| Whenever I mention that I fly fish to a fellow | | | | There are 2 patterns that work best for me |
| angler, he (or she) inevitably inquires whether I | | | | when I'm fly fishing for walleyes. One is a Clouser |
| prefer fishing for trout or smallmouth bass. When | | | | Deep Minnow. I tie this pattern on a No.2 Matzuo |
| I answer that trout and smallmouth bass are both | | | | plain shank offset hook to resemble a fire-tiger |
| OK, but that I also enjoy catching walleye, they | | | | perch. The other pattern is my own creation that |
| look at me like I just deplaned from a spaceship. | | | | I call the K3 RiverBug. The K3 was born when I |
| True, fly fishing and walleyes are not often used | | | | set out to tie the 'perfect' crayfish fly that would |
| in the same sentence, but the times they are a | | | | be irresistible to the legendary Kankakee River |
| changing. Fly fishermen who think outside of the | | | | smallmouth, I was overwhelmed by the many |
| box catch all varieties of fresh water fish on flies. | | | | crayfish variations that are out there in |
| I live on and fish the Kankakee River in Illinois, and | | | | Google-land. on the internet. In every instance, the |
| have personally caught sunfish, catfish, carp, | | | | creators of these variations claimed that theirs |
| smallmouth bass, suckers, northern pike, AND | | | | was the best crayfish pattern they ever used. I |
| walleye. | | | | picked the best parts of several patterns and tied |
| While a single fly may catch all of the species | | | | the K3 on a Mustad No. 4 - 79580 streamer fly |
| mentioned above, certain patterns are preferred | | | | hook. Walleyes love this fly. |
| when targeting specific fish. One can purchase | | | | One you've acquired the proper equipment and |
| many of the requisite patterns from fly shops, or | | | | selected your pattern, the key to your ultimate |
| one can choose to tie their own versions. I'm | | | | success is your technique. Of course, I'm |
| amazed at the numerous internet sites that offer | | | | assuming that you're going to be fishing in a |
| fly tying instructions - even free videos - for | | | | walleye-rich environment, which in most instances |
| many of the popular patterns. | | | | would be either a 4 to 10-foot hole between |
| Fly fishing for walleyes, or any other species, | | | | gravel bars, or a post-riffle run with a depth of 3 |
| requires 3 fish-specific considerations - equipment, | | | | to 5 feet. The main variable in either case in the |
| fly patterns, and technique. | | | | weight of the pattern. I fish the Clouser with a |
| I recommend a 5 or 6 weight, 9-foot good quality | | | | cross-river swing technique, using a variety of |
| fly rod. You don't have to spend a fortune on the | | | | retrieves. I start by using a medium-speed strip. If |
| rod, but the better its quality, the more you'll | | | | that doesn't work, I slow things down and let the |
| enjoy casting with it. The reel should be set up | | | | Clouser meander through the swing, giving it a |
| with 150 to 200 yards of backing connected to | | | | few tantalizing strip-and-stops along the way. |
| the rod weight-appropriate line. Depending upon | | | | Keep your rod tip close to the water, pointing at |
| the depth and speed of the current in the river, a | | | | the fly. Watch your line and set it hard when you |
| line with a sinking tip section is a good starting | | | | see it twitch.Walleyes will usually hit it on the drop |
| point. I use a 3-foot, 12-pound test leader tied to | | | | after a strip, and at the end of the swing. |
| a 3-foot, 6-pound test tippet. | | | | |