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Fish in the summertime can be a finicky bunch. Some days they want a crankbait moved quickly halfway between the surface and the bottom, other days they want a jig tipped with soft bait bounced aggressively right on the bottom. And then there are the days when they want something worked very slowly, and they want the bait right in their face. The only effort they want to expend on those days is to open their mouth and inhale a minnow or leech or nightcrawler. There are times when live bait will help you catch more fish. But, if you want to catch fish on those days when the bass, walleyes, panfish or pike are being super-selective, you need to use lively live bait. Here are some things you can do to make your live bait livelier.
Leeches are probably the easiest live bait to keep lively. Just keep them cool, don’t crowd them, and keep the water fresh. If one of them gets sick, throw it out.
Night crawlers require a little more attention. Again, keeping them cool is a big deal. Frabill makes a crawler container caller a Lil’ Fisherman. It’s a foam container that opens on both ends. You keep some crawler bedding in it, Fat and Sassy is one of the best beddings, and then put it in the cooler with your sandwiches and bottles of water and ice. The crawlers stay very nice when stored this way.
However, lots of very successful anglers add one step to this process. Before they go fishing, they take some crawlers out of the Lil’ Fisherman and put them in a small container of water that contains a few ice cubes. This plumps up the crawlers and makes them super healthy and active for awhile. Those anglers keep that small container of crawlers in an easy-to-get to shaded area of the boat. When that container runs low on crawlers, take a few more out of the cooler and put them in the water. Many anglers feel that they catch more fish, especially walleyes and smallmouth bass, when the crawlers are treated this way.
Now on to minnows. Minnows can be a challenge to keep in the summer, but it doesn’t need to be that way. With a little effort and the proper storage, it’s possible to keep minnows effectively even on the hottest days. The key is don’t try to keep too many minnows in one container, and keep them aerated. Aerated is really important.
Some anglers, especially when it comes to walleye fishing, don’t bother with minnows in the summer months. They feel that leeches and crawlers are better for walleyes, and sometimes they’re right. But there are days when you can add to your walleye catch with a redtail chub or shiner. It’s worth the effort to have some minnows in the boat, and the effort really isn’t that much. When you get your minnows at the baitshop, put them in the aerated bucket right away, and make sure the aerator is on. Turn the aerator on and leave it on. Some anglers turn the aerator on for awhile, then turn it off to conserve batteries. Then they forget to turn it back on and only remember to do so when it’s too late. In the summer, you can’t beat the six gallon Frabill Aqua Life container. It keeps good numbers of minnows alive better than anything I’ve used.
In the summer months, if you keep your live bait lively, you’re going to catch more fish. In fact, that idea holds true any time of the year.
To see all the newest episodes of Fishing the Midwest television, visit fishingthemidwest.com or MyOutdoorTv.com

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Wind and chop on the water often makes or breaks walleye fishing success. As wind directions and velocities change through the course of a day, adapting to the opportunities created by wind requires some flexibility. Mid summer often finds extended periods of stable weather with varying wind. One of the top patterns particularly for shallow or aggressive fish is rolling with what the wind deals. Following wind and focusing efforts on shorelines or structure that is getting pounded by wind is a top strategy. Obviously, too much wind can stain the water too much but generally speaking, some stain in the water created by wind can create short periods of incredible activity. What can make these patterns more remarkable is that there are many spots that only produce one day. Fish can be stacked on a spot and with a switch or change in wind, the same spot can be dead twenty hours later.

In order to capitalize on wind, an angler has to fish by the seat of their pants and hit spots as opportunity creates them. On the Missouri River reservoirs in particular, anglers have long touted the importance of fishing mud lines, which were essentially columns of muddy turned up water that protruded from points and high banks. The sediment suspended by wave action often forms a temporary umbrella that spikes walleye activity. Like anything else, too much wind, too much sediment, too dirty of water can hamper the bite but typically on most bodies of water, some wind, some stain creates windows of opportunity. When looking for stained water or mud lines, you can essentially see the different colored water, you can see the muddy water protruding from the shore and you can also see where the mud line stops and the water turns green or blue.

