| Walleye fishing is a fascinating sport, and there is | | | | each day. If the wind is in the same direction for |
| nothing like catching these fish to make a fishing | | | | 2 or 3 days you will do well fishing the windy side |
| trip enjoyable. The walleye is a species of fish | | | | of the lake. The baitfish will move to these areas |
| that is native to Canada and the northern United | | | | and the walleye will follow the bait fish to feed on |
| States. The name walleye comes from the fact | | | | them. |
| that the eyes of this fish reflect light, the way | | | | As the lake water starts to warm up the walleye |
| the eyes of a cat do. It is olive or gold in color, | | | | will go into deeper water. You may do better |
| with the maximum size ever recorded of a | | | | changing from minnows to leeches. Leadhead jigs |
| walleye being 42 inches long and 25 pounds in | | | | can still be used or you can use lindy-rigs. |
| weight. Walleye is considered by many people to | | | | Lindy-rigs are a 2 to 3 foot long leader with a plain |
| be the best tasting freshwater fish, and sport | | | | hook attached to one end with the other |
| fishermen seek it out as well as commercial | | | | attached to a swivel with a slip sinker above it. |
| fishing companies. | | | | You may find fish on tops of sand bars and |
| Best spring fishing action for walleye is in May and | | | | sunken islands as the water continues to warm |
| June, just after the spawn. Spawning occurs in | | | | up. The tops of these bars and islands may only |
| water from 42 to 56 degrees. Look for walleyes | | | | be good during overcast days. On sunny days |
| to gather and spawn in gravelly or sandy bays, | | | | you may have to fish the drop offs and edges of |
| off shoreline bars, or in open water gravel flats. | | | | these bars and sunken islands. It is important that |
| Moderate wave action is needed to assist eggs in | | | | you add more weight to your line to stay in |
| hatching. Walleyes spawn over a three week | | | | contact with the bottom. During the warmer days |
| period, primarily after dark, in water depths of 3 | | | | of summer you may want to change to |
| to 12 feet. On cloudy, breezy days, it is not | | | | nightcrawlers for bait. This time of year can be |
| uncommon to catch walleye in less than 10 feet | | | | called dog days of summer. It can be tough to |
| of water. Walleye prefer overcast days over | | | | catch walleye during the summer months. |
| sunny days. Walleye can be very finicky and | | | | In the fall of the year as the water cools down |
| downright uncooperative at times depending on | | | | again the walleye will return to those same |
| weather conditions and what they are feeding on. | | | | shallow areas of the lake. During this time you will |
| Early in the spring walleye prefer live bait over | | | | be able to catch them again with the jig and |
| artificial bait. You can do well fishing shallow water | | | | minnow combination. Trolling with crankbaits, such |
| with leadhead jigs tipped with chubs or shinners. | | | | as shadraps can also be good. If you have a lot |
| Make sure you troll or drift along the submerged | | | | of sunny days in the fall, you may want to try |
| weed beds. Fishing shallow rock piles and shoreline | | | | fishing late in the day or evening. Fall fishing can |
| points can also provide good walleye action. It is a | | | | be more challenging, but at the same time it can |
| good idea to keep track of the wind direction | | | | be rewarding. |