Ask the Walleye Pro: Scott Steil
Q: People always say that the handliners do better when the water is muddy and the jiggers do better when the water is clear. Why is this? Is this just on rivers or is it true on lakes too?
-Christian L., Southgate, Mich.
A: That has always been a rule of thumb and for the most part is true. As with any type of fishing, there are many instances where it is not true. Muddy water usually means high water and thus increased current. When I am handlining, I do prefer that the water is stained or slightly dirty. In stained or dirty water, the weight and shank are less likely to spook fish before the baits are presented in front of the fish.
When the water is very clean, jigging is usually effective because it offers more of a stealth approach. In clean water, the fish can actually see your presentation very clearly before they decide to bite or not. In really dirty water, fish do not see well and thus rely heavily on sound, vibration and scent. A small crankbait will usually get you that reaction bite you are seeking.
Q: Where is the best water for springtime walleyes?
-Gerry Raschka, Pewaukee, Wis.
A: When I think springtime walleye, I instantly think rivers. The Mississippi River, Fox River, Rainy River and of course the Detroit River are just a few that come to mind right away. As walleyes enter rivers to spawn, they usually are very willing to feed. It is hard to find a better scenario than a high concentration of walleyes that are willing to bite. This is exactly what happens in most rivers in the spring. It is important to practice selective harvest at this time as usually the fish are easy to catch and putting them back allows them to finish the spawn.
Q: What are some of the better walleye lakes in the Richmond/St. Cloud area of central Minnesota?
-Walleyeitch, Melrose, Minn.
A: The area around St. Cloud is in the heart of walleye-fishing country. I live in Richmond, a small town located on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes. The Horseshoe Chain is an excellent walleye fishery year-round. In addition, there are many other lakes within 20 minutes such as Clearwater, Rice, Koronis and Big Birch. Of course, I can’t leave out Mille Lacs. In just over an hour, I can have my boat on Mille Lacs, and it doesn’t get much better than that.
Q: What sort of long-term impact will this VHS disease have on tournament walleye fishing and walleye fishing in general?
-Shawn, Toledo, Ohio
A: I am not an expert on VHS by any means, but the immediate impact is being felt already. The tournament boundaries for the FLW Walleye Tour event on the Detroit River have already been changed. These restrictions could impact the Red Wing qualifier as well. I don’t know what the long-term impact will be, but I tend to believe common sense will prevail, and the federal law will be amended to allow fish from a common body of water to be transported alive across borders. If there is not a change, it could certainly affect tournament site selection in the future.
Q: Why do you always seem to do well on Lake Oahe? What about that particular fishery fits your style? What was your exact presentation at last year’s championship (line, bait type, size and color, depth presented, etc.)?
-Brett C., Rosemount, Minn.
A: I have only fished Lake Oahe two times in my tournament career, but both ended up being successful events for me (third in 2004 and sixth in 2006). I really like Lake Oahe because it is a “slot” venue, meaning you need to target both fish over 20 inches and also fish between 15 and 20 inches. Some days these fish cannot be found together, so having a game plan to target each is a must.
I prefer to work the many deep points Oahe has to offer. Many times that means trolling in depths of 30 to 40 feet. At last year’s championship, I trolled with Berkley’s new Crystal Fireline and leadcore line in order to get the baits down deep. Oahe is a very clean lake, and I believe using the Crystal Fireline from Berkley gave me a competitive advantage. On my leadcore rods, I pulled Glass Shad Raps, and on the Fireline rods, I pulled Reef Runners for the bigger fish. By using both large and small profile baits, I was able to target both the larger and smaller fish needed to be successful in the tournament.
Scott Steil is an up-and-coming walleye pro from Richmond, Minn. Despite being young in age, Steil has qualified for the FLW Walleye Tour Championship in each of the past three seasons. In 2006, he finished seventh in the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year race and sixth at the FLW Walleye Tour Championship. In total, Steil has three top-10 finishes and $63,000 in career FLW Outdoors earnings to his name. Steil’s sponsors include Ranger, Evinrude, Minn Kota, Berkley, Crystal Pierz Marine, Strikemaster, Otter Outdoors and Stone Legacy.