LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Lake Winni is now easily in the top 10 of "the most consistently productive opening-day lake" categories, but this wasn't the case until the past five years. According to Ron Hunter, or Captain Ron as he is affectionately referred to by everyone he guides, Winni has been the beneficiary of shoreline improvements that have expanded spawning beds and increased the numbers of walleyes drastically. This, in conjunction with optimum weather conditions around the openers, has resulted in some incredible catches.

"It's a structure lake," Hunter said. "Lots of reefs and rockpiles have walleyes on them, but on opener, you might find me right on the shallow sand points casting a jig and minnow."

If you want company, just motor up into the Cutfoot Sioux Lake.

"Cutfoot has always been a popular place on opener," Hunter said, "and there will be a lot of fishermen up in that lake. But if you want walleyes all to yourself, and there are plenty of them, work the points with jigs. You don't have to fish deep. Or work a sand flat with a Roach Rig. That works great, too."

For more information, go to www.captainronwalleye.com, or give Hunter a call at (218) 665-2488.

PELICAN LAKE
A few years ago when Governor Jessie Ventura went to Pelican Lake for the Governor's Fishing Opener, a wind-driven cold front made walleye fishing tough. It's too bad these conditions complicated what a great opening-day lake Pelican is capable of being.

"There are just so many walleyes there that it's not to tough to find them," said Mr. Walleye, Gary Roach. "Of course, there is a lot of structure as well, and that can confuse some of the anglers who are starting from scratch."

Roach's trick is to let the wind tell him where to go.

"There are lots of points in Pelican, but my favorites are the ones near the sand flats that extend into deeper water," Roach said. "On points, I use a Northland Fireball Stand-Up Jig tipped with a minnow. You don't pop or swim the jig. You just drag it along the bottom. Walleyes will slurp it right up."