Red River Walleyes: Part Two

And the Red River walleye pursuit continues…

I’ll just say the bed on Saturday night was much welcomed after a day on the water with Josh from Jig-em-up Guide Service; after all, it was a long day of fishing on a cool October day accompanied by a stiff 20 plus mph NW wind. Before the lights went out I had to plug my iPhone in because I wore it down sending stories and photos. Let me tell you why…

As I said in Part One mixing business with pleasure is never a bad thing but Saturday was all pleasure and I was looking forward to it. Call it silly to say but I felt like I was headed to the Badlands with a hard earned 5 year buck tag. It will make sense in a bit why I got the sensation.

We met Josh and bundled into our cold weather gear: Dani into her Vexilar bibs and coat and me into two hooded sweatshirts and a pair of jeans. Yeah, it is my style. Moments later I was backing Josh and Dani into the water and we were idling down to the first hole. Similar to fishing with Phil we did the typical jig tossing and set lining with about the same results of smaller sauger and walleye mixed in with a few perfect for the table. We gave it a lengthy effort waiting for the right thump but as the sun crept over the tree tops it was time to go hunting…

It was typical to move from one spot to another and get a couple quick bites. Many were 4 to 12 pound catfish and after doing battle with them from hookset to the landing net Dani and I quickly learned when a cat was on the line. On our home Missouri River waters sometimes a cat lets you know he is a cat and sometimes he lets you know he isn’t, or in other words, you think you have a nice walleye on. The Red River most of the time leaves no guess work as you instantly know when a whiskered foe is on the other end. However, what you do not know is when a bite is underway if it will be a 10 inch sauger, a 12 pound catfish or the quarry we sought in a 10 pound walleye. Sitting in the boat listening to someone else is not normal to me because I won’t lie; I like my own boat and my own “ways” of doing things. I think many are similar in nature as they like their comfort zone but when you go to foreign waters and do foreign things it is important to listen to those that know. On two dead rod occasions it became very evident I was responsible for the empty hooksets because I became impatient. I told Josh he should require anyone that goes fishing with him to watch Grumpier Old Men when Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon attempt to catch Catfish Hunter. No kidding, it is EXACTLY like that scene where Walter frantically screams “Waait….waaAAAiiiiTTT!”

After disgusting myself on two misses I took the advice as Dani silently observed.

By now the wind had started to increase making efforts difficult in anchoring and keeping the lines how we wanted them. With the bite slowing Josh could sense it was time to lift the sprits and body temps. And what better way to do it than firing up the propane grill and enjoying some deer venison steak sandwiches? They hit the spot warming the soul and the body!

Full stomached we moved again searching for a fish looking to fill its. With lines casted there was time again to sit back and reflect. As the stern swayed ever so slightly from the swirling wind an amber leaf detached itself and floated downward deflecting off the side of Dani’s stocking cap. Looking up at the towering tree I thought to myself how nice it would be to have a few of these back home to hang treestands. Then realizing Dani didn’t flinch I looked at her face revealing shut eyes. In typical fashion a memory broke free of Dani’s mule deer hunt in the Badlands where nearly a year previous we took an afternoon nap amongst a sun-filled thicket. It dawned on me Red River walleye fishing in October was hardly different from hunting a mature mule deer. I liked my analogy so much I decided to break the boat’s silence sharing my thought to Josh.

Turning to face Josh I could sense a level of concentration about him. His eyes squinted as he peered at the rod tips supporting what he hoped to be a walleyes’ last meal. After revealing my thoughts I told Josh he doesn’t have to do this to himself. Of course, he asked “What?”

In so many words I told him this isn’t a guided trip where you have people holding you to your word. We are friends just out for a days worth of fishing with Dani and I knowing full well how this could end. Maybe it helped calm his nerves a little but I sensed it didn’t. In complete honesty, I could not care if we didn’t latch onto a memorable walleye but for those of you that don’t know Josh he strives to please. Regardless, being a man of conversation we broke off on other discussions about how he was looking forward to seeing his little girl tonight after fishing. That’s right folks, ole Jig-em-up-Josh is quite the family man even claiming she’s “Daddy’s little girl.” It makes for fun fishing when you have good company especially when the fishing slowed. Speaking of that, Josh couldn’t take it anymore…it was time to move.

Like clock work we were set back up and fishing in just a few minutes. It was a spot Josh hadn’t fished yet this year and sometimes those spots just feel “right.” The 2:30 pm sleepy time had passed and with it anticipation grew thanks to the sun’s angle shifting warm rays over our head and against the steep banks of the Red River. Dani and I started casting jigs again running into a few smaller sauger and northern pike. Off to my right Dani sat observing her deadrods. Opening my bail and about to cast a glimpse of the rod closest to Dani stole my concentration. Milliseconds later all three of us stood at full attention. If there was ever a time for theme music from Jaws now was it. We waited…waited…waited and finally the fish committed by bending the rod.

Dani, observing earlier failures, did a perfect sweeping hookset resulting in confirmation of something heavy as it cut into the Red River’s current. I sat waiting for the first tail boil near the surface…there wasn’t one. Surely there had to be a hard roll…there wasn’t one. No short jolting head shakes? Finally, as I watched the line move away from the current and more downward toward the boat I got the sensation this could be it and pat Josh on his right shoulder as we simultaneously said, “Dude!”

I know, I know. There could be classier ways to celebrate but it was a tense moment with Josh focusing on the grasp of the net, me fighting off pessimism of a last second tail boil and Dani focusing on what she had to do.

Similar to fishing tournaments there is always a little bit of doubt a big fish will be what you want it to be. The last few moments of the fight offered the picture perfect tourney jitter when the fish approaches net depth but turns and dives one more time. The Red isn’t like the crystal clear tailrace waters of the Missouri making visual confirmation a challenge and even though we were sure a walleye was on the other end the size of the fish was now the question. With the fish tiring Dani had gained back its mighty run and as she lifted the fish was surprisingly close to the surface but still offered no satisfaction of sight. What did that set up? Something every walleye fisherman dreams of. As it powered one last time to the bottom its tail came just close enough to the surface displaying the beautiful brand of a white-tipped tail. Simultaneously with the flash Josh snapped into serious mode throwing his own stocking cap to the boat floor. He did it in such frantic fashion that Dani thought the fish came off and Josh was upset but all Josh was doing was preparing for the most nerve wracking job of all…the net job.

A moment later Dani brought the walleye before the sweep of Josh’s net and the next moment was filled with success, relief and celebration. This truly was a last hour fish as our time on the Red River was coming to an end. Guesses of weight and length were eagerly tossed about as we placed the scale gingerly to its jaw. She bounced, then settled and displayed the biggest walleye I had ever seen in person, the biggest Dani had ever seen and the biggest so far out of Josh’s boat this year. The Red River walleye weighed a handsome 10 pounds 13 ounces and measured out at just short of 30 and one-half inches. A true monarch of the Red River.

It was just a few days earlier I sat in the driver’s seat backing down the boat ramp and looking back through the same mirror at high sprits, smiles and laughter. Fishing with Josh was far from being judged by the trophy Red River walleye he parked his boat on top of. To me, it was just another fishing trip with a friend I got to get to know better. He is a true family man, a true fisherman and someone each of you should share some boat time with.

Thanks for a great time Josh and we’ll see you soon when we’ll be wishing for big ole tail boils on the surface…I can’t wait.