It was a night-ops walleye mission for Pro Guide Mike as he set out in search of the big girls. Mike hit the water around 5 p.m., and by 6:30 the rods were already bending. The fish showed up, the bites were solid, and a handful of beautiful trophy-class walleye were caught and released. This is the time of year when we at FCO flip the switch and start targeting true giants—those once-in-a-lifetime fish and the potential next state record. Cold nights, quiet water, and big shadows on the graph… that’s trophy season. Mike put in the work, the fish cooperated, and the night ended with exactly what we chase this time of year: big bites, big fish, and big smiles.  

Pro Guide Blake put together another great day on the water chasing walleye. He ran downriver in search of another pocket of fish, and the move paid off—finding enough solid walleye to send his clients home with fresh fillets for the fryer. It was a smaller group for Blake today, but that didn’t slow him down. He covered water, read the conditions, and worked hard to keep his clients on the bite. Quality fish, good company, and steady action made it another successful outing for the FCO team.

Pro Guide Miles spent the day on the water with a great group of clients from Idaho. The weather was cold, but the bite was hot enough to keep everyone warm. The crew had plenty of chances throughout the day—didn’t land every fish that hit, but they made the most of the ones they did. By the time they wrapped up, the guys had a successful trip under their belts, some solid fish in the boat, and a few new stories to take back home. Cold hands, big smiles, and another good day on the Columbia.

It was another solid day on the Columbia River outside of Tri-Cities. We launched out of Umatilla, Oregon, with one goal in mind: get into some walleye and let the crew have some fun. Today was all about the jigging program, and the FCO crew handled it well. The bite was steady, the rods stayed busy, and the boat filled up with quality fish as the day rolled on. Another good day on great water with a crew that showed up ready to catch.

What a way to kick of December! Pro Guide Tony had a great day on the water with longtime clients Jimmy and Rebecca. These two know how to fish, and today they proved it once again. The morning started with a solid jigging bite, and they stayed after it, putting fish in the boat one after another. As the day went on, Tony switched things up and finished with a little trolling—and that sealed the deal. By the time they wrapped up, Jimmy and Rebecka had a nice pile of walleye headed home for their freezer and plenty of stories to go with them. Always a pleasure having these two in the boat. Great people, great fishing, great day.

Pro Guide Blake had a great day on the water with the guys from Montana. They made the trip out for a couple of days with one mission—fill the freezers with quality walleye—and they put in the work to make it happen. Day two didn’t disappoint. The bite stayed steady, the rods saw plenty of action, and the crew stacked up a solid pile of walleye to take back home. On top of that, they picked up a bonus catfish, which rounded out the cooler and added a little surprise excitement to the day. Blake kept them on fish, the guys kept the humor rolling, and the weather cooperated just enough to make for a smooth, enjoyable trip. By the time they wrapped up, the freezers-to-be were looking pretty healthy—and the stories were even better. Another successful run for a great group of anglers, and we’re already looking forward to having them back.

Walleye, Walleye, Walleye Walleye, walleye, walleye… it’s that time of year again. Then again, around here at FCO, it’s always walleye time. Today was another solid day of putting the hurt on the eyes, and the guys absolutely crushed it. The bite is hot, the fish are stacked, and the program is dialed. Jigging, trolling—whatever the conditions call for, it’s all producing right now. This is the stretch we look forward to every season, and it’s shaping up to be a good one. Let’s get you out on the water and into some of these awesome fish. Winter walleye is here, and we’re rolling.

Back to the Walleye Grind Well, we’re back on the walleye after spending some time in Hells Canyon chasing steelhead. Switching things up is always good—new scenery, new fish, new energy—but there’s something about sliding back into the walleye program that just feels right. The rods, the gear, the rhythm… it’s what we do, and it’s good to be back in the groove. The river’s cooling down, the winter patterns are setting in, and the fish are starting to stack. Exactly the kind of conditions we look forward to this time of year. Steelhead was a blast, but it’s walleye time again—and we’re ready to get after it.

Today felt a lot like yesterday here in Hells Canyon—in the best way. We hit the water early with hot coffee in hand and started backtrolling for that first bite. It didn’t take long. One of the rods bent early, and up came a beautiful steelhead. With that high fin on her back, this big hen went right back into the river to do what she’s meant to do. The action stayed steady, and by the end of the day we went 7 for 10, with plenty of excitement from start to finish. Good fishing, good company, and another great day in one of the most incredible places you can cast a line.