Some walleye experts are limited to where they fish because their range is restricted to where they guide, but they still choose lakes at certain times because that's where the walleyes are biting. Consider Bill Slaughter, whose livelihood is dictated by his ability to catch fish in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Slaughter has been directing groups in the BWCAW for over 25 years, and if it is consistent walleye action you're after, you'll follow his recommendations.

"Not all of the lakes are going to be producing fish all of the time," Slaughter said. "You would think that Basswood or Crooked Lake will be hot all summer long, but that's not always true. You keep your finger on the pulse of all of the lakes around you, and you figure out that there are times when one lake is going to be better than another. Sometimes it's the rivers that turn on, and it's always when you least expect it."

To get a feel for where our walleye experts fish, and why, let's look at some specific examples. For instance, Gary Roach always likes to spend the opener on Lake Winnibigoshish.

"I used to have a cabin on this lake," Roach said, "and over the years, it just keeps getting better and better for walleyes. Winni is consistent when it comes to the walleyes from opener through the summer."

Roach said big schools of walleyes will move up onto the sand and rubble points, and he targets them with a jig and minnow during that early-season bite.

"I use a 1/8-ounce Northland Fireball jig in a stand-up head and tip it with a shiner," Roach said. "You want to cast this setup as far as you can right up into the shallow water on top of the point and then let it sink to the bottom. Just drag the jig back, and usually when you hit a dip in the bottom or a little dropoff, the walleyes will pick it up."

If a cold front drives the walleyes into deeper water where they get finicky, Roach will switch tactics and sit over the fish while dangling a leech in front of them on a Roach Rig.

Mark Courts is a versatile angler who is comfortable fishing any presentation, but when the walleyes are preferring a crankbait, he'll make it a point to be there.

"There are two times when anglers should focus on crankbaits," Courts said. "One is when the walleyes are spread out over the structure. The other is when they're suspended. Either situation works for me."

But what about Upper Red Lake? There isn't much in the way of structure there, and the walleyes don't necessarily suspend.

"OK, you got me there," Courts said. "There are always exceptions, and Red is one of them. I've been up on Red a lot since they opened the walleye season back up and these fish do like crankbaits."