Every year I look for new things to try. One year it was painting my own blades, and that worked well. Another year, it was adding a second blade to the harnesses, and that had mixed results. Late last year I broke down some old Storm Lightning Shads and decided to use them as divers off the back of the boat, results to be seen
But, since last August up at the cabin I have been itching to rig up and try something really different. One night while everyone else had already hit the hay for the evening, I sat in the kitchen reading one of In-Fisherman’s walleye books. I don’t even remember which number the book was, but like always I was taking notes.
I came across something said by Gary Roach, Mr. Walleye and longtime Northland product staffer. He said try using a salmon fly skirt as a body on a walleye harness. Wow says me, I think I will. The quote was years old, and with new mylar shiny tinsel being used today and new blade paint schemes, I thought this could work. I already have caught walleyes in the Upper Peninsula on bass style hairpin spinnerbaits while pike fishing, so the skirt should not be an issue.
So last night while snelling, I took a break and had the dogs out in the shop. Went upstairs and grabbed some #4 trebles that I had up there. It’s not a perfected setup, so I might end up downsizing to a #6 or #8. I cannabilized some salmon flies I already had, and matched them up to some popular colors; Eriedescent, Pink Panties, copper/green, Seyka Perch and Moldy Muffin.
This is what I came up with:
I will still run some meat on them, but for now these will be the prototypes.
Edit: to answer an email question, there is a #2 Mustad Ultra Point hook under the skirt in front. Also, might be a good idea to go ahead and run two trebles on the rig.