Ask the Walleye Pro: Eric Olson

Q: What lures do you believe will help catch more walleyes on Devils Lake?

– Jason Svir, Cando, N.D.

A: Jason, Devils Lake is one of my favorite lakes, and I’d love to give you some insight. Devils Lake is such a diverse fishery that most lures will produce fish.

My favorite method is casting crankbaits into the wood. The number of different crankbaits that you can use is as endless as the number of trees on the lake. Some key baits I like to use are the Rapala Husky Jerk and the Rapala Shad Rap. These baits have distinctly different actions and retrieves, but both baits will work very nicely as you slowly retrieve them around, through and over the shoreline and tree structure.

When retrieving, it’s important to always know where your bait is. This is especially important when fishing trees, because fish will run into the cover as soon as they feel the hook. To reduce these types of problems I use 14-pound Berkley Fireline, which lets me control fish that would otherwise be lost with regular monofilament line. Along with the Fireline, I crank down the drag as tight as it will go and use a medium-power, fast-taper rod. The main reason for the medium action is to have some absorption of head shakes and fast turns of the fish that would normally pull out hooks and leave you with nothing but fishing stories. Another reason for the Fireline is the endless pike population in the lake. The fish will frequently follow the bait, so don’t panic and jerk the bait away from the fish.

The second method I like to use is pitching jigs to the trees. If I happen to have several follows on crankbaits without any hookups, I’ll generally switch to a jig tipped with a worm or leech. My jig of choice is the Lindy Veggie-Jig, which is a weedless (and treeless) jig that works best when being slowly retrieved through the wood.

Lastly, I’d recommend looking up a guide in the area if you’re unfamiliar with the lake. One of the best I know of is Jason Mitchell’s guide service out of Woodland Resort. Jason will put you on the fish, but more importantly, he will show you how to fish the trees, a key area in your Devils Lake bag of tricks.

Q: What tips or strategies do you have for an angler who is fishing a lake that he/she knows very little about?

– Jeff Henning, Elk River, Minn.

A: Jeff, that’s a great question, and it’s probably the question that I am most often asked. Usually if I’m going to fish a new lake, I’ll do a little research beforehand, such as checking the Internet for basic information like the type of bite and general ideas on the structure of the lake and forage base.

Visiting local bait shops in the area can also be helpful, as they want you to catch fish, and providing accurate reports is part of what makes their businesses successful. Seeking advice from locals can eliminate significant amounts of water, which is really the key to being successful on a new body of water.

Location, location, location. Where you are and where the fish are don’t always match up. In my opinion, a good map is the best way to take the information you have from your research and plot it on the map. This allows you to locate where the fish are in relation to the nearby structure. The next step is to look for other areas with the similar type of structure, and then take a sort of “milk run” to cover water in search of fish. I feel strongly that the latest mapping chips are a huge time saver, and most have hydrographic contours that show all the paper-map information as well as display your location in the picture.

When I’m looking for fish, I’ll generally rely on my sonar to pinpoint, and then either confirm or reject, the information that I’ve found in my research. Looking for fish is a definite must, but identifying the type of fish isn’t always as easy. Many walleye anglers are now using underwater cameras to check if the arcs on the sonar are walleyes, carp or catfish.

Lastly, at the beginning and end of the day, talk to the people at the launch ramps and see how they did or have done in the past. Introduce yourself respectfully and let them know you are new to the lake, and most people will gladly help you out. Don’t forget to then go back to the map and mark the areas they’ve pointed out to you.

Looking at a new lake as a whole can be a seemingly daunting task, but breaking down the lake into key areas will simplify the situation and make those first trips less stressful and more successful.

Q: I’ve heard from other anglers that walleyes will move into shallow water right before sunset to feed. What structure do these walleyes key on, and what works best for triggering them to bite?

– Chris Chimes, Winter, Wis.

A: Chris, lakes can differ greatly in feeding areas, as one lake may consist of sand and weed structure, while another may be rock and gravel.

In a rocky lake, the types of bottom structure will consist of medium to large boulders. Look for steep drop-offs, as the deep water acts as a security blanket for these shallow-feeding fish. Pitching deep-running shad imitation baits to rocky shorelines or reefs is a fun and successful presentation. Don’t be afraid to lose some baits, as these fish can be in as little as 6 inches of water.

When fishing a lake that primarily consists of sand and weed structure, look to the edge of the weeds (generally about 14 feet on most lakes, depending on water clarity) and begin by trolling crankbaits to locate concentrations of fish. Once you’ve found a school, fish the inside edge of these same weeds with shallow Z-bill Shad Raps, Husky-Jerks or small jigs.

This type of fishing is some of the most exciting and can be productive during all times of the day. Remember, fish like Elmer Fudd (vewwy qwiet), and you could have yourself a livewell full of waskelly walleyes.

Eric Olson has been fishing the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour for the past five years. In 2003, the Red Wing, Minn., native placed in the top 10 two times, including a third-place finish at the Illinois River. In his career, Olson has earned over $56,000 fishing FLW Outdoors tournaments. Proving his consistency, Olson has qualified for the FLW Walleye Championship in each of his five seasons on tour and was the winner of the 2000 MWC World Walleye Championship. Olson’s sponsors include Land O’Lakes, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Shimano, Lindy Fishing Tackle, Minn Kota, Berkley and X-Tools.