The location of position of fish will often change as the mud line develops and lingers. Often, during the beginning stages of the mud line forming, we often find fish right in the thick of it but as time passes and the mud line gets larger and extends from the shore, we often find fish relating to the edges of the stained water. Ironically, there are times when the walleye bite happening around mud lines seem to taper off after an extended period of time. I have often felt like the bite slowed down as the debris on the top of the water column extended from the shoreline and began to settle. Mud lines definitely have a life span and the flurry typically doesn’t last forever.

Some mud lines are larger than others and are obviously dependent on wind velocity, wave height and type of structure. Some shorelines for example might have a long veil that extends out to a certain depth and this veil of stained water might proceed for miles. In this situation, trolling might be really effective for covering the water necessary to contact fish. Often however, we find mud lines isolated and spot on the spot. A single point with a single mud line for example and we do really well by casting as we can focus on specific features.

In this stained, typically shallow water, we often cast either crank baits or jigs and both presentations really shine at times. For hitting spots fast and jumping several points that have wind blowing in on them, nothing is better than just pulling up to the point and cracking crank baits across the point by casting if you just want to see if there are any fish home. We often start or find fish by casting crank baits. One of my favorite tactics however once I devote myself to a spot and I know there are fish present is to cast a Northland Tackle Whistler Jig. I typically tip the jig with either a leech, minnow or half crawler and sometimes use a soft plastic tail like a Trigger X. I error on the heavier sizes and just either slowly reel them back to the boat or pump them like an underwater yoyo. I believe the prop really helps catch more fish in these situations.

Few things are more dreaded amongst walleye anglers than flat calm conditions with no wind. Flat water that has good visibility is a tough situation. Obviously we can’t control the weather but there are a few ways to catch fish in these tough conditions. Often even on flat calm days, there will be windows of opportunity where there will be just a slight ripple on patches of the lake. This can sometimes create a window where you can pull a few fish. If I can see just a slight ripple, I will make an effort to either point the boat towards it or cast towards it. A little bit of ripple when the lake is glass can really create a better opportunity.

Another really good tactic is to look for still stained water from wind or wave action that happened on days prior. “Fishing yesterday’s wind” can be an extremely productive tactic for finding stained water that still holds some sediment particles. Places where dangerous waves crashed up onto shorelines or across flats just a day or so before can become hot after the wind lays down. Every lake is different with some lakes clearing up almost instantly but some lakes will hold some color in the water for days after a strong wind.

Boat wakes can also cloud up the water as well when large wakes roll up across shorelines or move weeds. Many weeds will have a thin film of sediment on the leaves, particularly cabbage. If there is enough movement, the sediment will cloud up the water. On flats days where the water really clears up, anglers can sometimes find some stained water near areas where there is heavy boat use. Ski boats and recreational boats might not be popular with anglers but that wake slopping on a point or weed bed all day can save your tail when things get tough. I don’t think fish are spooking from the traffic and get use to the commotion like all of the other animals on the lake. Stained water created by boat wakes can create some surprisingly productive opportunities often in really shallow water.

Another potential savior for tough flat conditions are carp. A very productive tactic that has worked for me on many lakes with clear water is to basically look for roaming schools of carp and fish behind the carp. Typically, you can see these schools of rough fish rolling through spots and they typically stir up the bottom and leave some stained water behind as they forage along. I have often found walleyes just steps behind these roaming carp. Whenever you have shallow water walleye patterns that are dependent of wind, roaming carp can keep some of these patterns alive after the wind dies down.

Many clear natural lakes and reservoirs depend on wind or wave action to really activate the walleye bite. Taking advantage of wind often merely requires the mindset of an opportunist. When the wind stops however, there are situations that can enable you to pick off additional fish during some of the toughest conditions. Recognizing and adjusting to opportunities that dirty or cloud up water can create great fishing.

Editors Note: The author Jason Mitchell began guiding at an early age and earned a reputation as a talented walleye guide on North Dakota’s Devils Lake before hosting the television show, Jason Mitchell Outdoors which airs on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest.

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If there is one spot, one pattern that is capable of producing a lot of walleyes for us each season early in the summer, my vote would go to large shallow flats that protrude to deep water.  Shallow is relative along with deep but what we are looking for are flats that are generally at least one acre or sometimes several hundred acres that might be in anywhere from five to fifteen feet of water.  These flats are generally more productive if they drop off into deep water whether this deeper water is a deep basin, old river channel or trough.  The bigger the flat, the more obvious the spot and these flats are often no secret on the map.  While small, obscure flats might not get as much attention, the reality is that the larger spots often are capable of holding more fish.

