The walleye opener

The opener of walleye season is a day when just about every angler in the province hits the water. It’s an unofficial sign of spring, and, for many, the first chance to get a fresh feed of walleye. However, opening day can also be the first big fishing disappointment of the year. Walleye aren’t always where they are supposed to be, and weather can play havoc with both fish mood and angling techniques. With the opener looming, we decided to ask five of our most walleye-crazy field editors from across the province to weigh in on what they are planning to do on this year’s opener and why. Their plans and strategies might help you have the best walleye opener ever. Tim Allard (Southeast) There are four Fisheries Management Zones (FMZs) where I fish walleye near Ottawa, with openers on a couple of different Saturdays in May. So, I get to enjoy multiple walleye openers. Things get started for me on the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Francis. The other main rivers I enjoy fishing are the Ottawa and Madawaska. On these systems, I’m looking for structures (e.g., points, wing dams) creating current breaks or eddies. Tributaries are always good to explore, ditto for healthy vegetation edges. I love fishing rivers. But when I want a change, I’ll slide up to fish lakes in FMZ 18, such as Mississippi Lake, or FMZ 15, where Calabogie Lake is in my crosshairs. A lot of times I’m working shoreline breaks, shallow- to mid-depth flats, points, and green vegetation. As with any fishing, I explore first with my electronics, then poke around with baits. I don’t stick around long if I’m not getting bit. My fishing strategy Walleye opener is when an angler can do a ton of damage with a well-presented jig. Slip down a current break, bouncing bottom in a river and you’re going to get whacked. Rig a soft-plastic minnow on a 1⁄8- to 1⁄4-ounce jig head and cast it to wind-blown points, vegetation beds, and shoreline breaks. Flick and swim the jig along bottom. This is a very productive and fun way to catch spring walleye. I always have a drop-shot rig ready, too. I’ll fish it anywhere I will a jig. Some days this tactic really delivers the goods. A bladebait can be hot, too. Again, I just flick it along bottom. I won’t turn my nose