Opener can be a zoo

If you want peace and quiet, wait till Monday. Minnesota’s fishing opener congregates more fishermen per square acre than any other time of year on productive post-spawn walleye locations throughout the state. Anglers often pack so tightly that with a little coordination and agility you could jump from boat to boat. Over the years I’ve targeted other species or fished smaller bodies of water to avoid the masses. Recently I’ve grown to embrace the chaos and enjoy the spectacle, knowing opener morning will be a zoo.

Before the sun breaks free of Lake Superior’s grip Saturday morning, I will motor upstream of Boy Scout Landing on the St. Louis River. I know by 7 a.m. I will be joined by a parade of anxious anglers. The first hour around sunrise will be quiet in comparison: the calm before the storm. The fish will be there. Walleyes make their annual spawning run up the St. Louis River in staggering numbers. Many of them work their way upstream until their migration is halted by the rip-rap and shallow rapids on the downward side of the Fond du Lac Dam.

Most walleyes will be post spawn by the opener, although a few egg-laden females may still be working their way upstream. Anything above the Highway 23 bridge is off limits for angling until May 18 to protect remaining spawners. The channel and adjoining flats from Boy Scout Landing upstream to the bridge will harbor thousands of walleyes dropping back downstream from their spawning grounds.

Many anglers pull bottom-bouncers with crawler harnesses or work jig and minnow combinations. My preferred approach is to troll crankbaits upstream working in and out of current seams. I troll 1.5-1.8 miles per hour, slowly working my way along the river’s shallow flats in 5-10 feet of water. Berkley flicker shads, Rapala shad raps, and Rapala scatter raps top my list of opener producers. Bright colors dominate the St. Louis River: firetiger, orange, chartreuse and gold will grace my starting lineup.

The trolling is not overly technical. No need for line-counter reels and not enough real estate to run inline boards. Simply toss your crank behind the boat and start covering water.

If a particular stretch proves productive, work it over well before moving on. Also, be sure to troll the same area later in the morning. Oftentimes spots will refill with a new wave of walleyes.

The flats are covered with sand and muck and debris. If you start picking up the occasional stick or periodically banging the bottom, you will connect with enough walleyes to make your opener a success.

The walleye limit on the St. Louis River is two fish per person, 15-inch minimum size. Additionally, special regulations along the Minnesota/Wisconsin border allow two rods per angler, effectively doubling your odds.

My plan is to get the boys out on Saturday and spend the morning with a few thousand of our angling friends. Sunday is Mother’s Day. The captain of our ship will have the final say how she wants to spend the day. I can only hope for a return visit to the zoo.

Bret Baker is a lifetime resident of Cloquet. He is a proud husband, father, educator and outdoorsman. Bret began guiding fishing trips when he was 16 years old. Today, in his 40s, his passion is to introduce people to the tremendous outdoor adventures available in our region.