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2/22/2001
- Report
Secrets
to early season walleyes
Ron Anlauf
Conquering
early season walleyes can be a formidable task, and has sent many an
angler home disappointed as well as empty handed. The thing is, it
doesn’t have to be that way, and success is often just a short
distance away. The key is keeping an open mind, and reacting to the
given conditions.
The
first consideration is where walleyes can be expected to be found,
and what kind of mood they might be in. The common factor among
early season walleyes, wherever they are, is shallow water.
 From
lakes to reservoirs, walleyes can be found relating to shallow water
structure, early in the open water season. Good shallow fish
attracting structure, includes rocks, weeds, timber, as well as sand
flats and breaks, depending on what’s available.
photo
- Mark Leadens snuck up on another walleye
From
ice out until late spring, and even in to early summer, walleyes can
be found living and loafing in relatively shallow water. One of the
first things on their little minds, after a lake has finally shed
it’s last layer of ice, is getting on with the annual spawning
ritual. Incoming creeks and rivers are the first to see any major
spawning run, and can accelerate the spawning season by three weeks
or more. Creeks and rivers are the first areas to warm up, and the
main reason for the early action.
Rocky
shorelines are the nest area to see spawning activity, followed by
offshore reefs and bars. From the time the first walleyes show up in
an incoming creek, until the last fish complete their duties on a
deeper offshore reef, three or four weeks may have passed. The thing
to keep in mind is that groups of fish can be found in all different
phases of the spawning cycle, at the same time.
One
of the keys to early season success is finding the areas that hold
the largest, and most active schools of fish. With the shallow water
fact having been established, it gets down to just exactly which
shallow areas to key on. Everything being equal, look for areas that
may be warmer than the rest, even if it’s only a degree or two.
That would suggest northern most shorelines, as they receive the
largest benefit of a warming sun.
Another
key is wind, which can pile up warmer surface waters on the windward
side of the lake. The mouths of incoming creeks and rivers are
another place to look, and can attract plenty of early season
’eyes.
Another
adjustment is going as light as possible with your presentations,
especially when it comes to rigging and jigging. For example; A few
years back I was pre-fishing for an upcoming tournament on Mille
Lacs Lake, in Central Minnesota, as well as over a hundred other
competitors, to be held in mid May.
The
going had been a little rough for most of the field, except for one
guy who was knocking the fish dead, and he was doing it with a
pretty big audience. That guy was none other than Mark Leadens, from
Elk River, Minnesota. Those that saw wanted to know, but Mark
wasn’t telling anyone, except me.
Mark
was working a gravel patch in the middle of a sand flat, and was
rigging with leeches, like everyone else. The difference was a
couple of small adjustments he made in his live bait rig, that the
rest of the crowd hadn’t picked up on. The biggest difference was
the size and type of weight he was using, which was nothing more
than a 1/16 ounce barrel sinker. Mark was also using a long snell,
in the six to eight foot range, and was long lining the rig forty to
fifty feet behind the boat, as he slowly trolled along with the
electric motor. The light weight allowed him to get out plenty of
line, without it dropping into the rocks and becoming snagged. The
rig also made for more fish hooked, as they were less apt to feel
any resistance and spit the bait. Going as light as you can,
whenever you find fish shallow, is never, ever, a bad idea.
Another
highly effective method for yanking walleyes from shallow water, is
light lining jigs. The method includes trolling or casting a small
jig tipped with a leech, minnow, crawler, or plastic twister tail.
The lighter you can go, and still be effective, the better. Much
like the Leaden’s light weight rig, small jigs can be trolled, or
cast, through the same snag infested areas, with a minimal amount of
hang ups. Jigs in the 1/16 to 1/32 ounce sizes are the ticket. The
key is using just barely enough weight to keep the bait in the zone,
and in front of the fish. This method will also allow you to keep
the bait a good distance from the boat, which can be a big advantage
when dealing with walleyes that tend to be more than a little
spooky.
When
casting a light jig, you’ll have to exercise a little patience, as
it’s going to take a lot more time to get to the bottom. The most
important thing is getting to the bottom. If a heavy wind is keeping
you off the bottom and out of the zone, you’ll have to go up in
size. A ¼, 3/8, or even a ½ ounce jig may be in order.
The
good news is that a heavy wind may negate the need to stay with the
super light presentation, as walleyes can become much more brave,
and approachable, under the cover of a little wave action.
See
you on the water.
Ron Anlauf
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