Well we are counting down the days or in our case the number of sleeps until Minnesota Walleye Opener. Our team is ready to go. Boats are rigged, rods are tied up, line is spooled, our favorite jigs picked out, and we are anxiously watching weather reports and collecting minnows. The 2018 Opener is shaping up to be a good one and our Leisure Outdoor Adventures Guide Team will be on Leech Lake ready to roll. Here are our thoughts about what to expect.
A great Leech Lake walleye from the summer of 2018.
Leech Lake should be setting up very well for this upcoming weekend.
Water temps will range between Upper 40s to Low 50s in some areas and fish should still be relating near their spawning grounds with males making up a lot of your biters. Look to areas in 4-8 feet of water that have sand, gravel, or sand/weed edges to produce. Wind is the key, so wind blown shorelines, wind blow points, bays, etc would all be places to key in on. Typically the windier the days the more shallow to go and the calmer days mean sliding out deeper. Pay attention to schools of shiners as that is where the walleyes will oftentimes be.
Your main lake structures should all hold fish, but this time of year pay more attention to water temps, bait, and wind rather than your sonar on the boat. Let your eyes tell you where to fish! Many of your community spots will have boats on them such as Pine, Duck, Hardwoods, Ottertail, Stony, and all of the major points on the East side of the Lake. Pay attention to these areas and be courteous and work with the other boats within these areas.
Captain Jason Freed holds a walleye for one of our clients.
In terms of presentation it's tough to beat an 1/8th oz jig and shiner or rainbow minnow. Pay very close attention to your cadence when jigging as some days they will want it aggressive, some days drug along, and other days just swimming. You may have to upsize to a 1/4oz jig as well. Lindy rigs will minnows are also a good way to catch fish as well as trolling crankbaits early in the morning or evening. Some of our favorite jigs are the new Northland LongShanks, Kenkatch Jigs, and stand up style jigs. Also don’t overlook using a jig and plastic as well and working it aggressively.
Finally, remember Leech has new regulations this year.
Anglers can still keep 4 fish, but one of them may be over 20”. With this comes a lot of debate, but when it comes down to it we as anglers just need to remember the resource at which we are using to catch these fish and continue to look out for it for the future. Also remember to be courteous to everyone at the boat access, help people with loading and unloading, and more importantly lets all smile because Walleye Opener is here!
Give us a call this spring, summer, or fall if you are looking to get out on a guided fishing trip on Leech Lake or within the surrounding area!
Happy 2018 MN Walleye Opener!
Leisure Outdoor Adventures Guide Team