These flats often warm up and typically on these shallower flats that lie in less than fifteen feet of water, there is often some emerging weed growth of some type.  Depending on bottom composition and water clarity, this weed growth might include chara, sand grass or carpet weed.  Typically, the shallower flats consist of sand, gravel or even scattered rock on many natural lakes and reservoirs while deeper flats and or basin areas are typically softer consisting of silt, clay or muck.  Often but not always, these productive areas are connected or protrude from the shoreline.

Trolling crankbaits is so incredibly effective on these flats for a variety of reasons.  Because crankbaits can be trolled at a set depth determined by the amount of line behind the boat, these lures can be trolled at an exact depth that doesn’t vary if the boat speeds up or slows down.  This keeps the lure working above the emerging weed growth on the bottom.  Crankbaits also have strong flash and water displacement so fish can feel and see these lures from considerable distances.  For pulling in fish or covering water efficiently on flats, crankbaits are a pretty good bet.

There are always exceptions but much of our success early in season on inland natural lakes and reservoirs happens on shallow running minnow baits or small shad profiled baits.  Early in the summer when water temperature is just starting to climb and trees are just starting to leaf up, small shad profiled baits in particular seem to work incredibly well on many lakes and reservoirs.  Part of the effectiveness of small shad profiled crankbaits come early summer is the fact that many fisheries blow up with young of the year fish hatches.  These forage options might include yellow perch, gizzard shad, drum, white bass, crappie or bluegill fingerlings.  Many fisheries have a staple fish species that provides a stable food source each season but some reservoir systems in particular have a tremendous number of fish species along with drastically changing habitat from one year to the next.  As water levels fluctuate and the habitat changes, some species might spike periodically severely altering walleye fishing patterns.  Even on fisheries with renowned forage bases of shad, perch, smelt or some other prolific bait fish, a stellar hatch of another species can tilt and alter the patterns drastically from one year to the next.

The beauty of these shallow flats (come early summer) is that many young of the year fish seem to show up on these locations.  These flats warm up fast and the combination of sand and emerging new weed growth just comes alive with life.  Even on the same lake on different years, the forage abundance might vary but there are usually schools of some type of fish that a walleye will eat.

Because these flats typically hold a staggering number of young of the year fish, there is no guessing that walleyes will be relating to this forage.  Because there might be so much forage, this over abundance in forage can also affect the bite.  Crankbaits can be a good counter punch when walleyes have plenty to eat because these lures will often trigger reaction strikes.

There are many good crankbaits on the market that catch a lot of fish but by far one of the deadliest lures we have used for this kind of scenario described above is the tiny H4F Salmo Hornet.  This little hand tuned crankbait has a tremendous vibration and will reach depths of nine feet on super line.  Because the lure is so small, many anglers make the mistake of assuming that walleyes (especially big walleyes) won’t hit such a small lure. Early in the summer, however, fish are keying on young of the year fish that are about the size of a quarter.  The H4F Hornet is the right size and the vibration and action is really noticeable.  This lure flat out catches fish.

In fact I mention this because if there would be one tactic that is likely to keep you on the edge of your seat come early summer, motor through these big shallow flats with a Salmo Hornet and run the lure about two feet off the bottom above the weed growth and hang on.  This is a high probability technique where chances are good that you will be reeling in walleye.

Editors Note: the Author, Jason Mitchell hosts the television program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest at 9:00 am Sunday.  Before television, Mitchell earned a renowned reputation as a fishing guide on Devils Lake, North Dakota.

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More and more, anglers are getting on and in the water. Some folks are fishing from boats, some are wading, and some are fishing from docks or shore. Some anglers are catching fish, some aren’t catching too much. If you want to catch more fish early in the fishing season, following are some ideas for doing so.

