Record walleye Kicks off Peak trophy time

Richland angler Mike Hepper had reason to be on the Columbia again on Feb. 6, the day after catching the Washington record walleye.

“The water temperature was only 37 degrees,” he said. “The fish will get more and more active as the water warms until they go into the spawn when the temperatures are in the 42- to 45-degree range.”

February through much of March is prime time to catch the biggest fish, he said.

Hepper’s fish was officially weighed at 19.3 pounds and measured 33.7 inches long and 22.2 inches in girth. The state’s previous record was an 18.9-pound walleye caught downriver in the John Day Pool in 2002.

Hepper, 64, was trolling a homemade spinner worm rig made with a Mack’s Lure Smile Blade, three chartreuse beads, a clear bead and three more chartreuse beads when he hooked the lunker in 34 feet of water around 10:30 a.m. He was fishing in the Burbank-Finley area near the mouth of the Snake.

Until he hooked the record fish, his biggest walleye was a 17.7-pounder he landed last year.

Tennessee holds the record for the largest walleye, a 25-pounder caught in 1960. Washington’s new record-size walleye ranks sixth in the nation compared with those in other states.

“The mid-Columbia River is widely recognized as one of the best places in the nation to catch walleye,” said Keith Underwood, WDFW game fish records coordinator.

Hot walleye waters

The Columbia and Lake Roosevelt, has many good places to catch walleye. Among them:

Kettle Falls area — While not known for regularly producing monster walleye, the fishing’s plenty good enough to keep local anglers happy. Try places such as the flats off the mouth of the Colville River and the flats off the Bradbury boat launch for starters.

Seven Bays area—Two weeks ago, I watched an angler catch and release two walleyes heavier than 10 pounds in a spot that’s less than a minute from the Seven Bays Marina.

Spokane Arm—Fishing upstream from Porcupine bay can be very good in March until the area is closed to fishing to protect spawners.

Lake Rufus Woods—Moving into March, walleyes tend to move into the upper third of the reservoir downstream from Grand Coulee Dam.