Slow opener expected but fish numbers good

By Brian Hansel (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Those slippery fish might be a trifle difficult for early season anglers to boat this spring.

While Minnesota is known as one of the greatest fishing states in the country, it is also known for cold weather.

Lakes are expected to be ice free by the May 10 opener but the water temperature is also expected to be on the cool side.

“It will be a minnow bite,” said Deb Macheledt of Ben’s Bait in Battle Lake, who recommends lakes like Rush, Walker and Silver to fishermen who brave the early season.

Ross Hagemeister is an Otter Tail fishing guide who has studied the feeding patterns of fish, especially walleyes, very closely and successfully. Hagemeister has noted that walleyes usually spawn once the ice goes off a lake. From that time onward a walleye’s appetite slowly improves but it usually takes a couple of weeks for it to fully return.

Hagemeister recommends smaller, stained lakes that warm up quickly in the spring to fishermen looking for walleyes early in the year. 

Otter Tail Lake, the largest lake in the county, offered good fishing over the winter. Walleyes on Otter Tail have tended to run smaller (12-15 inches), but there are keepers in Otter Tail and the lake’s strong walleye population creates what Hagemeister calls a good “competition” for bait fish.

“Some people will catch fish, with just their sheer numbers, but in general it’s going to be pretty slow.” said Hagemeister, in sizing up the early season. The fishing guide is convinced that the proper bait is what will determine the greatest success.

Shiner minnows are usually a walleye’s favorite bait fish early in the spring. Shiners run close to shore making walleye fishing in the shallows popular the first weekend or two.

Jason Dahlen of Dahlen’s Short Stop in Ashby agrees with Hagemeister but added that finding shiner minnows could be the real trick.

Dahlen noted that Pelican Lake, just outside of Ashby, enjoyed very good fishing over the winter. Walleyes in the 12-25 inch range were taken on Pelican indicating the lake has a good variety of year classes to offer.

Dahlen also recommends Pomme de Terre and Ten Mile Lake for early season angling. Pomme de Terre is a river lake is muddy and fairly shallow, making it a good early season bet. The south bay of South Ten Mile has been a fishing hotspot on the opener for several years. North Ten Mile is known more for its duck hunting than its fishing but it is shallow and holds a good fish population.

Fergus Falls DNR fisheries manager Arlin Schalekamp calls Otter Tail County’s fish population “good” but believes the larger, deeper lakes will not be the best places to look early in the season.

“There is going to be some really, really good fishing and some places where it’s going to be pretty slow,” said Schalekamp. “Anglers should check the conditions of lakes they fish before they head out.”

Schalekamp pointed out that in a normal year, the best walleye bite in this area is generally around Memorial Day, when water temperatures are in the mid-50s and lower 60s.

“This year it is going to be real cold around the opener which is going to slow down the fish,” said Schalekamp.

Three tactics that Schalekamp recommended to anglers were slowing down their presentation, fishing rivers and fishing the north side of lakes, which generally warm up quicker.

Schalekamp is high on Otter Tail but he believes the best fishing on the big lake will not come until later. Otter Tail, Rush, Big and Little Pine, North and South Lida, Big Pelican, West Battle and Clitherall will all offer good fishing.

Schalekamp believes Dead, Star, Stalker, South Ten Mile and Lizzie could be good bets for early walleye action. These lakes are shallower with good walleye numbers.

“There are some real healthy walleye populations out there,” said Schalekamp. “There are lakes that have record or near-record populations.”