Early in the season it pays big dividends to understand a little bit about the fish you’re chasing. In the Midwest you can chase several species of fish on the same body of water. Keep in mind that, right now, northern pike have probably completed spawning, walleyes are probably spawning, and bass and panfish are getting ready to spawn. While you might want to catch walleyes, you will be better off trying for pike or panfish. When fish are spawning, that’s what they have on their mind. They aren’t real interested in eating, so, although some males might be willing to eat your bait, if you want to feel a tug on your line, you will increase your chances for that if you try for pike or panfish.

Also, keep in mind that the water is still pretty cool, and many fish don’t want to chase a bait in cold water. A slow presentation will often be best. If walleyes are the target, try crawling a stand-up Fire-Ball jig tipped with a minnow across the bottom. Give it plenty of stops as you drag it. The stand-up head is better this time of year, as it “stand up” when you stop it. The fish can see the minnow better with the stand-up head, which increases your odds for getting bit.

Same thing is true for most other species. A spinnerbait that’s retrieved slowly will be good for pike, but a Gulp! or Powerbait Jerk Shad will be even better. These baits can be retrieved slower than the spinnerbait, and the pike like that. So do most bass.

If crappies are the quarry, try a tiny Power Tube under a slip-bobber. The slip-bobber will allow you to suspend a bait at a certain level, and that’s a big deal this time of year. You’ll need to experiment a bit to determine what the proper level is, but once you do, you’ll be able to get fish to bite that may have gone uncaught. Remember that most fish see up better than they see down, so set your bobber stop so the bait is at the fish’s eye-level or just a tad higher. Baits that are below a fish rarely get eaten.

When you’re fishing with a slip-bobber for panfish, remember that because the bait is almost motionless, the fish are going to be able to get a good look at it. Many anglers go with lighter line to reduce the chances of the line spooking the fish. I don’t know if the fish get scared of line, but I do know that tiny jigs usually perform better on light line. Four pound Trilene XL is a great line choice for tiny jigs under slip-bobbers.

One more thing: This time of year, it might feel warm on shore, but even a light wind will cool things off. Early in the year, my Cabela’s Guidewear is a necessary part of my equipment. It cuts the wind and keeps me comfortable and interested in the fishing. If you’re cold, fishing isn’t as much fun.

Keep these ideas in mind and you’ll increase your chances for early season fishing success.

To see all the newest episodes of Fishing the Midwest television, visit fishingthemidwest.com

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Over the years, an incredibly effective tactic for us is to long line a light jig or split shot rig through shallow water.  In states where we could use two rods in particular, we often used the long line rig on the extra rod in the rod holder.  There are probably several reasons why this set up works so well at times but I can attest to the fact that I have been out fished several times by the rod holder.

Back in the day, we used to pour our own jigs for this technique as you often wanted a light jig, say eighth of an ounce or less but many of the smaller jigs had smaller hooks basically for crappie fishing.  The smaller hooks just had a lower hooking percentage when combined with a larger minnow or half a crawler and they bent out more with heavy fish and soft lip tissue.  We poured our own jigs and used wider gap and larger hooks but last year, Northland Tackle introduced a 1/32nd ounce Fireball Jig that is the perfect little jig for this described presentation.  Most of the time, we like to use 1/32nd ounce or 1/16th ounce jigs but will use jigs as heavy as 1/8th ounce if the wind is pushing us along faster.

The amount of line out depended on boat speed and depth but typically, we are using this method in ten feet of water or less.  Typically as well, we are moving somewhat slow…. Say less than a mile an hour but still using an electric trolling motor or drifting through an area.  We are not sitting still trying to keep the presentation vertical over the fish.  This is a technique where you slowly move through an area and the line is very horizontal.  Because the jigs are so small, you have to let out a considerable amount of line.  The jig just kind of drags out there in no mans land.  Usually just because of the lift produced by the minnow, the jig never really does touch the bottom but rather just drifts through the water column.

I think the reasons why this rig can be so effective varies but one factor might be the fact that since the jig never touches or drags the bottom, it never gets fouled up with algae or wire grass.  The jig is always clean and another reason is because fish often rise and holder higher in the water column particularly during the spring when the sun comes out.  In clear water with decent visibility, fish that are on the bottom also have no problems gunning down a minnow that is two or three feet above them as well.

Finally, there must be something subtle about the presentation itself that seems to tweak walleyes.  This tiny jig tipped with bait long lined behind the boat looks much different than traditional snap, drag and vertical jigging techniques and traditional live bait rigging.

