When you’re searching for a great family getaway where you can enjoy beautiful scenery and some of the best walleye fishing you’ve ever done, consider visiting northern Minnesota. Fishing in these parts is a way of life and thousands of tourists visit each year to take advantage of the excellent fishing opportunities.
The lakes and rivers in this state are excellent for the walleyes to grow and flourish due to the underwater structures and water conditions. In fact, many trophy fish have been caught in the lakes scattered throughout this state. On top of having some of the largest walleye you’ll find in the nation, you will also encounter some of the biggest bass, perch and northern pike you’ve ever seen.
Northern Minnesota Walleye Fishing Secrets
Fishing in Minnesota is some of the best you’ll ever enjoy but there are a few secrets the natives have learned that’ll make your fishing trip even more productive. Since many of them choose to share their knowledge, newcomers or anyone new to the sport can take advantage of these secrets. The more you know about the walleyes found here and what they respond to the best, the easier it will be to reel in a nice catch.
Three fishing secrets for walleye fishing in northern Minnesota:
1. Since the walleye tend to scatter and go to deeper water when the sun is shining bright in the summer, many people don’t realize that summer fishing can be very productive if fished correctly. Some of the best walleye fishing can be done in the summer months when the wind is blowing, on overcast or rainy days and when cold fronts move in. On the bright sunny days the walleyes can be found in flats searching for the baitfish that gather in these locations.
2. Even though spring and fall is considered the most prime time to seek out walleyes, you can fish all year long with some excellent results, even in the winter. Keep this in mind when you’re planning your Minnesota fishing trip. If you don’t mind the cold, ice fishing is gaining popularity and it’s a fun and exciting way to reel in this species. It may be a little more challenging than other types of fishing but that just increases the excitement when you do start catching them.
3. Don’t pass over the shallow water and go directly to the deep parts of the lakes and rivers even if you’re fishing for a trophy fish. Walleyes can often be found in water only two or three feet deep and some of them are very large. If you head straight out to the deeper parts of the water, you could be passing up some excellent fishing opportunities.
These are a few of the secrets that can help you reel in more walleyes and make your fishing trip even more exciting. The more you learn about the water in which you’re fishing will also make it easier to reel in more fish.
This will help you learn where the prime locations are and you may even be able to find secluded areas that many other people didn’t even know existed. If you’re new to the area you can pick up a map of the water that will help you maneuver around more easily or you can go out with someone who does know the area. You also have the option of hiring a fishing guide to show you around.
Techniques and Bait
The walleye is an aggressive fish that will often try to eat most anything that’ll fit in its mouth but like all species, they do have their favorites. For walleyes it’s minnows, worms and shad. They will be highly attracted to these as long as the bait is fresh. When fishing with artificial bait use spoons, spinners, crankbait and plugs.
Jigging and casting are two great techniques to use that work great when fishing in the fall and spring. These make it easy get close to the shoreline and around structures where they’re located. During the summer and winter, trolling works great because it allows you to get out to the deeper parts of the water where they’re the most plentiful.
Night fishing can yield the best results due to the great eyesight this species has that allows them to see so well in the dark. However, if you do go night fishing, exercise caution because this is also the most dangerous time to be on the water. Lightweight fishing line and medium to light action fishing rods are recommended for catching walleyes.
Always use the smallest tackle possible to make it easier to feel when you have a bite and to prevent them from seeing your tackle and swimming away. When setting the hook, use a short but firm flick of the wrist. This will set the hook without pulling it through their small thin mouth. Using these tips and secrets can help to make your next northern Minnesota walleye fishing trip more fun and productive.