Other Walleye Forage

[powerdive]

Steve F has a couple walleye spots on Stockton where he says the primary early summer forage is crayfish. He adapts his presentation accordingly (craw-colored jig/crawler) in those areas.

[Ozark]

bullitt said:
My experience is different from yours Ozark. I catch quite a few walleye while bass fishing at night with a plastic crawdad. I've always thought that they fed fairly heavily on 'dads at night. My .02.

Bullit - I don't doubt it a bit. Walleyes feed at night, and I can't see one passing up a juicy crawdad, given the chance.

It seems strange, though, that I've night fished for bass on Bull Shoals with plastic crawdads and worms for years and never caught a walleye that way. Lots of bass, some flathead and channel cats, an occasional crappie, and even a few drums - but never a walleye. I dunno.

[Tablerock]

A few years ago (2001 I think), I was going to try and worm some walleye info out of a guide at Bull Shoals. I can't think of his name now but he was listed on the Hots Spots topo map as a guide. I called him and he said he was not guiding anymore but he was eager to talk walleyes. I asked him what lures he'd recommend. Without hesitation he said, "Throw a gitzit". (A fairly large soft plastic tube bait). A crawdad or shad colored gitzit. I said "come on, you're not serious". He said he'd caught more BS walleyes on Gitzits then anything else. Go figure....

[powerdive]

Sounds like your guide friend thought both shad AND crayfish were the primary forage at BS.

[Hunter91]

Never thought of a gitzit for walleye. I love that bait for bass.

[Tablerock]

powerdive said:
Sounds like your guide friend thought both shad AND crayfish were the primary forage at BS.

Well, he sure pushed that crawdad color. Probably due to the way he fished the gizit. On the bottom. I would have to agree with the bluegills being on the list also. Anybody that's fished for walleyes at Bull Shoals or Tablerock knows that there are 5 kazillion bluegills for every walleye....(bring LOTS of nightcrawlers).

[trackerteam6]

I was at 125 Marina last spring, and he has a black board with the big walleye listed by date and lure, over half were caught on a gitzit, but most were in black. I searched the net looking for black and can't find them so I bought plastic dye to make my own. Hoping to try it this spring at Bull shoals, up around Theodosia.

[walleyesrus]

Gitsits are great walleye baits. Walleyes love bluegills and all young of the year fish. They hang out in the backs of coves early in the year when the whites have spawned and the crappies are spawning, little minnows are great at that time of year.There was an article in the walleye insider about what they call pinheads which are young of the year fish. As far as crawfish I was on a definate crawfish bite one year on stockton. Orange blades were the only thing they'd hit and when then bit they would slam it once and then a secend or so later inhale it like normal. When they eat crawfish they hit them once to stun them and then come back and inhale them it was pretty cool. I think the crawfish bite is what draws them from the coves to the main lake points in late spring early summer.

[Hellbender]

TT6, are you talking Black tubes?

[powerdive]

Our competitor up in Nebraska used to make some solid-bodied tubes called Bass-Its. They were awesome jig trailers on the Mississippi river, but I think they're long gone now. Haven't seen 'em in 10 years or so. Walleyes love tentacle baits!

[Lakebumb]

Black Gitzits
No problem
Check this place out.

www.canyon-plastics.com

LB

[trackerteam6]

Yes just plain black tubes, I searched the internet and could not find any plain black tubes, so I bought plain white and black plastic dye and make my own. Black tubes on the net always have red, blue, green or some other color injected into them. We'll see this spring if I do any good with them, of course I'll let you all know.

[Hellbender]

The original Gitzits on Gerry Garlands site are all Black. Thats the site that Lakebumb posted. He also makes a Green Crawdad and a Brown Crawdad that are deadly, especialy the brown. You'll have to E-Mail him if you want them, I can never remember what he calls them on the site.

[trackerteam6]

Darn I searched the whole internet, finally buy the darned ole black dye and Lakebumb and Hellbender send to a site that has exactly what I wanted, now what am I supposed to do with the black dye, now that I don't need it. Seriously tho THANKS GUYS I do appreciate the help, I saw several colors and sizes I'm going to buy. See you on the water (Stockton) I don't catch many but darn sure have fun trying!!!

[Lakebumb]

Where did you find the black dye? I've been looking for that.
LB