I will be at the home lake... everyone knows where that is, eh? I do the same thing every year. One of my brothers takes a flight up from Florida and three of us and about 20 other guys spend some time together. Pretty low pressure but a lot of fun. Been doing it for so many years that I really couldn't think of doing anything else. I did hit Island Lake up by Duluth about 10 years ago for the opener. Actually caught a bunch too, but it just wasn't the same.
My wife is due with the 2nd kid.... I don't know what I'll do. But I'd be on Ottertail or another lake connected to that river, if it were a normal year.
Don't know if I'll get out for the opener this year but if I do it will be on Leech. We caught lots of 15 to 17 inch walleye last fall up there so it should be good this spring. Find warm water and you'll find walleye and panfish.
With the late ice out a good choice could be the north end of Big Stone or the south end of Lake Traverse. We used to go there for the Minnesota opener to get away from the crowds and usually did well. We would cast the shoreline with jigs or crankbaits (kind of like fishing bass). Sometimes the walleye would be right against the bank and when they were they were very aggressive.
There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home. ~ Roderick Haig-Brown, Fisherman's Spring, 1951
. Sometimes mother nature just doens't couperate.
