WALLEYE
The ultimate in table fare and the highlight of the Canadian Shore Lunch, walleye are extremely abundant in Lake of the Woods. The average-sized walleye up here are between 2 and 5 pounds. Of course, walleye over 30 inches in length and weighing over 10 pounds are a definite possibility. Jigging with live bait is the most common method of catching walleye. Big walleye are often caught at dusk while trolling with medium to deep diving crank baits. Bring a wide variety of tackle with you so you can adjust to changes in wind, light and temperature conditions.
TACKLE
Minnows and crawlers work all year long, leeches work when the water is warm.
Jigs:
1/8 oz. for Spring shoreline fishing
1/4 oz. to 3/8 oz. For the summer months
3/8 oz. for Fall
Spinners work well also. Shiny blades on a sunny day, painted blades on a cloudy day.
LOCATION
SPRING
Cast toward the shoreline. The walleye pull off the shores of the bays after spawning and move to central areas in mid to late June. Smaller Walleye move into the shorelines after the larger ones have moved out. If you’re casting toward the shore and are only catching small fish, this is a good indication that you should be fishing deeper for the big ones. Weather conditions play a part in the movement of the fish as well, so experiment.
SUMMER
Fish off points or if you have a depth finder, fish off the reefs. Look for shelves. The depth varies throughout the summer and can be as deep as 40 feet, even in July.
FALL
Same as summer, but 30 feet and deeper. Also, Walleye will at times move back into the shallow bays.
