There are a couple of small humps on the west side that can concentrate anglers on the opener. Don't be sucked into this group. Instead, key on the remnants of the weedline you find in 15 to 17 feet of water on the southwest section of the lake. This vegetation extends from the shoreline out, and covers a large flat. This area tends to pull baitfish around opener, and that brings in the walleyes.

If you're not finding walleyes in the deeper water, move shallower on that flat. A good way to cover this flat is with a 1/8-ounce jig and a 3-inch twistertail body.

For more information, call Mel's Sport Shop at (320) 796-2421.

LAKE PLANTAGANETTE
Heading north? Plan to make a stop at Lake Plantaganette in Hubbard County. This scenic body of water south of Bemidji gets its share of pressure on the opener, but at 2,500 acres, boatloads of anglers can find spots all to themselves.

You'll be compelled to start your search on one of the humps or points, but don't rule out the shallow sand regions near the sharp-dropping bottom on the west side. Walleyes will scoot out of the deeper water where they're waiting to snack on a perch. The best way to fish a quick-tapering bottom is with a jig-and-minnow. Since the walleyes are prone to spread out at differing depths along a breakline, you can either cast or drift the jig just dragging it on the bottom.

If you're using a live-bait rig, stick to larger fatheads and shiners, and make sure you put about 6 to 8 feet between the weight and the bait.

For more information, call Bluewater Bait at (218) 444-2248.

LAKE STRAWBERRY
Not too deep, but very clear. Maybe that's why there are so many walleyes in this lake -- no one can catch them!

Around the opener, walleyes on clear, northern lakes tend to prefer the shallow sand/rubble regions, and the fish in Becker County's Strawberry follow that pattern. The problem is that most anglers want to be backtrolling live-bait rigs out in water 20 feet or deeper. Too often the anglers who are fishing shallower have their lures and baits too close to their boat, and are not getting bites because the fish are aware of their presence.

If you want to pull a live-bait rig on Strawberry on the opener, let out a lot of line and S-troll the rig. If you're trolling crankbaits, let out plenty of line and use trolling boards to keep the lures out of the path of the boat. If you're casting jigs, cast them a country mile or so.

The walleye numbers are way up in Strawberry, and it could develop a reputation as a "sleeper" opening-day walleye lake. Just use the right presentation, because the fish are there and they will be feeding.

For more information, call Quality Bait at (218) 844-2248.

LOON LAKE
Loon Lake just east of Lake Crystal is only 7 feet deep at its maximum depth -- a prime candidate for winterkill, but also loaded with walleyes due to fry stocking.