I don’t know about your neck of the woods…but in extreme northern Wisconsin it has been COLD! The ice just left the past week to ten days and water temperatures are in the low 40s. But Heck! Its opening day and time to chase Walleyes in Wisconsin! My friend Mark Flunker called me to pass on his good fishing action from this morning. I was a little surprised because of the conditions…most others I know did poorly in the frigid early temps. Throw some small stickbaits and a light rod with 4lb test in your truck and meet me at Stevens Lake by 5:00.
We were greeted at the boat landing by a few chilly anglers leaving leaving the lake emptyhanded. Not good… I thought to myself.
Stevens Lake is one of a myriad of small, pristine waters in Florence county, with healthy populations of Walleye, Pike and panfish. As you can see in the backrounds of the photos, these lakes are seldom busy with fishermen. Even as bundled up as we were it was a cold run across the lake in Mark’s Lund. He headed for a rocky point at the head of a shallow, dark bottomed bay. We cut the motor and put down the Minnkota. Mark handed me a tiny Rapala 2 1/2 inch Husky Jerk and told me to cast it tight to the shoreline cover and slowly twitch it back.
He was fast into a scrappy Northern before I could respond…Hmmmm…this guy is on to something. A few casts later a nice 18 inch walleye drilled my little Rap and I was in business! Funny how that first fish can warm a guy up?
In the next hour the wind picked up dramatically and the temperatures dropped as well. The Northerns, as always, were willing to play but the walleye bite died to a standstill. I managed to boat another pan sized male Walleye as the sun sank below the tree tops. With a lot of season ahead of us we headed for the truck and some warmth.
This finesse technique for early Walleye can be extremely effective in many northern midwest lakes. Look for windward points and shoals that closely relate to dark bottom shallow bays, sand or gravel flats. Use small, shallow running or suspending stick baits such as the Rapala husky Jerks, casting them toward the edge of shoreline cover, down trees or rocks. Using light, 4lb or 6lb abrasion resistant line is important fo this type of presentation. In the relatively clear lakes in our area Mark prefers the more natural and subtle colors for lure selection. We both used St.Croix 6′ Med/Light Avid rods and 4lb XT line, and they worked well. Remember…fish are cold blooded creatures…slow retreives are key in cold conditions.
Have Fun! Get out Fishin!
Tom:
I had sent you a pm, maybe you did not get it. Like you I spent most of the early and late parts of the day fishing. UP at ten to four and on Trout Lake by quarter to five or five I got to my first spot and banged a couple of nice walleyes to warm me up a little. The first I was kind of looking something over and the next thing I knew I could feel weight. 18″ of walleye came into the boat. Promptly measured and back into the water she went. A few casts later and another nice fish was thrashing at boataside. This one taped at 20″ and was promptly released.
Now that I have the new digital with a timer, I needed to find a spot to set the camera and aim so I could spot my self as subject. After checking that out I continued up the shoreline. Every spot I checked was brand new and I found another three or four more good looking spots to check on again. No more fish and I found out at the landing that I was the only boat of five at the landing at 9 a.m. to catch any walleye and when they found out I was using the K-grub pearl with the green head they all told me I was nuts. Oh well, good thing I still had it tied on from my April trip with fireflick. I tried the fisherflick jigs with the hair and at times with a minnow, but had no luck the rest of the morning or evening. I fished until 9 in the a.m. and was back and fished from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with only a fat northern to show for the afternoon. Cold and very windy. Hope to try tonite for a while even though they are predicting record lows in the teens tonite. The puddles were frozen last night when I ran the dog this morning.
Tom if you didn’t receive my pm, try to send me one as I was asking you to ride in my boat somewhere closer to Eagle River to fish in the next couple of weeks.
Mark
Mark, Just got in late last night(did my report at 12AM)
and missed your PM. Left early this AM. I will try to set up some time next week when we can possibily get together. I have never fished any of the lakes over that way so it should be an adventure. 
Using anything but bait or Rapalas raises eyebrows in this part of the world.:
Great report Tom, It wouldn’t be long and I’ll be up in those neck of the woods to do some fishing. I’ll play it safe and wait just a little longer for some warmer temps.
Jeff:
That’s smart thinking. Hopefully it will warm up .
Mark
Guys:
Got out on Squirrel last night and while water temps (48*-50*)were significantly higher, the fish were not in the best feeding mood. I did manage to catch two walleyes and outfish my partner with the K-grub again. Tonight the green head got solidly bit off by what I believe was a muskie and then I started with a red head on the pearl k-grub. Another and the largest walleye at 15 inches graced the boat. Going to try an even smaller lake to night and see what happens. My partner had small muskie on for a period of time before the drag on his closed faced spinner gave out on the third or fourth run. I thought I had caught the line, but it also spit the hook. Probably 30″-34″ range, beautifully barred little guy. He also caught one small walleye on bait.
Mark