The Spin on Early Season Walleye in Ontario

"With so many variables at play in the spring, we need as many arrows as possible stuffed into our early-season walleye quiver."

I have never seen a year quite like this one. Depending on where you are walleye fishing in Ontario, the conditions range from early spring to near summer-like. I opened the season in Northwestern Ontario’s Sunset Country on the weekend dodging snowflakes on the boat ride down the lake, while friends in the southern part of the province were fishing in shorts and t-shirts. Talk about a mixed-up gamut.

With so many variables at play in the spring, it is clear that we need as many arrows as possible stuffed into our early season walleye quiver. That is why when I am fishing a new walleye lake that I don’t know well — and often, even one with which I am familiar — I start the day trolling spinner rigs tipped with either minnows or nightcrawlers.  

Pyzer-Walleye-1
Gord Pyzer caught this gorgeous 8-pound walleye on Opening Day digging deep into his bag of early season walleye tricks

I typically favour size 3 and 4 Colorado blades on my early season walleye rigs as they thump and vibrate at the slow speeds I typically troll when the water is icy cold as it was on the weekend. I also like rigs with quick-change clevises that let me experiment over the course of the day switching between different sizes, shapes and colours of blades.

And speaking about colour, I am totally biased toward silver blades — especially hammered — when the water is clear and gold — hammered again — when it is dingy, dark or stained. On the other hand, if I know that the lake I am fishing has a strong yellow perch population — a go-to food source for walleye — I’ll pick a multi-hued blade painted orange, yellow and chartreuse to match the hatch. Regardless of the blade colour, however, I find red and fluorescent orange beads hard to beat.

Pyzer-Walleye-2
Who cares if you’re catching onesies and twosies when they look like this trophy walleye

The reason spinners rigs are so popular with early-season walleye anglers is because they allow you to troll and cover water efficiently, while you search to find a pod or concentration of active fish. I’ll pick a good looking, gentle to moderately sloping boulder and sand shoreline and troll a specific contour like the 10- to 12-foot depth. Then, when I’ve reached the end of my trolling pass, I’ll turn around and come back up the shoreline over the 14- to 16- foot zone.  Systematically working out ever deeper this way — while never taking my eyes off the Helix for signs of fish — is such a simple, fast and efficient way to catch walleye.

Just be aware that on some days — and in some locations — you will never find a concentration or tightly bunched up school. This may sound strange, but these are my favourites areas to troll spinner rigs because most other anglers will take off looking for the proverbial pot of gold and/or greener pastures. But tell me: what is not golden or green about having a one-quarter mile-long stretch of shoreline all to yourself, with several hundred active walleye strung out along it, eager to bite your bait? Who cares if they’re onesies and twosies?

Pyzer-Walleye-3
When you're unsure where the walleye are located, pulling a spinner rig tipped with a minnow or nightcrawler is often the best way to find them

Lastly, two final rigging tips that will ease your headaches. Bottom bouncers are no brainers to get your spinners down and then keep them close to the bottom. Stick with 1-ounce bouncers for 10-foot depths, 2-ounce bouncers for 20-feet of water and half-ounce add-ons to fine-tune the system. And don’t use an overly stiff heavy action rod or a soft flimsy one. This is one time when a 7-foot to 7’6” medium action baitcasting rod is perfect. When you team it with a good 10- to 12-pound test, slightly stretchy monofilament line, you will not rip the hooks out of a single walleye’s mouth when you bring it to the net.

Pyzer-Walleye-4
Don’t troll randomly but rather, systematically cover different deaths until you find the zone in which the walleyes are relating

Now, you may be wondering, what do you do when you’re trolling and every time you come across the point on the scenic island and bang another walleye? Or you see a nice school of fish clustered like grapes on your sonar screen? Well, that is what I stumbled upon on Saturday and I’ll tell you what I did in next week’s post.

Until then, have a great week trolling up walleye in Ontario.

About Gord Pyzer

Gord Pyzer is the fishing editor of Outdoor Canada magazine and field editor of In-Fisherman magazine. He is the co-host of the Real Fishing Radio Show and host of Fish Talk With The Doc.

Recommended Articles

Lake of the Woods

10 Facts You Didn't Know

3 Great Ontario Walleye Destinations

Karl of Extreme Angler recommends must do walleye lakes in Ontario.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Muskies

Muskies are fish of 10,000 casts and are found in large bodies of water in Northwestern Ontario.

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

The Musky Hunter shows you where to land the best musky in Ontario waters.

Top 10 Ice Fishing Lakes

Every kind of fish and experience—Ontario ice fishing is some of the best in the world.

Eagle Lake Island Lodge

A Boat-to Ontario Lodge Experience

Magpie Reservoir

Excellent Drive-to Angling to Hook Big Walleye

Jack's Lake Lodge

The Musky Hunter visits the Kawarthas in hopes of landing a trophy!

20 Years With Fish TV!

Fish TV discusses their favourite Ontario catches

Catching Ontario Walleye

Pro Tips for Bait and Walley Presentations

Bobber-Whacky Magic

Don't Say Good-bye To The Bobber

Pike Aplenty

Fishing for Pike Has Been a Picnic in Northern Ontario This Fall Season

St. Francis Titans

Fishing the Original Muskie Capital of the World

Top 5 Flies for Smallmouth Bass

The inside scoop on bass flies from the hosts of The New Fly Fisher.

Accessible Paradise

Fish Noganosh Park for Monster Pike & Feisty Bass

Fly Fishing for Bass

Northern Ontario is the destination for incredible bass fishing.

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

An Angler’s Perspective on Northern Ontario

Find Your Favourite Fishing Adventure in the North.

Cedar Lake Showdown

Cedar Lake, like so many other Ontario waters, is loaded with muskies.

Lake Nipigon Adventure

Fishing for Lake Trout, Walleye & Pike