New Tackle/Setups for Opener?

[mnfisher22]

What are guys going to use opening weekend and for early spring walleyes?

[gunflint]

Slip bobber and a leech for opening weekend then off to the river for some serious pre-fishing. What I'll be using on the river is classified.

[PerchJerker]

Classic setup - small fireball jigs and shiner minnows

Fun (and highly productive) setup - 5 inch plastics on 1/16 ounce darter heads

[mnfisher22]

gunflint...highly classified...how old we really?

[AaronM]

gunflint...highly classified...how old we really?

It's the mark of a true fisherman As for me, I'll have a jig and shiner tied on.

[paceman]

I will start out with jig/shiner and then pull lindy with a short snell, light wieght....

[Team Otter]

What are guys going to use opening weekend and for early spring walleyes?

Depends on location but a jig and minnow or riggin' with a leech is tough to beat.

[Mike Walerak]

Most likely trolling raps. Ouch, I hate trolling raps and I don't want to think about it. At least it is still jigging season for me for another month and a half.

mw

[B K'S DAD]

I'm starting out with a shiner on a hook with 5' leader in about 6'to 10' of water.

[riverrat56]

Hopefully with a warm spring I'll be throwing Shallow Shad Raps. Husky-jerk-baits, and X-raps to shallow rocks or emerging weeds. If that bite isn't happening I'll look to jigs with small swimbaits or Gulp Minnows too slightly deeper rocks and weeds.

If it really is tough I may have to break out the live bait and lindy rig and jig the first break off of shoreline flats or any deep water structure.

[LMITOUT]

Pitching jigs with minnows or plastics (Gulp Alive), or just dragging jigs depending on the conditions. Maybe a lindy/minnow mixed in as well.

[Northlander]

Slip bobber and a leech for opening weekend then off to the river for some serious pre-fishing. What I'll be using on the river is classified.

It wont matter old man your just fattening up my pot.

[Northlander]

Jig n minnow and trolling spinners. Maybe some cranks or slip bobbering leeches. Ill have it all.

[pushbutton]

before i get out my usual shallow running cranks and swims, im going to try rattle traps, puppet minnows, and jigging raps. if anyone has used these on open water, i would appreciate any feedback

[solbes]

10 minutes into the opener last year got me a 29" by casting a white X-Rap on the shoreline. Probably do that for at least 20 minutes. Then maybe switch to a more logical live bait presentation.

On the lake I fish, the big females should have already moved out of the shallows. I don't think we'll have ice out in the last week of April again this year.

[tunrevir]

I will start by tossing cranks to shorelines and twistertails and shad bodied baits and if I'm not getting bit then switch to jigs and minnows and then live bait rigs if I have to.

Tunrevir~

[NCLaker]

Rattling rap's & floaters are great for casting in shallows for me. Firetiger works great for me in stained water.

[mnfisher22]

what about at night?

slip bobs with a weight and a floater jig a foot off the bottom tipped with a leach?

[mnfisher22]

what about at night?

slip bobs with a weight and a floater jig a foot off the bottom tipped with a leach?

[JakeJ_Mn]

On Leech, a 1/8 oz. green/chartruse jig with a shiner or chub. Last year shiners were hard to find early because of the late ice. After Memorial day, leeches are hard to beat. Jake

[rodmaker]

That's a loaded question. If you are going to Mille Lacs all you need are leeches. I always get a couple dozen of minnows, (just in case) but leeches always produce.

I know of guys who do well trolling raps on the sand after midnight (malmo) on the opening weekend.

You can always anchor on reefs using slip bobbers and glow jigs with leeches or minnows, or drag live bait on long snells. Sometimes spinners produce also.

Again it depends on where you are going.

The most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind and be willing to try different things until you establish a pattern.

[michaelpettersen82]

That's a loaded question. If you are going to Mille Lacs all you need are leeches. I always get a couple dozen of minnows, (just in case) but leeches always produce.

I know of guys who do well trolling raps on the sand after midnight (malmo) on the opening weekend.

You can always anchor on reefs using slip bobbers and glow jigs with leeches or minnows, or drag live bait on long snells. Sometimes spinners produce also.

Again it depends on where you are going.

The most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind and be willing to try different things until you establish a pattern.

Are you even supposed to be on the lake after 9:00 p.m. with fishing gear on Mille Lacs for opener??? I'm pretty sure your not.

[PerchJerker]

Are you even supposed to be on the lake after 9:00 p.m. with fishing gear on Mille Lacs for opener??? I'm pretty sure your not.

The night ban is not in effect on opening weekend.

You can fish the first 2 or 3 nights of the season, then the night ban kicks in and goes until early June.

[solbes]

Wow, didn't realize they had a night ban for Mille Lacs. How long has this been in effect? I'm in the clear, but just thought it was interesting.

[rodmaker]

It's been at least 1o years