While small, feather weight jigs work well, a size four or six VMC bait holder hook with a single split shot placed about two feet above the hook can also work wonders.  Whether I am using a jig or a split shot rig, I like monofilament for this presentation.  The jig just seems to glide and float through the water in a nice fluid and subtle motion.  Typically, we are using six pound test Bionic Walleye Line combined with a medium light action spinning rod.  The best rods for this presentation have a light tip that just loads up when a fish hits.  The fish typically hook themselves as the rod loads up and the fish just seem to drag behind.

How much line to let out can vary and is something to experiment with but typically, we let out what feels like a lot of line.  A little trick that helps me is to keep the spinning reel spool filled with line and than measure the amount of spool revealed as you let out line.  Note how much of the spool is revealed… when you catch fish.  We might start out with an eighth of an inch of spool showing and experiment from there.  This isn’t rocket science but will get you close, a very crude line counter system.  If you get snagged and loose a lot of line, make the adjustments but this will allow you to repeat a pattern and if you are using the same reels on different rods with the same line, you can repeat the pattern on different rods.

We have used this system with great success on reservoirs, river systems and natural lakes.  Typically in the spring or fall is when this system really shines but this can be deadly whenever you find fish in less than ten feet of water.  We started using this set up many years ago as this long lining setup was a nice way to use a second rod, getting the second rod out of the way and away from the boat.  This presentation however is so effective at times, I find myself using it even when I can only use one rod.  We are typically tipping these jigs or split shot rigs with either a minnow like a fathead, rainbow or shiner and sometimes use half a crawler.

Editors Note: the Author, Jason Mitchell hosts the television program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest at 9:00 am Sunday.  Before television, Mitchell earned an incredible reputation as a fishing guide on Devils Lake, North Dakota.

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Across the Midwest, March and April mean one thing to most walleye anglers: Rivers! In some states, walleye season doesn’t open until early to mid-May. If you want to go fishing for walleyes, you need to go to a border river where walleye season is continuous.

In other regions, the lakes are still ice-bound. Walleye season is open, but if you want to fish in open water, you need to go to a river.

So, it’s pretty clear: If you want to go fishing for walleyes in open water across much of walleye country this time of year, you’re going to have to go to a river. The good thing is that there are lots of rivers criss-crossing the Midwest, and many of them have good to great populations of walleyes(and sauger). Here’s how you can get in on the action.

A really important thing to remember whenever you’re fishing rivers is to consider the current. Current affects where the fish will be. In cold water they will often be in the slack water out of the current a bit. Look for still water below current breaks. Sometimes you’ll find the walleyes right at the edge of the current, other times they’ll be tucked back in a little farther. Try the different current areas and let the fish show you which current area they’re preferring.

Jigs are the go-to presentation for most early season walleye-chasers. And, more and more, those early season walleye chasers are adding soft bait to their jigs. They’re starting with something like a Gulp! Alive three inch Minnow and seeing if the fish will eat it. Often times they will. The Gulp! Alive three inch minnow on a Slurp! Jig has become a favorite for many walleye folks.

Sometimes the walleyes will want a slower presentation. That’s when a stand-up Fire-Ball jig with a three inch fathead minnow will be best. You’ll want to give the jig plenty of stops as you use a dragging retrieve to tempt the less aggressive fish. This technique works best over a sand bottom.

If you’re fishing over a real rocky bottom, try swimming a three inch Power Grub on a Thumper Jig over the rocks, especially if the water has some color in it. The blade on the Thumper helps the fish find the bait in stained water.

Remember that river walleyes will be reluctant to chase baits in this cold water. When the water warms a bit they’ll be more aggressive, but right now you’ve got to make sure your bait is near the bottom and not moving too fast.

In stained water you’ll want a brighter color usually, and in clear water more subtle colors will usually be better. That’s a starting point. Always be willing to try different colors. Sometimes the walleyes will switch color preferences from day to day and from hour to hour. If they’re not responding to what you’re doing, do something else.

It’s great to get back on the water this time of year, and if you’ll keep these ideas in mind, your walleye fishing will be even better.

