Well I head to Sioux Narrows for an annual trip on Friday and I don’t know what to expect. Never experienced this late of spring up there. I may use it to my benefit and try lake trout fishing for the first time ever, and then see if I can find some crappies. But man, I don’t know where I will start to look for walleyes. Any tips?
Based on what I saw this weekend in the Park Rapids area for the governors opener, many walleyes in the spawn pattern and not very active. Majority of the walleyes that were caught were caught in shallow water less than 10 feet and were near current-creeks for the most part. I found creeks full of walleyes in 1 foot of water and also took video of walleyes spawning in mid day high sun 1 foot clear water. So, I would say shallow and fish current, I am supposed to go up also this Friday to Ear Falls but that is farther north, but we are not sure we are going now… It is a odd year for ice out conditions and if MN is like this now, I am just not sure what that far north will bring. It will either be feast or famine… but I hope I am wrong!
Good luck,
These trips are always fun anyway!
Jake
think shallow to start.. look for tose weedy bays that may not be so weedy right now… little sadles that will have good weed beds on them later in the year should be good right now.. I would start with a slip bobber rig right on the spot to start.. run aned gun a couple spots and fish them maybe 15-20 mins if no fish move.. if you get an eye then try and focus in on what will put the most fishi in the boat..
you find one there will be more right theremm good luck!
I fish the English River system north of Minaki every year the week of Memorial Day and while nothing compares to this spring, it is very normal for all of the walleyes we catch to be shallower than 10 feet in cold water conditions. If you have rock points or other gravel spawning areas that you can identify i would cast cranks to them and either twitch your lures or just crank really slow. Don’t be afraid to have your lure land in like 1 foot of water. Also, if you can find some nice wind blown points or current areas those would be my first targets. If you locate a school casting cranks, then i would stop and slip bobber them to catch a few more.
I saw on Totem Lodge’s FB page their bay is ice free. I would think shallow though and anywhere with moving water. I’m sure your resort or bait shops can help as well. Have fun.
Quote:
Based on what I saw this weekend in the Park Rapids area for the governors opener, many walleyes in the spawn pattern and not very active. Majority of the walleyes that were caught were caught in shallow water less than 10 feet and were near current-creeks for the most part. I found creeks full of walleyes in 1 foot of water and also took video of walleyes spawning in mid day high sun 1 foot clear water. So, I would say shallow and fish current, I am supposed to go up also this Friday to Ear Falls but that is farther north, but we are not sure we are going now… It is a odd year for ice out conditions and if MN is like this now, I am just not sure what that far north will bring. It will either be feast or famine… but I hope I am wrong!
Good luck,
These trips are always fun anyway!
Jake
We are supposed to be heading up to Perrault Lake to Rainbow Point Resort on Friday, but at last report, Perrault Lake is still ice covered. The ice is getting pretty rotten, but it will be touch & go for the opener. Ear Falls is only about 20 miles North of Perrault Lake. If the ice is gone, we will have some lights out fishing. Jigs & plastics, blades, and even bottom bouncers or 3 ways. This is the closest we’ve ever cut it, one year the ice was out for 5 days and the fishing was fabulous!! We’ll keep our fingers crossed. Good luck, guys!! 
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