Wow… spring is really early this year. The ice is off the big lake about two weeks ahead of time. This is going to probably mean some early spawning activity. With warmer waters around the opener a couple of my favorite early season haunts will probably be out the window, so I’ll have to concentrate on some of my spring spots out on the main lake. This should be fun.

Where do you plan to start this opener? Register for the WalleyeGuy Forum to start a conversation with other walleye fishermen. Opener will be here before you know it!

As spring approaches I’m starting to make my checklists. Looking out the back window I see the water flowing nicely down the river and know that the walleyes will soon start contemplating the yearly trek upstream and to the natural spawning areas on local lakes. While they make those preparations I’m making my own, going over my gear, thinking about what I need to add or remove.

The boat.
I hate to say it, but the boat was left in a bit of disarray last fall. Hunting came too fast and all I could manage was a quick change of oil in the lower unit before I shoved it in the garage. So I need to do some serious work there. Be sure to drain and replace the lower unit oil if you didn’t do so in the fall. Replace the spark plugs. Plugs are cheap, you’d hate to be sitting at the dock trying to fire up the Merc with old plugs. Charge the batteries… I have three deep cycle batteries in my boat and try to replace one of them each year. Make sure all of the lights are working, including the trailer lights. These things all seem so simple and they are… you just need to dedicate an afternoon to running through the checklist. Check your trailer tires for wear and make sure the bearings are in good shape.

The Gear.
Nothing too complicated here. Change the fishing line, buy more stuff.

See you on the water!

Picking a high quality walleye fishing rod can be a daunting task. G-Loomis is a great option.  They make some of the finest rods on the market. If you are looking to upgrade from a mid-range rod, this guide will help you understand some of the choices available.

Among the choices you will find models tailored specifically to walleye fishing. These models were developed with input from top walleye fisherman and perform well in most fishing conditions:

• G. Loomis Walleye Spinning Rods Model: WJR751S (6′ 3″, Mag. Light)
• G. Loomis Walleye Spinning Rods Model: WPJR822S (6′ 10″, Med)
• G. Loomis Walleye Spinning Rods Model: WRR8501S (7′ 1″, Med. Light)

G-Loomis walleye fishing rods are individually designed for different walleye fishing techniques. They pay attention to detail to the point that even the line guides are carefully matched to each technique. G-Loomis offers several different models and has perhaps the best warranty in the business, Xpeditor Service, which guarantees any broken rod will be replaced with no hassle wherever you are fishing.

A word or two about graphite: Graphite fibers are longitudinal (they run from the butt of the rod to the tip). The higher the modulus, the stiffer the rod. Rod builders put a light, woven scrim (the material that holds the fibers together) on top of the graphite to keep the blank round. A graphite scrim is four times more expensive than fiberglass and much more difficult to manufacture. However, the fiberglass scrim adds weight to the blank, but not stiffness.

The following materials are used in the various walleye rod models:

GLX- Extremely light, yet strong. GLX is an ultra-high modulus graphite coupled with a super-light graphite scrim. The GLX rods are their top-of-the-line walleye fishing rods.

IMX- Very light, sensitive, and powerful, with graphite scrim.

GL3- High strain rate and an advanced resin system which means these fishing rods are really, really strong but light. They are also their most affordable rods.

GL2- GL2 offers superior strength and durability for any situation. GL2 was G-Loomis’s original graphite walleye fishing rod and has undergone significant changes in past years.

G-Loomis uses “Action” and “Power” to rate their rods and defines them as follows:

Action

Rod action refers to the flex characteristics of a rod, varying from Slow to Extra-Fast. An Extra-Fast action rod flexes mainly at the tip. Slower (or softer) action rods flex throughout the entire length of the rod. Moderate action falls in between. G-Loomis tailors the action of each of their rods to the particular fishing application for which they’re designed, taking into account the preferred lure action, optimum casting range, fighting power, the feel of the rod, and countless other variables.

Power

Loomis rates the power of their rods on a scale of 00 to 8. This rating gives you an idea of how each walleye rod in the series compares in terms of lifting, lighting and casting strength. Because each series is rated independently, a 2-power Spin Jig rod, for example, does not feel the same as a 2-power Steelhead rod. Another way to measure power is resistance to flex or how much each specific rod bends under a load. The 2-power rod flexes more easily than a 3-power and so on. Generally speaking, the heavier your choice of line and lure, the higher the power rating you’ll need.

If you have spent any time walleye fishing at all, you probably know that Canada is often considered the Mecca of walleye fishing. The Canadian shield is covered with thousands of lakes teeming with fish of all species. If you haven’t yet had the chance, you really need to spend some time in Canada walleye fishing.

We have made several walleye fishing trips to Canada, and have had wonderful success, but this past summer we made our first walleye fishing trip to Lac Seul. Lac Seul is a 150 km long resevoir about 200 miles north of the U.S. border. Well known for its tea-colored waters, Lac Seul is known to produce fantastic numbers of walleyes from spring through fall. While many families and friends opt for a week-long houseboat trip, we decided to be adventurous and rough it for a few days over the Fourth of July. Destination, Ear Falls, Ontario. See the rest of Canada Walleye Fishing →

I remember back when I was a teenager I went fishing with an older friend. He got a hot tip from his buddy that there were walleyes biting on a local lake. As I said in an earlier post, I didn’t fish for walleyes at the time, so I didn’t really care too much, but I was interested.

Well, this guy had a 12 foot aluminum boat, basic motor, and a concrete block tied to a rope for an anchor. Oh, and the rope-anchor combination was our depth finder. We hobbled around the general area taking “soundings” with the anchor until we figured we were in about the right spot. All we caught that night was a nice batch of bullheads. See the rest of Walleye Fishing – Sonar Basics →

It’s funny how some fishermen actually get somewhat embarrassed when they have to admit that they were fishing with bobbers… as if they were somehow cheating or using some tactic reserved only for young kids.  Considering the fact that this is a very common ice fishing method, I don’t really see how anyone can really ignore the bobber when they pack the tackle box with the weapons they need to catch walleyes.

Every spring we do our first walleye fishing on a local lake that has a river outlet that flows a few hundred yards into another even larger lake.  In fact, we are usually there at 12:01 am on the fishing opener.  During the period of time after they are done spawning walleyes pour through that river channel at night and there are usually a few walleye fishermen there to meet them. 

See the rest of Slip Bobber Basics →