Lakes like Loon deserve a call to the DNR before you drop in the boat, just to ensure that those walleyes that were so numerous just a few months before opener are okay. Even aerated lakes can take a hit when conditions dictate low oxygen levels.

Loon can be a productive opener lake for decent-sized walleyes, or scores of small 'eyes can pick a leech off a hook with razor efficiency. The trick is to use bigger bait. You may not get as many bites with bigger shiners, but they will be nice fish. If you're going to troll crankbaits on Loon, keep it slow, make sure to use brightly colored crankbaits and tip the front treble hook with a quarter-piece of night crawler. There's something about that little added bit of scent that triggers strikes.

For more information, call The Bobber Shop in Mankato at (507) 625-8228.

LAKE SHETEK
Some lakes gain a solid reputation as great opening-day lakes, and Shetek is one of those. Just 20 miles south of Marshall, this prairie-pothole lake is not only loaded with walleyes, but it will be covered with boats on the opener as well. If you don't like crowds, pick another option. But if you like catching walleyes, Shetek is a good choice.

One interesting aspect to Shetek, unlike many of the other pothole lakes in southern Minnesota, is that you can be into a pod of 18-inch walleyes and set the hook on a 28-incher. An hour later and you hook a 24-inch walleye. A few big ones always seem to be mixed in with the smaller-class fish.

Shetek hits depths of no more than 10 feet, with 7 to 8 feet about average. The anglers who fish Shetek a lot have mastered the fine art of trolling crankbaits, and it works well here. Since perch are the dominant forage base, take along a lot of crankbaits that "match" the perch, or a fire-tiger pattern.

For more information, call Captain Bly's at (507) 763-3757.

BIRCH LAKE
Reservoir systems always seem to produce walleyes on opener. Winnibigoshish is one of those lakes, and Birch Lake is another. Birch is just outside of Babbitt in St. Louis County and is a picture-perfect northwoods experience, but -- and there always seems to be a "but" when it comes to northern lakes on the opener -- it can still be cold there in mid-May. If the weatherman predicts temperatures in your comfort range, Birch could be a great option.

Birch Lake is over 5,600 acres, so it can be a little overwhelming, especially to anglers who have cut their teeth on natural lakes. But don't be intimidated.

Start out by casting a jig-and-minnow on the big rubble flats. You'll be fishing 6 to 8 feet of water. Just drag the jig along the bottom and concentrate on feeling the bite. If the walleyes are a bit deeper, they'll be in 10 to 15 feet of water, which on Birch is a slow-tapering bottom. You can either cast and retrieve a jig or use a vertical jigging approach -- which can sometimes be more productive in this slightly deeper water. Don't use a gas motor to keep the boat in position when vertical jigging, because it spooks fish. Either drift or use an electric motor.

For more information, call The Great Outdoors in Ely at (218) 365-4744.