To see all the newest episodes of Fishing the Midwest television, visit fishingthemidwest.com

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The fact that shallow water fishing is productive during the early part of the open water season is no secret.  This general pattern is fairly universal with both warm water and cool water fish that spawn in the spring.  Whether the targeted species is bass, walleyes, northern pike or even pan fish, anglers are often finding fish shallow providing that the weather is stable and that this shallow water is warming up.  This stratification where shallow water close to the shoreline warms up ahead of deeper, offshore water is crucial for many of these shallow patterns to develop.  On reservoirs and lakes, anglers often find fish of several species under the generic “bay within a bay” rule where you look for a shallow bay that comes off the main lake and once you get in this bay, look for more bays that eventually get smaller, shallower and more protected.  These areas are often warmer, weeds are ahead of schedule and anglers can often pinpoint key locations by using a temperature gauge.

Shallow water fishing can be very productive

Warm water is relative but what anglers are looking for is water that is warmer.  Sometimes, a column of warmer water gets pushed up along a shoreline from a light wind.  These pockets or pools of warmer water often seemingly float around and areas that are protected from the wind seem to offer the most consistency.  Today’s anglers often talk about the importance of high definition sonar, structure scan, GPS mapping and all of the other new technology that has revolutionized fishing but early in the year, two tools that are irreplaceable are still a good pair of polarized sunglasses and a surface temperature gauge.

Surface temperature gauges not only tell you where the warmest water is present but also dial you into the patterns even deeper by letting you know if temperature is dropping or when the temperature is peaking during the day.  This peak often occurs in the afternoon after the sun has been out all day.  This peak often presents the best opportunity to search for fish with more aggressive presentations, faster retrieves and faster boat speeds.

Polarized sunglasses not only enable you to look into the water for fish but to watch behind the lure for following fish.  Good polarized sunglasses also enable the angler to look for physical structure whether it is flooded timber, emerging weed growth, cattails, bulrushes, rock or boulders.  So often, carpet grass or algae on the bottom will give the bottom a dark color while bare sand or gravel will look much lighter and you can see the contrasts.  Often when the sun is out, many fish will position themselves over the dark spots and when the sun is bright, some fish even seem to rise up and hang just under the surface where the sun can hit their back.  On sand or gravel bottoms with scattered boulders, the shadows created by the larger rocks often create dark spots as well.  These observations are pretty universal and can be applied to largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie, perch and northern pike during this pre-spawn period.  All of these different fish species spawn at different water temperatures however with bass and bluegills building nests.  So the timing will be staggered amongst different species of fish.

As a general rule of thumb, water clarity is often relatively clear early in the season because on many lakes, the water will green or brown up as the water temperature climbs.  This still cold and clear water presents many challenges for the angler.  For example, later in the year… we can often catch fish right below or behind the boat in surprisingly shallow water but for reasons listed above, fish are often much spookier and harder to approach during this spring period.  There are a couple of options we have as anglers.  We can look for stained water which sometimes happens from runoff, feeder creeks and wind.  If stained water can be found, a good rule of thumb is to fish the depth of water that is just slightly deeper than what you can physically see.  For example if you can see down three feet, try fishing in four to five feet of water unless you can physically see fish shallower.

When stained water can’t be found, fishing in shallow clear water often takes some adjustments in order to be successful.  Fish are often just much more difficult to approach in clear water.  Boat noise seems to be overrated in the sense that it seems like fish have a comfort zone around them and when you come within that comfort zone, they merely scoot away regardless.  The water displacement of the boat seems to be what fish key in on.  When fish follow the lure closer to the boat, sudden movements by the angler seems to spook the fish more than anything else.  Early spring can be much different than other times of the year in that big fish often move up into expansive shallow areas that are a considerable distance from deeper water.  These fish that are in these types of locations just seem much more on edge and have to be approached with some long casts.

People often talk about stealth when fishing these types of situations but in a twenty foot boat, it is hard to be stealthy.  The fish know where you are.  The key is to control the boat so that you don’t drift over good spots and to hit the spots with long casts.  Many presentations often work better with monofilament line as fluorocarbon sinks and often seems to speed up the retrieve and the best retrieves are often subtle and slow.  With good polarized glasses, casting targets are often some type of cover or actual schools of fish.

