Minnesota is a favorite area for walleye anglers from around the world. It is not called the land of ten thousand lakes for no reason and the majority of them come naturally stocked with walleye. It is not surprising that many trophy sized walleye have been landed in this state full of the right conditions for the propagation of this species of fish. For those who have never fished for walleye in Minnesota, there are some secrets that the locals may not let you in on.
The following are five walleye fishing secrets that can help you to have a better fishing trip in Minnesota:
1. Get Off the Beaten Track – Instead of heading to the largest lakes such as Lake Vermillion, get away from it all resoundingly by finding a lake that is rarely fished. In Minnesota, it is possible to find a dirt road leading off of a highway or surface street and find there are a couple of lakes hidden in the depths of the forest.
This is particularly true when in Northern Minnesota where there has been less loss of the natural habitat than in the southern part of the state. Keep in mind that not every single lake you find has walleye, but the odds are good that many do. You can always inquire with the local bait shop in the area that you are where there is a hidden lake where you can find walleye and where you are not sharing the lake with hundreds of other tourists.
2. Summer Fishing – The summer is the most popular time of the year for tourists to head to Minnesota for a vacation that is centered on fishing. Most do not want to brave the harsh Minnesota winters so the warm months fill the lakes with fishermen angling for all species of fish. The problem with summer walleye fishing is that it can be tricky to catch them if you do not know where or when to drop your lines. It is a fact that the walleye prefer dark areas and are not very active when it is hot out. While the majority of tourists are sitting in their tents or at the lake’s clubhouse during rainy and chilly summer days, you need to get out on the lake because this is when the walleye are at their peak activity. You should also get your lines in the water after dusk and before dawn when the walleye are feeding.
3. Other Seasons – Some of the best walleye fishing in Minnesota is in the spring and fall months. Spawning creates a feeding frenzy in the fish and large ones are typically landed at this time. In the fall the walleye are fattening up for the lean winter and strike on just about anything you offer them. In the winter, ice fishing is a great way to get out of the house when everyone is all cooped up and getting cabin fever. If you can handle the cold, then you can have some productive days fishing for walleye. A bonus to these seasons is that there are not many tourists around at this time of the year and in some cases you can have the lakes all to yourself.
4. Shallow Water – It is a known fact that the largest walleye are located in the deepest waters. However, they can be found feeding on the shoreline and in shallow waters even in the heat the day. Instead of just heading to the middle of the lake, start along the shore and work your way in. When you are planning on coming off the water, leave a bit sooner and hit the shoreline on your way back in. It is amazing at how many big fish are taken on the shoreline while others are wasting their time in the deeper waters. You can even move back and forth between the deeper waters and the shallow waters throughout the day to really get a good scope of where the walleye are running.
5. Use Live Baits – In Minnesota, it is always a good idea to use live baits whenever possible. There are bait and tackle shops located in just about every town and near every lake. Some are even on the lakes and rivers so all you have to do is pull up your boat and park it while you shop. The walleye adore minnows and shiners and shad are the more popular of the two. Hook the minnow behind the fin for static fishing and through the mouth when trolling. You can always use night crawlers too as these are very effective. You may also want to use some lead head jigs to aid in getting the live bait to the depths that are needed to find the walleye in the deeper water.
Minnesota is a prime spot for walleye fishing. The larger lakes may be full of tourists in the summer but you can always find hidden lakes that are wide open for you. If you fish in the colder months then you are nearly guaranteed a quiet and productive day fishing for walleye in Minnesota.
