Bruce Jean

Minnesota’s Rainy River spring walleyes don’t sit still; they are moving up the Rainy River to spawn! They slide, stack, and move.
If you’re not moving with them, you’re just casting. Here’s how we stay on them: A jig and minnow is the old reliable. Drag it, pop it, or just hold it in the seam and let it work. If they’re not fired up, this is what they’ll eat.

The walleye bite on Rainy Lake on this Minnesota/Canadian border water has been the best it’s been in over 20 years.
Walleye are consistently being caught in 22 to 27 feet of water, with both leeches and minnows proving effective.

When fishing early-season walleyes on Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs, the key to success is finding structure that’s holding concentrations of baitfish. The rock reefs are a popular spot to target walleyes during low-light conditions. Target them with a slip bobber and a leech.

If you’re looking for quality over quantity fish, fish the weedbeds in 10 to 14 feet of water. If the sun is bright and the breeze light, you might find walleyes in shallower areas of those weedbeds, about 7 to 10 feet.