Any advice? by: Dan Swanson   4/22/2009

If you were going to fish a walleye tournament with the following restrictions what would you do?

• Tournament only pays top 10 spots
• 5 fish per day, no culling (every fish that is not kept must be returned to the water immediately, if it goes in the live well, you have to weigh it)
• Fish must be over 14 inches and only 2 can be over 20 inches

This is a 2 day tournament.  It's the first weekend in May.  The lake has risen 5 feet in the last week and likely will continue to rise - cold, dirty water.  Tournament boundaries restrict the competitors to 70 miles of lake.  My guess is 16 pounds per day to win.

What's your strategy?  Are you going to fish for a check (need a top 10 finish) or do you just want to have a decent finish to look good to those who judge you and have a shot at the championship?  With this in mind, what's the smallest over 20 inch fish that you would keep (you get 2)?  And what's the smallest under 20 inch fish you would keep ?

I have an idea what I'd do and I'll tell you all after I get back, but what would you do?

Dan

Member comments

by: Mark403 on 4/22/2009 12:13:35 PM
Well, I am not a tourney fisher but if I were to try it my strategy would be to keep the first two fish over 20" in a gamble that others may not keep/catch their 20"+ fish. I would then be more pcicy on my 14" - 20" fish and try to have three fish 18" - 20". Lowering this size as I get closer to the end of the day. Again, I have no clue, just my thoughts!

 

by: JED on 4/22/2009 12:22:56 PM
I would take JED and we can decide when we catch them LOL. I agree with Mark, make us proud Dan

 

by: Coyute on 4/22/2009 2:45:08 PM
Good luck and kick some ass! My advice: Force feed buckshot to all kept fish! Just kidding :P

 

by: HeavyC on 4/22/2009 3:41:57 PM
Yikes! You're on your own here Dan..sounds like the makings for a tough tourney! Hmmmm? ...Has to be 18"+ for the under fish, and if its a hammer handle back she goes! Now, since there is no culling....you prolly don't wanna aim too big and make a big mistake releasing the one that could have made the difference ...so again your gonna want to stick closer..say 22". SO if your keeping fish in those ranges, that about adds up to 16# a day, so we agree there:) Heck, if I get laid off I am gonna sell the farm and try one of these tours!!! ...NAWWW, too much work! Best of luck Dan and safe travels! p.s...Lets BBQ some ribeyes & fry some eyes at Boysen end of June!! FYI...you do know I am gonna be one of your chase boats don't you? :) LOL! What's your nickname? I need it for the banner I will be trailing! Member, I only have a boney 50 Merc 2 Stroke so leave me bread crumbs so I can find you out there in the desert! HC Out!

 

by: Chadrok on 4/22/2009 6:28:14 PM
I'm sure making a good showing, and speaking to spectators and all that would be greatly aperciated by your sponsors.

 

by: pete m on 4/22/2009 7:36:10 PM
good luck Dan, we are pulling for you. i would try to keep first 3 over 17" and then try and hope for 1 or 2 over 21" but towards end of day keep any over 14" to fill the 5 better to turn in limit then 1 or 2 quality fish imo

 

by: panfishin on 4/22/2009 10:55:06 PM
i'd also put into account any pre-fishing that you get to do...if you can dial in on a good larger fish bite, i'd push the limit on the 20+ but if all you can find are the little guys then id take my first one over 20 regardless and see how the rest of the day goes. as for the under 20 group i'd guess sticking in the 18-20 range should do the trick unless its a real fatty then i'd make an exception. good luck!

 

by: Fishful Thinker on 4/23/2009 8:36:23 AM
Fish for the win because a Top 10 ain't that far off. It would be easy to shoot for a win and end up Top 10, but not so easy to shoot for a Top 10 and end up with a win. If the payout was deeper into the field, I'd have a different answer on that. Pre-fish first, then decide what the lake will give you as far as size. I'd look for my big fish very shallow in newly flooded cover and I'd start off each morning looking for my big fish during the best bite time and then change up for the "unders". I'd probably keep the first "over" I caught and then be pickier about the next one. Good luck Danno - Fish Big! CL

 

by: Dan Swanson on 4/23/2009 9:14:34 AM
Good answers. Just so you all know, I'm swinging for the fence. Or another cliche "hero or zero." 11th place pays the same as last, so go for the win and see what happens. As noted, pre-fish is a big piece of the puzzle. Solving it helps with the decision on personal slots. My guess (before pre-fishing) is the winner of this tournament will have 6 19's as their under fish, 3 over 23's and a kicker over 6 pounds. Dan

 

by: campingkids on 4/23/2009 3:20:20 PM
Rising water means fish will be moving. If I fished it and got a fish on a point and could not get another after a few runs over that point I would be moving on to the next point. (That's what happened to me on that lake last year) Let the fish come back in and restock then fish the point in about an hour. What will the bait fish be doing this time of year ? More than likely they will be looking for warmer water than the main body which means fishing in coves and small shallow bays. ?? Good Luck to both you and Kevin. See you on Devils lake in July! JT