When targeting an actual fish, long casts ahead of the fish are often the most productive.  A slow presentation that can be worked in a matter where the fish actually swims up to the presentation is often the most productive.   Soft plastics really shine during this time for all species.  For walleye, pike and bass, a paddle tail body on a jig head is tough to beat in open water where the lure can simply be swam back to the boat.  Northland Mimic Minnows are really tough to beat and catch a lot of fish.  The tail gives off a strong vibration and the pointed head tracks through the water true.  Once the water warms up and the fish become really aggressive, many different soft plastic formulas will work but early in the season, some soft plastics have much better scent and action at slow speeds.  Other good soft plastic options are any of the Trigger X products as these baits really shine in cold water.  For more flash and displacement in the water, traditional suspending stick baits can also really shine.  An under used stick bait on many bodies of water that really catches fish is a lure called the Salmo Suspending Sting.  This lure puts out a lot of vibration you can feel on the rod tip and has a loud rattle chamber but most importantly, this lure just catches fish. The key to working these baits early in the year is to pump the lure forward and just letting it hang motionless for at least five seconds or more between strokes.  Experiment with the cadence and duration of the pause.

When picking out a good pair of sunglasses just for fishing, don’t make the mistake of focusing on cosmetics or style.  On most water we fish in the upper Midwest, amber or brown lens really allows you to see further into the water and look much further across glared surface water.  The best lens I have found for sight fishing is the Acu Tint lens made by the Flying Fishermen sunglass company that is based out of the Florida Keys where these lenses were developed for flats fishing applications.

Each species (whether you are targeting pan fish, bass, walleye or pike) might require different tackle or the details of the pattern might differ from species to species but what is universal is that some of the largest fish each season regardless of species can be caught in shallow water right before the spawn if the weather is stable and warmer water can be located.

Editors Note: The author, Jason Mitchell began his career as a professional angler as a guide on North Dakota’s Devils Lake where he logged thousands of days on the water before hosting the television show, Jason Mitchell Outdoors which airs on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am (CST) on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest.  You can learn tips such as shallow water fishing.

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Clear water that hasn’t had a chance to warm up requires some adjustments to consistently catch fish.  We often find some of the largest fish in less than five feet of water during this time frame but water clarity can narrow the windows of opportunity.  When the sun is out early in the season, we often find big fish in shallow water even though the water is clear enough to distinguish the bottom and these fish can be extremely difficult with no overcast or wind.  The fish are still often active but are hard to approach.  The sweet spot is often just past the depth where you can physically see the bottom for numbers of fish.  Some prime opportunities however often occur much shallow after dark or during sunrise or sunset.

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It’s early in the season. The labor of spawning is a fling of the past – the breeders are well rested. Water temps are in that magical range – above 50 but no higher than the low 70s. Walleyes are licking their chops and under the impression that the next minnow or jig that eases by is a complimentary meal – big mistake.

The fishing IS good, so don’t over-think your approach. Trust me, if you write down these tips on your hand with a Sharpie – ala Sarah Palin’s cheat-sheet technique – you will bet bit and not blow a brain chip doing so.

Unearthing Eaters
Sort of hate the term because it implies certain fate by fryer. But you know what I’m talking about – small to midsize fish, typically males. They’re the easiest to locate and lasso this time of year. And without giving it a second thought, my initial probing starts over gravel flats. On a typical natural lake that puts you in 6 to 12 feet of water. If the water’s clearer than moonshine, though, slip out into the 18 to 22 foot range. In both instances, if weeds and or a shoreline point are involved, more power to you.

My second nod goes to a raging river mouth – something significant that walleyes either use to breed or chokes-up with baitfish. A river mouth is actually a broader, more dynamic area than the name implies, too. Relative to that reality, check the actual mouth, upstream a spell if navigable, as well as the spillway up to a quarter mile out into the lake. Watch your electronics and pay close attention for signs of a deeper river channel. Those cuts can be killer.

Satisfying Slobs
These are not for eating. Got it? Trusting that you’re an ethical angler, I’m going to give you my top terrain for finding giant early season walleyes. Ready? Rocks, big rocks. Deep or shallow, I’ve caught more slovenly, spawned out females amongst boulders than anywhere else. These sows are hungry, too, but not inclined to chase bait around. Rather, they hunker down in an ambush stance and wait for deliveries. I’m convinced that they’re waiting for me to lower a sumo-sized minnow on a rig or jig. Rarely does a year pass when I don’t pin a couple of trophies on the Minnesota Opener using Popsicle sized shiners or chubs.

