Q: I live on Lake St. Clair. I’m wondering where to target late fall walleyes here. What type of bait should I use and what type of structure should I look for? Any other tips would be appreciated too. I do OK in the spring, but I keep coming up short in the fall.
-Kevin Womack, New Baltimore, Mich.
A: Unfortunately I am not very familiar with Lake St. Clair and due to the lake’s unique features I can only give you general information. Some of the best places to look for walleyes in the fall would be places close to where they spawn in the spring. For example, I’d start by looking at any of the tributaries that may run into St. Clair. More than likely if the tributary has any flow, walleyes probably use it for spawning in the spring. Rocky or gravelly reefs are also a good bet. As the water cools in the fall, the fish will head towards these spawning grounds. As far as lure choices go, I prefer large 
crankbaits. I like large cranks because the forage this time of the year has had all summer to grow and the fish are trying to build up reserves to carry them through the winter. Crankbaits are also good because this time of the year the walleyes tend to be scattered and covering water is important.
Q: I attended the weigh-in the first and second days of the 2007 Walleye Tour Championship in Cleveland. On day two, I watched from my office window as Mother Nature sent waves crashing over the 8-foot break wall that protects the Cleveland Harbor. My first love is bass fishing and my 15-foot aluminum bass boat gets me where I need to be to do that. However, if there are walleyes inside the break wall that I can reach I’d love to give it a shot. I’d appreciate as much detail as you feel comfortable with as I really don’t know much about catching walleyes. Thank you very much and I enjoyed seeing the pros here in Cleveland. (Editor’s note: This question was originally posed to pro Jeff Ryan, but Allar also qualified for the championship and stayed inside the break wall on day two.)
-Anthony Alonge, Cleveland, Ohio
A: On day two of the championship there were some fish caught behind the break wall. The fish that were caught came on bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses in about 15 feet of water trolling along the break on the south rip-rapped shoreline at about 1 mph. As far as spinner size and colors are concerned, it would be hard to go wrong with a No. 3 or No. 4 hammered brass Colorado blade. For a bottom bouncer I would use a 1-ounce at about 30 feet behind a board for the above conditions.
Q: How do high gas prices impact the professional walleye fishing industry? It can’t be easy 
on the fishermen considering boats and trucks consume a lot of fuel.
-Larry Smith, Mankato, Minn.
A: This question has also been on my mind. I think that high gas prices will have a small affect on participation in walleye tournaments. For example, if gas went to $4.00 a gallon from its current price it would cost about $300 more on average per tournament to fish. Even though this seems like a lot, in the big picture it is only about a 10 percent increase of the total expense of a major fishing tournament. Fortunately motor manufacturers have made their products more fuel efficient over the last decade. The Yamaha four-stroke line up, in particular, is incredibly quiet and fuel efficient. Hopefully we will never see $4.00 gas, but if we do, it will also force motor manufacturers to work on fuel efficiency even harder.
Q: Where can I get one of those reels with a counter on it? I’ve seen the pros use them for precision trolling, but I’ve never seen them in stores. Thanks.
-Matt, Eagle River, Wis.
A: I would suggest that you stop by a Cabela’s or Gander Mountain. The employees in the fishing department should be able to help you select a reel that fits the type of trolling you intend to do. Another option would be to order them through the Cabela’s Web site. When you find the right page, you will be amazed at all of your choices. Prices will range from $50 to $150. Personally, I have been impressed with Abu Garcia’s Ambassadeur line counter series.
Q: I understand the 2007 Walleye Tour schedule is basically complete with the exception of the Minnesota event. Where would you like to have the tournament be held and why?
-John N., Bemidji, Minn.
A: I would like the tournament to be held on the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin in Red Wing, Minn. The reason is that this is home to me but also you can catch fish using a variety of techniques. The rumors I have been hearing are Cass Lake or Lake Mille Lacs. Given the choice I would choose Mille Lacs because of the size of the lake. I am not sure if Cass is big enough for 150-boat tournament. I think we may end up with a lot of fishing pressure in small areas. (Editor’s note: The 2008 Walleye Tour schedule has since been officially announced. The third stop of the season will be held on Cass Lake in Cass Lake, Minn. In addition to Cass Lake, anglers can connect to adjacent Big Wolf, Pike Bay, Lake Andrusia and Kitchi Lake. To see the schedule in its entirety click here.)
Scott Allar is one of the most accomplished walleye pros in the business. When it comes to catching walleyes on river systems, perhaps no angler does it better. Allar has accumulated over $290,000 on the FLW Walleye Tour alone. He also has seven top-10 finishes and has consistently placed near the top of the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points race. At the 2006 FLW Walleye Tour Championship on Lake Oahe, the Welch, Minn., pro finished second, earning a $75,000 purse. In addition to his FLW Outdoors success, Allar has claimed victory on the Master’s Walleye Circuit and has won several local tournaments on his home waters of the Mississippi River. His sponsors include Ranger Boats, Yamaha and Berkley.