Minnows? Leeches? Crawlers?

[KTroller]

Just curious about the water temps(when), structure(where), and presentations(how) for these three baits in natural MN lakes. Also curious about differences between stocked walleye and naturally reproducing eyes. I've heard that stocked walleyes can be fished almost like bass and relate to weeds as much as other structure like rock piles.

Thanks!

[Borch]

All baits can be fished in a variety of ways. Live bait rigs, jigs, spinners, bobber rigs. My general rule is for minows water temps of low 50s or less; Leaches mid forties or up and crawlers low 50s and up. There are always exceptions though.

Now the diffrence between natural and stocked eyes I feel is overblown. Walleyes will use whatever structure is available. Stock walleyes tend to get put in lakes witrh less classic structure and more weeds. In many cases they are in bowl shaped lakes where weeds are the structure. But that's just my opinion.