Crankbaits shine for summer walleye because they cover water and illicit hits from otherwise satiated fish. Summer walleye are literally surrounded by food. Think of a 9-year-old suburban trick-or-treater sitting on a pile of candy after Halloween, and you get the idea... more »
Many Ontario anglers have caught sauger, but were unaware they even existed in our waters, let alone knew the fish they just fooled with their jig-and-minnow combos were not walleye. Sauger are near dead-ringers for walleye. But, like a secret society, sauger exist... more »
The opening week of walleye season is one of the most highly anticipated periods on the calendar for many Ontario anglers. It's more than just an excuse to go fishing; it's a long-standing tradition, where fishing buddies, parents, kids, and grandparents get together and generate lasting... more »
The Detroit and St. Clair Rivers drain Lake Huron through Lake St. Clair and into Lake Erie. These big flows are important corridors for commercial shipping. They're just as important routes for migrating fish, such as walleye. Fishing these great rivers presents challenges, though. They can turn... more »
Many years ago, I spent a summer working for the Ministry of Natural Resources, along with a handful of other high school students, obtaining small random samples of various fish for inventory assessment. It was fascinating, but gruelling work. You haven't really lived until you've popped long-dead... more »
The opening of the spring walleye season once saw me feverishly tuning up the boat and motor, straightening out the old tackle box, and hunting down the latest and greatest rod, reel, or lure. When I hit the water, though, the reality of finding spawn-centric fish in changing water temperatures... more »
As late-spring days go, it was a beauty. The sky was blue and a haymaker was burning overhead hot and high. A friend had promised to take me walleye fishing on the Kawarthas, and I'm never one to turn down an invitation. Our fishing day was based on banker's hours, and when he pulled his boat up t... more »
As the strengthening sun penetrates the shallows, walleye look longingly to the emerging weeds of June. They anticipate relaxing under the leafy shade and ambushing prey at their leisure. While the water temperature might be a little warmer than they'd like, an all-inclusive weedbed vacation has... more »
I was doing well when I got my wife and daughters to bait their hooks with minnows and dew worms, but they drew the line at leeches. The first time I used these critters for bait I too squirmed at the feel. However, one or two sessions with the jumbo walleye that fall to these irresistible tidbits... more »
