Tricks on finding the spot on opening day

[Maverick]

I would be interested in how some of you guys and gals decide where to go on the lake opening morning.

I think wind is the key in many cases. I start to track where the wind has been blowing starting on Wednesday. If the wind has been blowing into a shore for two or three days I will concentrate my efforts around that area on Saturday Morning. I will do this even if the wind switches. I believe the walleyes are in a feeding mode and they like the stirred up water from the waves blowing in. While they will cetainly move, it is always best to go as close to their dinner table as possible. If there has been no significant wind, then I head to the mid-lake dropoffs or to the weed lines.

Anyway, how do you decide. Thanks.

[Northlander]

I go where they spawned and fish the shallow warm water around there. Back bays, river/creeks and mouths. I start shallow and work out as needed. This time of years minnows are in shallow warm water and thats where the walleyes will be too.

[tunrevir]

I usually work the shallow flats next to adjacent spawning areas. I look for any natural gravel, rocky areas and then work the adjacent flats. I like to start shallow along emerging weedlines and work along untill I find fish. No luck shallow, then I'll work to the first breakline on the outside edge of the weeds. With the early springtime weather I think the fish are going to be less concentrated and more spread out so I like something where I can cover water and contact active fish. If I find fish in an area then I can go back and refine my techniques and slow down the presentation and work the area more thoroughly. Alot of folks work the deeper water and that often leaves the shallow more aggressive fish ripe for the picking. Like Northlander, I like to work the shallows because the availability of forage. I think the biggest thing is, don't get locked into a pattern that has produced before if you aren't getting bit. Be ready to change locations or try different strategies untill you contact fish and start getting bit and fine tune your presentation and strategy from there.

Tunrevir~

[Maverick]

That's some real good input. Thanks and good luck on Saturday.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Down in my neck of the prairie we've been looking at 60 or so degree water....until aboot a week ago. We've had a cold and windy snap and the water temp has dropped to around 50 or so.

I'll be fishing the current. Shallow sloughs that feed into the lake. Find the creek/channel/ whatever you want to call it. Fish the warmer water feeding from the sloughs and you'll find the fish.

That's here in SW MN. I can't give advice for other parts of the state.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I go where the other boat are

[BluePlater]

tunrevir hit the nail on the head. I usually start as shallow as 2-3 feet and work the gravel with a jig and a minnow and then slowly start working my way deeper. I normally do not make it to 15 feet before I get on the fish.

[Comit 2]

I start shallow and work deep.

This year you can be sure I'll be working spots where the run off from this rain enters the lake. I'll also work the areas where water leaves the lake. Current will be the key for the lake I will be on.