>30″ Walleyes……Where are you hiding???

Where would you go (In Minnesota including LOTW/Rainy) for

the best opportunity to catch a 30″ or bigger walleye

through the ice.

Let’s hear your opinions!!

Thanks,

Dan

Step #1: Determine exactly where Rootski is fishing.
Step #2: Go fishing someplace where Rootski isn’t fishing

Can’t miss

Are you talking thru the ice or just in general?

Either way Pool 4 is my #1 pick with Rainy coming in 2nd

Rainy Lake, 30 1/2″

For ice fishing in MN, there really is not a better chance in my opinion than LOTW or the Rainy. I can’t think of another option(excluding a few border lakes (BWCA)) that offers a better chance while remaining reasonably accessible. Rainy Lake might be a close second, but my money will be bet on LOTW.

Tim

My choices would be:

#1 LOTW
#2 Rainy
#3 Pool 4
#4 Leech

Saganaga or Seagull.

I’m not sure I agree that pool 4 is a good place for a 30″. For a 10# fish I’d say the river by a landslide, but that’s only because 28″ fish are in the 10# range down there come March. There’s a huge difference between a 28″ and a 30″. Even 29″ to 30″ is a big leap.

I’d bet that LOTWs and Rainy are better bets. I’d throw out something about fish living longer because of the northern climate, less pressure, etc., but I really don’t know. I’d be interested in hearing what people with lots of experience on those bodies of water think. How many 30″ fish do the Pool 4 guides get annually vs. the LOTWs Rainy guides?

And is Mille Lacs even a contender? Or other popular lakes? Obviously there are 30s, but how many?

Edit: I see the question says “through the ice”. Whoops! Still, it’s got to be LOTWs or Rainy…

I know GB isn’t in MN, but Green Bay is closer to the cities than is LOW by an hour and a half… Arguably (one of) the best big walleye factories in MN/WI, or in the whole midwest for that matter. Plus, they have better cheese and no 3.2 regulations….

Obviously, any of the previous choices are excellent. For proximity (to me anyway), ease of access, and sheer numbers of fish concentrated into very small areas at certain times of the year, Pool 4 is a winner.

Sorry, I missed the “through the ice” part of your question….

John – good point on 30″ vs 28″…

Tougher call now that I read the question more carefully. I’ll say LOW, NW angle, somewhere around Oak Island on or about January 8 at 10am…. (Getting excited, its only a little over a week away!!)

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Saganaga or Seagull.

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X2

St. Louis River, or Superior.

For popular lakes, I’d say LOTW or Rainy as well. I caught my personal best last year on LOTW at just under 31″.

There are some really good small sleeper lakes around MN that might not kick out a ton of fish, but they grow some big ones. There is a lake near Alexandria that in 2 trips I’ve seen 2 walleyes over 30″ caught and the owner of the cabin says they get 2 or 3 a year usually. There is another lake near Motley that I’ve only fished a few times, but have seen 2 fish over 30″ caught by other people. I’m determined to get my 30″ out of one of these lakes this year.

30″ doesn’t mean a whole lot to me personally… There is a 32.25″ right over my head on a real nice piece of butternut plaque…but it weighed 10.4 lbs and was caught out of Little Bay de Noc, Green Bay.
This one from Pool 4 last spring was just a hair under 30″ but weighed 12Lbs 14ozs.
Hard to beat P-4 for girth and weight…How about lake Pepin through the ice?

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Step #1: Determine exactly where Rootski is fishing.
Step #2: Go fishing someplace where Rootski isn’t fishing

Can’t miss

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I’ve seen you catch a big walleye mister. This “Rootski can’t catch walleyes” business isn’t gonna fly anymore. You’re gonna have to come up with a new thing to be known for.

dd

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This “Rootski can’t catch walleyes” business isn’t gonna fly anymore. You’re gonna have to come up with a new thing to be known for.
dd

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Agree. He might not be able to catch walleyes outta the porta-potty at the 494 landing like Mike W…. but he can catch walleyes.

Nice fish Tom, gotta love them stumps!!