Top 5 Fisheries

[MJ5]

What are your top 5 fisheries for walleye across the nation? Its fun to here where others fish across the nation. Here are mine:

1)Lake of the Woods, MN/ONT
2)Saginaw Bay, MI
3)Lake Mille Lacs, MN
4)Big Stone Lake, SD
5)Rainy River, MN/CAN

Thanks.....Good Fishing, Matt.

[perchjerker]

You forgot the home to 65 million walleyes (the last time I counted)

Starts and ends with "e"

[Tom]

It really depends on what you consider great fishing. Some guys like lakes where you can catch 40 or 50 fish per trip and they are all 12" to 15"(keeping a few good eaters). Then some guys prefer the big ones. My number 1 vote in respect to big ones has to be Lake Erie/Detroit River system from mid March to mid April. I think the PWT set records for fish over 10lbs last spring in the Detroit River with one over 13 lbs. My #2 for quantity would be western Lake Erie in early June. Mostly because on a good day everyone that ventures out can typically enjoy plenty of walleye action no matter what their skill level/knowledge.

[bob oh]

and has 4 letters and the pwt record
But, I think Lake Erie Council puts the count at 25 to 30 million which is still more than anywhere else in the world.

[jerry]

1. Lake Erie (Hands down #1).
2. Saginaw Bay.
3. Lake Winnebago
4. Bay of Green Bay.
5. Devils Lake (Most diverse fishery).

Erie, for numbers and big fish, can't be matched. Saginaw Bay for it's numbers. Winnebago for it's numbers and different types of fishing that can be done to put fish in the boat (Slip rig, jig, troll, pitch shallow weeds, pitch cane, etc.). Green Bay because it's down the road for me and remains a secret as compared to other high profile places. And, Devils Lake, for it's diversity. Fished it last year during the RCL, catching bog perch, nice walleyes, and huge pike.

[SetTheHook]

Here's the easiest answer, at least so far as keeping the jealousy down and my sanity intact.

1) Wherever I'm going today
2) Wherever I'm going next week
3) Wherever I'm going next year
4) Wherever I was last week
5) Wherever I was last year

As far as the other fisheries, hopefully, they'll all wind up on that list at some point.

[Atomic Eye]

Which Devils Lake is being referred to as having good eye & hughe pike? Thanks.

Atomic Eye -- "Gone Fission!"

[Ruff Ridder]

North Dakota I am sure.

[mtd]

Now before you go making rash statements about Saginaw Bay being the best spot for "Trophies", I might suggest you check the 10 pound club here on WC and check the outstanding number of +10 pound fish that come out of the great Columbia River here in Oregon. I have fished the great lakes (I grew up in Indiana before moving west), and I am telling you that I have never seen the numbers and quality of walleye anywhere other than out here in God's county.

[walleyes13]

OK. We might be forgetting about the lakes of South Dakota. The Glacial Lakes Region along with the Missouri River System of South Dakota would be two on my list.

[brushpile]

Big Mac has to be on the list for some of you. IF NOT it is the best kept secret in Nebraska.

A Guide at a sports show last year said in a 30 day stretch in October he had 100 walleyes over 10 lbs. 10 of them came in one day. He said "show me any place in the nation I can do that"

[punch1]

In no particular oder,

Mille Lacs
Sturgeon Bay (Green Bay)
Little Bay de Noc
Fox River
Menominee River

[SUPERTROLLER]

I'm not disagreeing with you or the guide you quote. Just answering his question. Erie and Saginaw Bay can match him fish for fish and you don't necessarily have to wait until October to do it.

[Charlie]

My Top 5

1. Columbia River - for big fish!!

2. Lake Erie - for big fish and good numbers

3. Detroit River - for big fish early in the year.

4. Missouri River in SD - for sheer numbers of fish

5. Mille Lacs - good numbers of fish and good size

[Gilligan]

I think Matts origional intention was to list not necessarily the top 5 but your top 5 (the 5 you fish).

Mine would be: (only listing 3 as that is where 99% of my fishing is.)

1. Erie east basin. We might not get the quanity of west basin but rarly do we get a small fish.
2. Eastern Lake Ontario. Again not great #'s but big fish. 10#ers don't even raise eyebrows here.
3. Chautauqua Lake. Good #'s with big fish in the system. Also with the excitment of never knowing when a 50" muskie is going to grab on instead of a walleye.

