REGIONAL— A week of spring-like temperatures and plenty of sunshine has left area lakes free of ice for Saturday’s fishing opener, and just in the nick of time. That mild weather and sunshine is expected to continue right on into opening weekend, offering up pleasant conditions for anglers. Now, it’s just up to the walleyes.
While the weather appears cooperative for anglers, the walleyes are more likely to be affected by the continued cold water temperatures, and that can keep anglers guessing.
“Opener is always so iffy because of the water temperature,” said Dave Swenson, a longtime fishing guide on Lake Vermilion. Swenson has one rule for opener and that’s to avoid the crowds that often develop in some of the traditional early season hot spots. “That means you won’t find me in Pike Bay,” he said.
Pike Bay is likely to be crowded, but not without good reason. “I think Pike Bay will be pretty good,” said Rob Bryers, another longtime Vermilion guide. This year’s slightly later-than-usual spring spawning run should leave plenty of walleyes still in the bay. The shallow, dark waters of the bay help temperatures warm more quickly than in other parts of a big lake like Vermilion, which means walleye and the smaller fish they feed on should be more active than in other parts of the lake. Other shallow bays, like Black Bay and Greenwood Bay.
For those looking to avoid the madding crowds of Pike Bay, deeper water is your best bet. Swenson said he’ll be starting out in 25-30 feet of water and will experiment until he starts connecting. For both Swenson and Bryers, the old standbys— a jig and a minnow or a lindy rig with a minnow— will be the go-to’s, at least initially.
The ice out on the Pike River was slightly later than usual, and that can mean plenty of walleyes will still be hanging around in the post-spawn period.
With the cold water temperatures and the late spawn, Bryers predicts dock fishing will be productive for the next couple weeks at least.
While opener always attracts plenty of anglers to Lake Vermilion, Bryers predicts the best fishing this month will come later, probably around Memorial Day, when the water has had a chance to warm.
According to DNR fisheries, strong 2018 and 2021 year classes should drive most of the catch for opener. While the overall walleye numbers are down slightly from last year, the overall size has improved with another year of growth for the two strongest year classes. Walleye numbers are pretty consistent east-to-west on the lake, which is a change from several years ago, when the strongest numbers were found in the lake’s eastern basin.
Don’t forget, there’s a protected slot limit on Vermilion from 20-26 inches and a four fish bag limit.
Ely area
Ice conditions and weather will be similar in the Ely area and that means the usual tactics should apply. “We do a lot of jigging this time of year,” said Rob Nelson, owner of the Ely Fishing Guide Company. “Jigs and minnows, preferably in current is tough to beat for opener,” he said.
Most of the larger lakes in the Ely area cleared of ice just this week, so the fish might still be sluggish, as is often the case for opener. That means a slower presentation, giving the fish a little time to think about it, will generally hook you more walleyes.
For those heading toward the border, Lake Kabetogama is a good bet on opener. It’s shallower than Rainy Lake, the border country’s other big walleye producer, so it warms faster. With a shoreline that’s mostly ideal for walleye spawning, the fish are widely distributed. Last fall’s fish survey found average numbers of walleye in the 13-16 inch range, which should provide decent numbers of harvestable fish, according to the DNR. The survey also found above-average numbers of walleye in the 18-25 inch range, although those fish would be in the protected 18-26 inch slot. Even so, who wouldn’t mind catching one of those even if it did have to go back in the water? Both Kab and Rainy also have a four-fish bag limit.
If walleye fishing isn’t for you, most larger lakes in the area also offer opportunities for northern pike. Shallow bays, near weed lines, or rocky points, are good possibilities for this hard-fighting fish. Anglers in northeastern Minnesota have a two pike bag limit, with only one over 40 inches and none between 30-40 inches.
Many area lakes also provide opportunities for stream trout, including brookies, rainbow, browns, and splake. A trout stamp is required to fish on designated trout lakes. Tofte Lake and Miner’s Pit, both in the Ely area are more accessible trout lakes, as are Cub and Norberg lakes, in Bear Head Lake State Park.
No matter what you’re fishing for, the best advice guides will give you is this: Don’t be afraid to try something else if what you’re doing isn’t working. Swenson said he’ll start in deeper water and slowly move shallower if they aren’t biting in the deep. If jigs or lindy’s aren’t working, try pulling crankbaits instead. Swenson said he often finds success with crankbaits on opening weekend, working about ten feet deep along the weed lines, particularly in cabbage.
“If that doesn’t work, try a slip bobber with a minnow over shallower rock humps,” he said. “I had good luck with that last year.”
Swenson said you can’t legitimately say the fishing was lousy until you’ve really put in the effort. “I have to at least be able to say I tried everything,” he said.