LAKE MINNETONKA
The first MWC walleye championship was held on Minnetonka, and the results left a lot to be desired, but that was 20 years ago and Minnetonka has worked hard to enter the realm of classic walleye lakes. Of course, much of this is due to the healthy stocking of walleyes that are transfused each year into the lake. On any given weekend in July, the reefs and points will be covered with walleye boats, and most of them are happy with the walleye fishing results.

"The weedline can be 19 to 20 feet deep on Minnetonka," Pretzel said, "so the walleye fishing on this lake is a combination of bottom transition from rocks to weeds or sand to weeds or muck to weeds. Walleyes love these transitions."

Pretzel said the best way to catch Minnetonka walleyes is to incorporate a bottom-bouncer with a 24-inch leader with a spinner.

"I can slow-troll this along that transition line with my bow-mounted motor," he said, "which gives me the precision I need to stay right on that edge."

LAKE PEPIN
As far as Fairbairn is concerned, Lake Pepin fits all the criteria of classic, and then some.

"This lake has current," he said, noting that it is formed by a wide spot in the Mississippi River. "It may not be a factor in July because most of the current is moving slowly. I call this the low-pool time of year. Unless we get some heavy rains, the current is a minor factor in walleye placement on this lake."

According to Fairbairn, two patterns emerge here in July. One is a crankbait trolling pattern on the breakline that rims the entire edge of the lake. There are some sharp turns and points on the breaklines, which have walleyes cruising along them. These breaks are the key on the trolling bite. The second pattern that avails itself is casting the shoreline with jigs and soft plastics or crankbaits. You cast right up to the shoreline boulders, hit the rock, the lure falls into the water, you give it a few cranks and many times those walleyes are right there.

"That is a curious thing about Lake Pepin," Fairbairn said, "there is always a shallow bite. The walleyes just won't go that deep even though you have water in this lake at 45 feet. The large majority of the fish in this lake spend much of their summer in water less than 15 feet deep, and I've found them in mid-July in just a couple of feet of water."

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These lakes are good models when searching for a classic walleye water in Minnesota. Otter Tail County has some truly classic lakes, and there are some gems north of Grand Rapids and near Alexandria.

Roach described it best: "A classic is great year after year, often getting better with time."

Now that's a classic defining a classic!

Find more about Minnesota fishing and hunting at: MinnesotaSportsmanMag.com