!

i have caught some on the linville side of the lake arond rocky islands and points ( rocky) on night crawlers mostly. i havent done it in a long time, and never did it regularly. but i always seemed to find what i did find around rocks of some sort. there seem to be more on the linville side though. the water is deeper and clearer over there. look around the dams as well. you can check the asheville citizen times newspaper online. they run a outdoors page every week, and there is usually a report on lake james in it. if your an experienced walleye angler, then it shouldnt be to difficult. just know that lake james fish are famous for being persnickety. that goes for all species. good luck to you !

I have never fished them before although I am a very experienced fisherman. I have no idea how to rig for them. Do they have teeth that could shear a line? How big do they average? What type of hooks are best, etc?

you have pm

They got teeth. Its been so long since I fished for them that I dont remember much about the rig but I do fish for northern Pike and we use steel leaders for those toothy fish.

My friend catches them in 25-30' of water on rocky points with a Rapala ice minnow jigging spoon. They do have teeth, but rarely break a line. No need for steel leaders. The technique is a vertical spoon jigging presentation. Use your fishfinder on the rocky points especially up in the Catawba arm near the big island or up in the Linville arm up near the flats. I think that they have to be 15" long to keep and you can have four. They can get up to 25-26" long and weigh 5-6#, but most will be 1-3#.

Good luck and take care on the cold water.

theyll be gearing up to run here before long. getting ready tom hit the rivers.

I guide for them on Philpott Res, north of Martinsville ,Va. send me a PM if interested. have caught them up to 10lbs there.