Suggestions for fishing tonka on walleye opener?

life is a little too busy to take a trip out of town right now as I usually do for walleye opener so ive decided im going to stay home and fish Tonka. this will be the first time ive fished Tonka on opener. I haven’t had too much success fishing Tonka for walleye before and im looking for any pointers from you fellas on patterns to try. I was thinking of launching at midnight and casting/trolling crankbaits shallow. what do you guys who’ve had success fishing Tonka for walleyes this time of year think?

Ya I think your on to something. I think the channels at night are good to when the water is still cool.

The good thing about fishing tonka, is you can switch gears pretty easily if the walleye aren’t cooperative. Maybe I’m the weird one, but I’m more excited to dust off the bait casters and throw for some bass. Tonka is my favorite lake. Post an update after you go!

Dan

I did this couple years ago midnight out of Maxwell. Really wasn’t familiar with the lake at all other than North arm fishing with Gramps as a kid.

Find the right channels, lots of them have a crazy amount of fisherman on them at that hour.

I’d have tips but I didn’t get any fish that night, good luck!

My tip would to get to the landings early. Its a blast watching all the funny things at landings on Minnetonka or any Metro lake on opening weekend. I’ve always thought it would be fun to go just sit there with a video camera on opening day. There are a lot of Walleye in Tonka. I’m no help with the where part. I do catch a fair amount while bass fishing in Browns bay thought. Best of luck to you.

My advice would be to go to Waconia.

DaveB wrote:

My advice would be to go to Waconia.

I would consider that. I’ve never fished Waconia though so id be completely new to the lake. I imagine Waconia gets a good amount of pressure on opener too though likely not as much as tonka

Dan Baker wrote:

Maybe I’m the weird one, but I’m more excited to dust off the bait casters and throw for some bass.

Bass don’t open until May 28 on Tonka. If the walleye fail to show up, I’d chase crappies.

-J.

.

Jon, that is only partially correct. Catch and release season opens 5/14. Catch and keep opens on the 28th.

Jon Jordan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Daniel O Baker wrote:</div>
Maybe I’m the weird one, but I’m more excited to dust off the bait casters and throw for some bass.

Bass don’t open until May 28 on Tonka. If the walleye fail to show up, I’d chase crappies.

Bass opens for catch and release on the main opener now. It is catch and release only for the 1st 2 weeks. Then its the official opener. So you now can fish for them starting on the normal opener – Just not keep any

-J.

Good to know. That must be new this year? Is this the rule on Mille Lacs too?

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

Good to know. That must be new this year? Is this the rule on Mille Lacs too?

-J.

I believe it is statewide. But then again who know on Mille Lacs – Everything is different there.

They had an early catch and release last season as well. I do think this is the 2nd or 3rd year tops of using that model for bass. I’m thankful as ever for it too!