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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Wily walleye wanted

All signs point to a successful kickoff to 2016 fishing season

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 5/13/16

REGIONAL— There are two things that every experienced angler up here will agree on: there are plenty of area lakes chock full of fish, and with the right approach, you should be able to catch your …

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Wily walleye wanted

All signs point to a successful kickoff to 2016 fishing season

Posted

REGIONAL— There are two things that every experienced angler up here will agree on: there are plenty of area lakes chock full of fish, and with the right approach, you should be able to catch your share.

And most will also agree that slowly working a jig and minnow is traditionally one of the best ways to bag a few walleye on opening weekend. “That’s my number one tip,” said Dave Schaeffer, a longtime fishing guide on Lake Vermilion. “A jig and a minnow is usually your best option early in the season. I generally use a chub when I’m jigging and I’ll use a rainbow if I’m switching to Lindy’s. They’re a little more active than a chub.”

This year, most area lakes cleared of ice a week or so ahead of average, so water temperatures will likely be a bit warmer than usual for opening weekend, and walleye will generally have already moved from their spawning areas. “I wouldn’t fish Pike Bay this year,” said Schaeffer. “Most fish will have migrated out already,” he predicted.

Fellow fishing guide Casey Sunsdahl agreed. “It will definitely be post-spawn and the fish will be scattered,” he said. “I think it will be pretty similar to last year, which means the fish will be active. It should be a successful opener.”

Anglers on Vermilion should find plenty of action, with Big Bay, Niles Bay, and Fraser Bay currently holding some of the largest numbers of walleye.

Up at the border, Crane Lake resort operator and fishing guide Jerry Pohlman predicts anglers will stick to their usual opening weekend spots, despite the somewhat earlier ice-out this year. If so, that would leave anglers focusing on areas with current, such as the mouth of the Vermilion or Echo rivers, or the Crane Lake narrows.

Pohlman said the Crane Lake crappie bite has been consistently good in recent weeks, so anglers might consider switching up if the walleye bite is slow, or if they limit out early.

Time of day

determines depth

In low light, such as at dawn and dusk, the walleye often move into the shallows this time of year. That makes dock or shore fishing an excellent option for opening weekend. While Schaeffer said many anglers think working a bobber in the shallows is just for kids, it’s often highly productive in the spring. “I caught some of the biggest fish of my life on bobbers last year,” he said. “Definitely don’t be afraid to make the switch,” he said.

During the day, the walleye will generally head to deeper water, and that’s particularly true on clear water lakes, where it can be tough to get fish to bite during the middle of the day. If you’re looking for midday walleye action this weekend, consider fishing one of the many bog-stained lakes in the area, where walleye tend to be more active during the daytime and often remain in shallower water, where they can be easier to find.

During the day, Schaeffer said he prefers to work at depths of 15-20 feet on Vermilion, where the water is only lightly stained, except in Pike Bay. But other experienced anglers will work much deeper water during the day on Vermilion, with some fishing as deep as 40-50 feet.

Sunsdahl said the bottom terrain makes a big difference as well. With most walleye in the post-spawn period, he predicts anglers will find many different opportunities, in both shallow and deep water. “This time of year, I like to look for mud basins near steep breaks,” he said.

Boundary Waters guide Jason Zabokrtsky will be looking for current as he heads to the wilderness to spend the opener fishing with friends. Zabokrtsky said he’ll start in about six feet of water and will keep moving deeper until he finds fish.

“We’ll start out with eighth or quarter-ounce chartreuse jigs, and probably with fatheads,” he added. “My guess is, we’ll find them in about 16 feet of water.”