Post by profishing on Jun 2, 2006 13:18:12 GMT -5
Just witnessing 16-pound walleye pulled from Columbia River enough for Aberdeen anglers
By Deb Smith
American News Sports Writer
Three Aberdeen fishermen can talk about a big fish that didn't get away. They didn't reel in the big one themselves, but were in the same fishing group.
Dennis Gross, Mike Gross and Jim Larson, all of Aberdeen, along with Jim Wendland of Milbank, took a fishing trip to the Columbia River in Oregon. Also in their group were three Rapid City anglers. During an excursion by the seven fishermen on March 29, Roger Starr of Rapid City landed a 15-pound, 11-ounce walleye.
"We were in the boat right next to him about two pickup truck lengths away when he caught the fish," said Dennis Gross. "It was 34 inches long and 21 inches in girth. This is the biggest walleye that I've ever seen and I've fished for 50 years and all over the United States and Canada."
The group was using whistle jigs and night crawlers and fishing exclusively for walleyes.
"It was really a dream come true. It didn't make any difference if my son or I caught the big fish. It was the fact that it was caught on our trip. It didn't make any difference who caught it. We wanted to catch a 15- or 16-pound fish and we did," Gross said.
For Dennis Gross the trip was the realization of a long-time dream.
"I've wanted to go to the Columbia River for years and years and years," he said. "I've been saving my pennies and dimes and nickels and my son (Mike) has, too. We finally had enough money to do it."
Dennis started calling fishermen in the area to see if they wanted to go. Quite a few said they would but backed out. So, just the four area fisherman made the walleye fishing trip and met up with the Rapid City anglers.
The end of the first day's journey to the river contained a sharp contrast in weather. The fishermen went to bed at midnight and rose at 5 a.m. for the second leg of the journey.
"We left (Aberdeen) on March 25 and drove as far as Bozeman, Mont., the first night. It was beautiful and 69 degrees when we went to bed. We woke up to 18 inches of snow. We made the (mountain) pass and kept going. It got nicer and nicer," Dennis Gross said.
They fished near Umatilla, Ore., with Oregon on one side of the river and the state of Washington on the other.
With the help of fishing guide Jason Schultz, the fishermen caught quite a few big walleyes. Some were 12 to 13 pounds. Gross' biggest fish was an 11-pound, 7-ounce walleye.
"They're fighters, but not like a bass. They like to stay down. It's a great thing to fish walleye," said Gross, who had different expectations about the size of the river. "I was extremely surprised by the Columbia River. I thought it would be big and huge. It wasn't as wide as the Missouri where we fished (in Oregon)."
The very first fish they reeled in on the first day of fishing weighed 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
"That's the kind of fishing there is out there," said Dennis who has a brochure from the area that includes pictures of an 18-pound walleye and a 19-pounder.
Gross and son Mike are planning a return trip.
"We made our reservations for next year. Hopefully, we'll take along maybe 15 or 16 guys," said Dennis, who serves as a Pure Fishing Ambassador for Berkley fishing. He sells their equipment at fishing shows.
By Deb Smith
American News Sports Writer
Three Aberdeen fishermen can talk about a big fish that didn't get away. They didn't reel in the big one themselves, but were in the same fishing group.
Dennis Gross, Mike Gross and Jim Larson, all of Aberdeen, along with Jim Wendland of Milbank, took a fishing trip to the Columbia River in Oregon. Also in their group were three Rapid City anglers. During an excursion by the seven fishermen on March 29, Roger Starr of Rapid City landed a 15-pound, 11-ounce walleye.
"We were in the boat right next to him about two pickup truck lengths away when he caught the fish," said Dennis Gross. "It was 34 inches long and 21 inches in girth. This is the biggest walleye that I've ever seen and I've fished for 50 years and all over the United States and Canada."
The group was using whistle jigs and night crawlers and fishing exclusively for walleyes.
"It was really a dream come true. It didn't make any difference if my son or I caught the big fish. It was the fact that it was caught on our trip. It didn't make any difference who caught it. We wanted to catch a 15- or 16-pound fish and we did," Gross said.
For Dennis Gross the trip was the realization of a long-time dream.
"I've wanted to go to the Columbia River for years and years and years," he said. "I've been saving my pennies and dimes and nickels and my son (Mike) has, too. We finally had enough money to do it."
Dennis started calling fishermen in the area to see if they wanted to go. Quite a few said they would but backed out. So, just the four area fisherman made the walleye fishing trip and met up with the Rapid City anglers.
The end of the first day's journey to the river contained a sharp contrast in weather. The fishermen went to bed at midnight and rose at 5 a.m. for the second leg of the journey.
"We left (Aberdeen) on March 25 and drove as far as Bozeman, Mont., the first night. It was beautiful and 69 degrees when we went to bed. We woke up to 18 inches of snow. We made the (mountain) pass and kept going. It got nicer and nicer," Dennis Gross said.
They fished near Umatilla, Ore., with Oregon on one side of the river and the state of Washington on the other.
With the help of fishing guide Jason Schultz, the fishermen caught quite a few big walleyes. Some were 12 to 13 pounds. Gross' biggest fish was an 11-pound, 7-ounce walleye.
"They're fighters, but not like a bass. They like to stay down. It's a great thing to fish walleye," said Gross, who had different expectations about the size of the river. "I was extremely surprised by the Columbia River. I thought it would be big and huge. It wasn't as wide as the Missouri where we fished (in Oregon)."
The very first fish they reeled in on the first day of fishing weighed 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
"That's the kind of fishing there is out there," said Dennis who has a brochure from the area that includes pictures of an 18-pound walleye and a 19-pounder.
Gross and son Mike are planning a return trip.
"We made our reservations for next year. Hopefully, we'll take along maybe 15 or 16 guys," said Dennis, who serves as a Pure Fishing Ambassador for Berkley fishing. He sells their equipment at fishing shows.