Fueled by reports of being able to catch walleye here in the early spring, I decided to give it a try. Never fished here before. First suprise was that the state park is closed until May 1st, so we found a boat launch at the marina/campground on the south side of the river. Note, campground is under new manage and is now a KOA. Nice owners. Anyway, we launched and sped up the mouth of the Palouse river. Second surprise was how shallow the whole area there is. We didn't run aground, but we turned back when the depth finder read less than 2' in what appears to be a very large and deep area of water. After searching for the main channel, we moved up along the west shoreline following a channel of 5-7' deep, but still didn't get us up into the the main flow of the Palouse river. Final surprise was finding nary a walleye to be caught. We fished spinners and jigs, tipped with worm. We drifted worm harnesses, we threw plugs. We tried everything. Finally tally: 1 Squawfish, 2 Perch, 1 SM Bass, and 1 Salmon or steelhead smolt. Water temp was 46 in the main stream of the Snake and 52 in the Palouse slough. Several other boaters, but we didn't see anyone catch anything and didn't get a chance to confirm that we were on track with trying to catch walleye in this area. Any tips from the readers? I'm guessing we really needed a sled to get further up the Palouse river to find the walleye.

The Jigmiester

4/21/2009 10:23:00 AM

Ghoti. All of the walleye that I have caught in the Palouse River have been caught from late Feb thru the full moon phase of early April. I've caught some giant Smallmouth in the upper reachs of that river, but that was by fishing out of a a shallow drought jet powered bass boat. There have been times leading up to the spawn in April where the Walleye stack up in the deeper holes just down from the falls. I think that most of those fish migrate back out tho the Snake after they drop thier eggs. Water clarity and current flow dictate thier catchability. In turbid flows, I like using a chart/orange Northland Whistler Jig with Berkley Gulp 3" minnow in 1/4 to 1/2 oz. sizes. The Jigmiester

Ghoti

4/22/2009 12:00:00 PM

Thanks for the tips, Jigmiester. I'll be better prepared next time (fewer surprises). Water clarity was extremely poor (less than 1') so that might have added to our lack of success.
Ghoti

eustace

4/22/2009 3:19:00 PM

I hear that the state park may not open at all due to the lack of funds? I plan on hitting that area in mid may for the channel cats hopefully its only talk that the park may not open.

rippinlips22

5/5/2009 9:26:00 AM

Ghoti, they are killing the walleye right now in the Palouse. I have a 19' Super V with a prop motor and when you head up in the Palouse just keep it full throttle. My depth finder gets to about 1.9' for about 30 yards and then it starts dropping back off. If you stay on plane you will be just fine. Once you get up in the Palouse it is 4-25 feet deep and some great walleye and catfishing. Try i next time. I am heading down this Saturday to fish, look for me is you are down there and maybe you can follow me up in the Palouse. I have a gps that keeps me on track when I make the run. Tight lines, Rip

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