Other good bites I've yet to fish in my area are the Susquehenna River and Oneida Lake...so many lakes so little time :-(

[Hawgeye]

1.)Pine Falls Manitoba during October
2.)Lake of the Woods
3.)Devils Lake
4.)Missouri River System
5.)Un-named .... My honey hole where I catch trophies with my 7 year old. And it is in Minnesota Too!

I would probably pick Erie but I have never fished it and would not know where to go. Pine falls on Lake Winnipeg has been my best with too many to mention of eyes' over 10 and my biggest over 13lbs. I am afraid that the fishery is on its way down and it may be slipping off my top 5 if next year does not produce like it used to.

[eyeman]

I'll fish any place any time but if I can only go to a few places a couple times a year and I'm not going to fish tournaments here are my top 5 choices based on my experience - my two cents anyway.

1) Lake Erie: pick a region/season for size/#s and especially in fall, and it's a troller's paradise.

2) Lake Michigan - LBDN/BBDN in fall during the week, Green Bay mid summer into fall, Manistee & St. Joe in the fall - pick a spot. (Trolling, casting, rigging or jigging????)

3) Saginaw Bay: July into August for numbers & long but skinny fish.

4) Fort Peck: size and scenery you can't beat if you like the high plains!

5) Lake of the Woods: numbers, nice size and the opportunity to fish for several species and in one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. You can fish any method you can think of and catch eyes.

There are other places that I'd like to go like Lake Tobin, parts of the Missouri River system lakes, Lake Ontario, the Rainy River, Mille Lac, Big Mac, Glendo etc.. But, I have limited time and go back to these places that I've had great times on. Depends on what you are looking for like numbers, size, places to bring the family etc..

Take a kid fishing, and don't forget the PFDs.

[FROGMAN]

Without question for me it would be:
1. Lake Erie
2. Saginaw Bay
3. Detroit River
4. Saginaw River
5. LOTW/Rainy River system(Undoubtedly the most scenic of all the locations!)

[colorado jim]

1. erie for numbers and size.can't be touched for #of fish....if others think so don't try to change theirmind.
2.detroit river early for size,numbers when males are there
2.glendo for size;commercial fisherman killed 3 walleyes one day bigger than the world record .dow said never would make a dent in the population!
2.pathfinder;largest stringer of walleye i have ever seen!very consistent!
5.big mac.....still a secret (lets keep it that way somewhat)

[TONY ON ICE]

Gilligan.
You're right about the Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario right up into the St.Lawrence River.
Probably the most under rated walleye fishery in the country but possibly just not known to many.
Once they stop stocking those swimming garbage disposals (King Salmon) the walleye fishery will get even better.

Oneida lake in Central New York is m home lake and even though our DEC said the populations of adult walleyes are way down, the fishing has been spectacular the past few years and Oneida can only get better.
Like Mille Lacs, it's a shallow lake with plenty of shoals that all hold good numbers of fish. Water clarity has improved to a point where the old tactics that consistantly caught walleyes in the past has changed immensely. Weededs popping up in deeper water areas are now drawing fish to places they never inhabited and strategies have to change to hook up consistantly but once ou figure it out, Oneida is a jewel ! That's if you can keep the 3 to 6 pound smallmouths away from your offerings !

[Gilligan]

Tony..I'm going to make Oneida someday! I'ts just hard to leave an already good bite to experiment.

[Atomic Eye]

Colorado Jim,

Please tell me what the full name and states are for "Big Mac, Glendo, and Pathfinder?" Thanks.

Atomic Eye -- "Gone Fission!"

[TONY ON ICE]

GILLIGAN
I know what you mean and that's why I don't stray too far from my back yard.
Oneida lake is home and Lake Ontario is 30 minuts away.
Heaven in Central New York !

[THUMPER]

The lakes that I fish in NW Ontario.........I could tell you the names but then my fishing partners would disown me and probably burn me out.

[colorado jim]

to atomic eye : sorry for the delayed reply;
big mac is mcconahey(sp) at ogalalla,neb.frequent user of this site is a guide there.
glendo ,north of cheyenne,wyoming....
pathfinder res. west of casper,wyo