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Author:
PECo
Date:
Jun 05, 2010
Subject:
Batterson Park Pond 06/04
Message:
After dinner, I decided to head out to Batterson to see whether I could catch up with DV and Turtlekiss in their evening hunt for walleye pike. I got there at 8:15 PM, just as DV pulled up in his canoe to the launch ramp on the south end of the pond because, [b:52c8572867]surprise![/b:52c8572867], he had forgotten something in his car. Turtlekiss was out on the water by the beach on the north end of the pond. There was a DEP fisheries truck on the ramp. Two guys were unloading 3 inch juvenile walleye from West Virginia into the pond. Unfortunately, it was a long drive on a hot day, so a lot of them didn't survive. Hey, at least they tried! After I launched my kayak, I headed over to the first corner on the western shore, where a bass boat was anchored. The two fishermen on it were fishing for largemouth bass and walleye. They told me they had pulled a 20 inch, 4 lb largemouth bass out of the pond the other day. They also recommended a Rapala DT-6 or DT-7 to catch walleye. I was working my way up the shore toward the beach when I decided to not fight the southerly wind and paddled to the middle of the pond to let the wind carry me north. By the time I got near the beach, it was already dark. I was throwing a Rapala-like shallow diving rattling shad and caught my first ever walleye. At least, I think it was a walleye. It was about 10 inches long. I had only my old VGA-quality cellphone camera and a flashlight. You tell me what you think it is: [img:52c8572867]http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9311/20100604myfirstwalleyep.jpg[/img:52c8572867] Turtlekiss anchored Dinghbat (i.e., her dinghy) close to the shore a little south of the beach. I paddled to the middle of the pond upwind, so I could drift with the light wind back toward the beach. DV was, [b:52c8572867]surprise![/b:52c8572867], futzing with his tackle by the beach. After fishing with no hits for about an hour, the weather started to turn. DV suggested that we head toward the ramp and fish there, just in case. As we started to head back to the ramp across the pond, the skies opened and the rain began to fall. Hard. DV and Turtlekiss headed to the beach. I paddled full tilt for the ramp. I got there just as the rain began to let up and then stop. The wind died completely and the water turned to glass. DV and Turtlekiss were nowhere in sight. Since I was already completely soaked, I decided to head back out onto the water, but only close to the ramp. I went around the first corner and began fishing. I caught a couple of rock bass and a sunny. Then I caught my second walleye, which was about 12 inches. A little while later, I got a more substantial hit on my lure. There was a strong, steady pull to the side. When I reeled in my line, I saw that I had caught my first ever keeper walleye. Thankfully, DV had mentioned earlier that walleye have teeth so I had my Lipper Fish Gripper ready and didn't try to lip it with my thumb. Ouch! It was only 18 inches, but I kept it because it was my first one. Plus, walleye is my favorite fish to eat. After that, I caught another juvenile walleye and another sunny. A short while later, we packed it in and headed back to the ramp. We were off the water around midnight. I don't mind saying that I was a little creeped out by sitting in the dark on the water in my kayak. At one point, I drifted over some submerged rocks close to the shore and didn't even know it. I was a little surprised when I shined my flashlight into the water and saw them. I really enjoyed fishing in the dark, but next time I want to do it from a bigger boat! One with better lighting (i.e., one with more than a flashlight). I already filleted my keeper walleye and will pan-fry it for breakfast.
Author:
PECo
Date:
Jun 05, 2010
Subject:
Yum!
Message:
I just had breakfast with my wife and kids. We split the walleye pike fillets, which I salted, peppered, Wondra floured and pan fried in unsalted butter. It was absolutely delicious. I need to go walleye fishing more often. I guess I'll need a bigger boat. Honey?
Author:
SkeeterJim
Date:
Jun 05, 2010
Message:
Nice job on Batterson Phil, as usual awesome report.
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