"If there is a crowd of boats on a spot, I'll figure they're pushing the fish out away from them, so I'll work a rig about 20 to 30 yards from the pile of boats watching my sonar to see if the fish are tight to the bottom or suspending. It's amazing how many fish will suspend away from the crowds, yet you can easily catch them casting a crankbait," Courts noted.

For more information, call Marv's Bait Shop at (507) 372-2701.

ALBERT LEA LAKE
Freeborn County
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been stocking millions of fry into Albert Lea Lake, and now they're in the 18- to 22-inch range and ripe for the picking.

Guide Kuduk said that anglers should anchor where the channel from Fountain Lake enters Albert Lea Lake and sit there while fishing with a slip-bobber rig.

Courts said he would drift the necked-down areas and cast shiner-colored crankbaits. If that doesn't work, go back through with a perch-colored, shad-shaped crankbait.

Other anglers may use a split-shot rig on a No. 2 Tru-Turn hook. About 18 inches up the line, pinch on a pea-sized split shot. Thread a 3- to 4-inch shiner or minnow on the hook and feed out about 60 feet of line and drift through with this rig.

For more information, check out www.albertleatourism.org.

WHITE BEAR LAKE
Washington County
This is the lake the governor has chosen for this year's opener event. White Bear Lake is better known for its great bass and muskie fishing, but there are plenty of walleyes to be found there.

White Bear Lake is a diverse lake with plenty of vegetation, but there is a good deal of rubble, rock and sand, too. Mid-lake structure is plentiful, but the smart walleye angler will strain all the shoreline-related points and flats before heading out to the middle of the lake.

A good game plan for the White Bear opener is to start shallow and work deep, looking not only for walleyes but for baitfish as well because walleyes will hang close to a food source.

When the opener does finally dawn, be ready with a GPS full of spots and about 10 rods rigged with everything from a slip-bobber to jigging spoons. This is a good game plan no matter what lake you plan on fishing.

If the water clarity is good, try to get on the water at least once with an underwater camera to see where the walleyes are holding. This puts you in a good spot on the opener with a high chance of scoring.

For more information on White Bear Lake, call Hansen's Little Bear Bait and Tackle at (651) 653-1326.

Many anglers save up their vacation days to be used on the opener. Most spend long hours in sporting goods stores stocking up on the latest, greatest lures and tools for walleye fishing.

For some, a trip to the cabin each year for the opener has been a lifelong tradition.

Minnesota's walleye opener fits the criteria of a holiday, and all but Christmas may be relegated to just another day in the week. Join us on the water and find out for yourself!