Need Canada Walleye Tips

[motalot]

Going to Canada in late July this year. Never fished there before and was wondering if anyone could enlighten on walleye tips. What tackle should I bring?

How should I approach the lake for finding the fish?

[charlie1]

The best tip I can give you on walleye fishing in Canada is just go to Minnesota instead. Go to the lakes in NW Minnesota around Bemidji. There used to be a guy that posted on here a lot named Geofisher that has been around up there a lot and caught a bunch of walleye while smallmouth fishing. I can give you some tips on what I have done in Minnesota if you are interested.

[senko]

Try trolling longer style crankbaits. Use spinner rigs on bottom bouncers, either trolling slowly with the outboard or with a electriuc trolling motor on weed edges or rock points and humps. Take along 500-1000 night crawlers. The lodges will recomend minnows, but nightcrawlers will outfish minnows 10-1. you can also try cast nightcrawlers on number 1/0 live biat hooks with a rubber core sinker(similar to a spilit shot rig or small carolina rig. Erie dearies can also work well casting also. Give me a call if you need more detailed info.

Richie Young
Plapps Pro Outdoors
859-240-0043

[JimDicken]

YOU CAN NOT IMPORT CRAWLERS.. to Canada You will have to get them when you get there or arrange for them with the lodge.
I highly recommend the MND Lures spinners. The Fishin.com Walleye Tour used them up on Lake Erie and we caught some AWESOME walleye with them. They have Dakota Spinners on them and work really well at slower speeds.
http://www.mndlures.com
Tell them Jim Dicken told you to call for some double hook walleye rigs, with RED hooks.
Get them in White, Yellow and Sunfish color..
You can also get them with 3 hooks which I prefer but 2 is plenty if yu want to keep the cost down.
I also suggest that you try some of the new MEPPS jigs in yellow. They are making a new weedless twister tail that is excellent for this .. a membrane comes up to hide the hook and protect it till a fish hits it.
Also long profile crank baits.. call Stephen at Dale Hollow One Stop and order from him. He has some terrific Walleye Cranks that he uses on Dale Hollow Lake.
Jim Dicken
Editor Fishin.com

[wtucker]

When did they change the night crawler rule? As of last year, we took them in by the flat.

[WIZARD]

Unless the law has bee changed since September, you can bring crawlers into Canada. The only requirement is that they be in a sterile commercial bedding. I take crawlers in twice a year and when we go through Customs, we declare that "we have crawlers in commercial bedding" and they say thank you. You cannot bring leeches or minnows into Canada.

Wizard

[GeoFisher]

Checkout my website.......

http://www.geofisher.com

Lots of stuff about smallie and walleye fishing up there.

My first few years were walleye fishing trips.......the last couple not as much, but still there are ideas, and hints about all.

Later,

Geo

[thompmd]

What lake are you going to in Canada? We go every year in June and year in/out it doesn't get any more basic than a simple jig/minnow. We have hired a guide to take us out and learn a little and that's what he always uses. I will be the 1st to admit that we are not walleye fishermen but can catch them. The other thing we have done the past couple of years is to fish the weed edges pitching the jig/minnow in the holes and have been able to catch our limit to bring home.(but remember that is only 8 fish total). The vast majority of anglers up north use live bait(minnows,leeches,crawlers and all work do don't be afraid to experiement).

A couple of things have surprised me about the walleyes is how close you can get to them and not spook them in shallow water as mentioned above we literally were fishing in 4-5' of water and not 10-15' from the boat on flat water? The other thing that is different from how we fish locally is how deep they catch their walleyes. It is not uncommon to catch them in 30-40' of water.

The other thing I would suggest would be a couple of websites. walleyecentral.com(look under the message board and canada forum) and witchbay.com(under fishing reports). We go to LOTW and in July the likely place to find numbers of fish are on deep structure(humps,rockpiles,etc)and especially fish the windy islands/shorelines.

If you can tell me what lake(s) you are going to I think I can get you some more information. Sorry to ramble but it is early.

As far as tackle we use spinning tackle and 6-10lb line and a medium light rod. Don't make it too complicated and spend a fortune buying special rigs/baits and you will do fine.

beautiful country and lots of fish. I'm happy to discuss anytime.

[yogio]

Light to medium rods and reels with 1/4-1/8 oz jigheads with grubs and twisty tails is all you need...white and chartreuse is best. You can tip with a minnow or leach if desired. We flew in to northern ontario and fished mainly at the bottom of where rivers pour into the lakes and caught plenty, but had to break off and retie plenty as well. We did not use wire leaders except when targeting pike.I find the walleys excellant eating fish, but poor fish as far as sport goes. Good luck and take a camera.

[PRO V LE]

Do not forget that you now need a passport if you do'nt have one :-)

[thompmd]

I am not sure about the passport but I believe it depends on how/when you are going or returning to the US. I know for us we will not need a passport until our June 08 trip and not our June 07 trip and we are driving.

[WIZARD]

Pass ports will be required for air and water travelers effective 2007, and for land travelers effective 1-1-2008. Having a pass port now does get you through Customs coming back into the States quicker than just the drivers license.

Wizard