Secret Structure
Rocks are regular. Sand the same. And points, well, very predictable. So here’s an arrow to add to the quiver that you might not already own. Clam beds. They’re pretty prevalent on large lakes and generally colonize in 6 to 10 feet of water inside, or just beyond the outside weedline. And with foliage not yet totally in place, now’s the time to find them. (By midsummer clam beds can get buried in greens and be virtually undetectable.)

Paramount to fishing clam beds is not dragging the bottom or you’ll get cut-off more times than a Vespa in downtown New York traffic. Clam beds are constructed of both the living and the dead. And the last gasp of a clam leaves an open shell that’s sharpened to slash fishing line.

With that in mind, I “float” a jig overhead. Close to the bottom, maybe ticking it once to get a reference point, but then maintain a lofting and swimming motion that steers clear of the cutlery. Hair jigs are the ultimate vehicle for hovering over clam beds. The plume of a marabou tail or airy hairs of a bucktail jig provide a tempting target with a relaxed fall fit for such operations. And there’s no doubt, Northland’s new Buck-A-Roo hair jig is the ultimate anti clam digger. It floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.

Rigging Ritual
Launch and look around. There’s probably a 50/50 split between guys jigging and rigging. I have no qualms with either party, either. Both are classic methods for rolling cold water walleyes. But this year, just for poops and giggles, experiment with my hybridized presentation. It blends the best of both worlds.

Think of it like an undersized live bait rig that can be pitched like a jig. Build it this way: Space roughly 18-inches between your hook and a fixed position bullet sinker. I use Northland’s ingenious Sling-Shot Worm Weight because they affix to the line – without nicking and twisting it – and stay put without a swivel. Moreover, you can change weights without retying. To complete the rig, simply tie in a #6 or even smaller #8 hook. In this application, smaller hooks are preferred because they aren’t a prone to snagging.

Dress the rig with minnow, half a crawler, or my favorite, especially in early summer, a medium black leech. Rear back and pitch it like a jig. Twitch it back in 2-foot strides, each action followed by a 3-second settling period to let the bait fall to a potential death by walleye.

I haven’t officially named the rig yet, but will, and shortly, so nobody else claims it… Oh, and by the way, the No Name Rig is most effective over shallow rocks and for slipping through emerging vegetation.

Alive and Kicking
That Buck-A-Roo jig I just mentioned? You can bet it’ll be buddy-buddy with a live minnow in my boat. In fact, other than stroking my No Name Rig and a leech at rocks and weeds, minnows will be responsible for the rest of the dirty work. And hands-down, locally-trapped, shiner minnows are the best of show. Nothing outdoes what the lake is actually serving. The shiners are in. The walleyes are in because of the shiners. So don’t fool with Mother Nature.

Fragile as they are, the slightest scrape of a hook puts a shiner into a traumatized twist that walleyes enjoy to watch, albeit sadistically. The flashing silvery sides are like flicking a flashlight at night when you’re trying to hide in the woods playing tag. (That was a childhood reference by the way, not something I do on weekends.) A flash of a flank of a shiner and the jig is up, literally.

That delicate nature also presents a problem. Shiners are easily shocked and you can burn a lot of hard earned money if they aren’t handled with TLC. For the big transport – going from the bait store to camp, which might be hours away – I transfer them into Frabill’s 6-gallon Personal Bait Station. The insulated, highly-oxygenated container is my brother’s keeper when it comes to mobilizing shiners. Once in the boat, I’ll divide the minnows into smaller 8-quart Personal Bait Stations. The low-profile, rectangular container is stable and as easy to pass around as a cold one.

Speaking of which, I’m a tad thirsty. I think there’s one in the cooler.

Editor’s Note: Brian “Bro” Brosdahl headmans Bro’s Guide Service in North Central Minnesota. Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall, the northwoods fish stalker chases everything from walleyes and panfish to bass and perch. Bro can be reached at 218-340-6051 or visit his website at www.brosguideservice.com.

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