The water is warming slowly......

With the early ice out the lakes have no choice but to start warming, but it is happening slowly due to the cold nights we are experiencing. There is under two weeks to go until opening day when we can target walleye again,,,,we are experiencing some very sunny days, temperatures only in the fifties, however the weeds will still start to grow in the shallows. The Eagle River Chain and the smaller lakes such as Boot, Muskellunge, Snipe, Lower Buckatobin, Palmer and even the shallow Lac Vieux Desert should start some coontail "greening" on the northern and eastern shorelines especially because they will be getting the most high sun. These weeds will be only one inch to six inches depending on the lake. A real good choice is going to be the Eagle River Chain. The water is flowing north which means it already ran through the Three Lakes maze of channels, lakes and dams. It has to be some of the warmest water available come the opener.

For walleyes, best bait will be fathead minnows on a 1/16 ounce jig. The fish should be shallow. If the is wind blowing in the weedbed you are fishing, so much the better.

If you are planning to fish the Eagle River Chain, Guides Choice Pro Shop now has a full service bait shop at Boat Sport Marina right on the water. There is no reason to drive to town if you plan to fish the chain. THE BAIT DEPOT AT BOAT SPORT, now offers Licenses, live bait of all kinds, rods, some reels, line winding, it's all available on the water this year.
Tentative opening is May 1st.
The phone number is 715-477-0800 and will become active May 1st.

Good Luck and watch for more posts as the season progresses.

"Ranger" Rick