Tidal River Bust and Night Fall Walleye

I got my but kicked by the salt water again today. Blues were a-jumpin but the muddy water may have hindered their ability to find my flies. It was hot too, still is. I have yet to catch a salt water species this year. Hopefully the fall season will bring me some luck.

I had better luck at a place much closer to home. I spent the first half of the evening throwing around a popper. The only taker was an over ambitious bluegill. When darkness fully encroahed I tied on a big articulated streamer called the "Fur Trader", a killer pattern by Matt Grajewski. Tying video here: www.youtube.com

Rather than using glue on eyes I opted for brass on some of my ties, just to get it down a little further. The lighter intended fly kicks butt for trout at night, it's actually my favorite pattern for that purpose just because it throws a big profile without hanging up constantly. But for walleye and pickerel I prefer to go deep. On my third cast I felt one bump, then got crushed right at the shore. Immediately I knew it was a walleye. Not as big as my first, but with great colors. And the hit was just sweet! Funny how I've spent two years trying to get one walleye, but once I did they just seem a little bit easier to target. Once the pressures of is often when I can really get down to business.