I drove down to the Snake River midday to get out and chase some walleye. My buddy Allan was already down there, but due to the fact that I had Covid 19 the week prior (and am still feeling tired from it) we decided to fish in separate boats.

I reached TX Rapids about 2PM and pounded on Allan’s RV to say hello. I must have woken him up, because he barely recognized me. After letting him know my game plan, I launched and was fishin’ by 2:30. I pulled cranks over a couple of spots with no luck and pulled one fish (a 16” eater) off of the point across from TX Rapids. I then headed up to the dam. I pulled cranks up there and didn’t get a thing. It was about 5PM when I saw Allan’s boat pullin’ up and we talked for a bit and I said that there wasn’t anything going on. In that brief period of time, He pulled a 10 lbs. Catfish that he had in the livewell.

I headed down to the Tucannon and Allan wasn’t far behind. I started at the top of the Tucannon Bay, trolling down hill and pulled cranks in about 20-25 foot of water. There was very little action and I didn’t get my first hit until I trolled under the railroad bridge. I was pulling through there and pulled a nice 18” eater. Trolling back through it, I got hit again, but didn’t get the fish….. Ok, if there stacked up in there, I am going to Blade Bait.

I pulled up under the bridge and fished right next to the bridge piling. I dropped one of my trusty blades down there and had got popped immediately. I pulled up a nice 21” eater! I dropped it again, got popped again and pulled up another really nice 22” inch Eater! About this time, Allan had pulled up and we were talking about the Magic Hour which was upon us. Allan trolled through and I headed to the other side of the RR bridge to fish those pilings over there, with blades. I pulled a 10” dink, let it go and then headed to one of my favorite spots for Magic Hour on the Snake…..

I dropped down and started trolling up hill in 20 foot of water. I saw that I was going a bit fast, so I had to drop my trolling bucket which will take the trolling speed of my outboard from 2.3 down to the about 1.7 which is perfect. What was I using for a crank? If you have ever read any of my posts, when the sun starts to set, I am only trolling one color pattern on the Snake….It proves itself time after time after time. It’s the Trusty #213 Custom Bandit from Wicked Custom Jigs and Spoons.. These baits are expensive, but worth every penny……….Almost all of my biggest fish have come from this pattern……

It wasn’t long before I got slammed and set the hook……I knew immediately that I had a big fish on. When it feels like a snag, with a slow head-waggle, you start to smile a bit…… I cut the motor, and enjoyed the fight. I was fishing alone, so I wanted this fish to be good and tired, by the time I would attempt to net it. Like most big walleyes, it put up minimal resistance until it saw the boat. Once it was at the boat, it went on 3 different dives, before the fight was out of her……..I netted her and brought her up! She was a dang nice fish. She was short, stocky and THICK!...... Damn I love Snake River Walleye……This body of water, puts pounds on em’ before length…… You can catch chunky 16’s……Phenomenal eaters at 20 inches, and 23’s that are damn near 5 lbs! By the time they hit 28 inches, they can be 7, 8 or even 9 lbs!!! And this is what this girl was. She was 28 inches even and 9.3 lbs! What a donkey of a fish! If she gets to live to 32 inches, I’ll bet she’ll go 14 lbs……. I was alone, so it takes some time to get situated, weigh her and set up for photos….. By the time, I took a couple of photos, measured her and let her go, it was getting late. Late in the year, like this, magic hour doesn’t last long. I could’ve taken another pass, but my heart was full, I had 4 eaters in the live well and I decided to catch up with Allan and then try one more spot. I cruised back up to TX Rapids to try that one spot, didn’t catch anything and then called it a day at Dark.

It was only a 5 fish day, but when four of those are darn good eaters and the 5th is a picture fish……..You can’t complain….. That’s a damn good day………. The Snake River is a long drive, but well worth the gas and time. Where else, can you put fish in the freezer and get pictures that will last a lifetime……. It offers both, along with light pressure, beautiful scenery, unmatched sunsets and always, an opportunity to connect with God, as we enjoy His creation……..

Travis with a 28 inch walleye that weighed 9.3 pounds. Released.

Travis: Snake River - 8/27