Quick now, answer this question. Which area lakes or streams should provide the best walleye fishing over Memorial Day weekend?
Would it be Bear Lake, Long Lake or South Lake Leelanau? How about Manistee Lake or Platte Lake? Or Lake Margrethe near Grayling? Perhaps the lower Manistee River between Manistee and Wellston? All are great choices, and any could produce a walleye bite that would satisfy most fishermen.
This is a question I hear often before the holidays. People who head north to catch walleyes want the best possible information. Gas is very expensive, and anglers want to justify their fishing trip expenses. None of us can afford a costly trip only to get skunked although that can and does happen.
No one wants to make a trip for nothing, but any angler worthy of the name, knows there are good and bad fishing days. No amount of solid advice or skill can change the fact that any of us can pick a bad day.
I can offer good data based of solid catch reports but I can't and won't try to second-guess what this spring's goofy weather will bring. The weather may be perfect and it may be like the rest of the spring weather has been: lousy.
Here it is, May 25, and many area residents are still worrying about frost. Three days ago the early morning temperatures were hovering near 30 degrees. We should be in shirt-sleeves rather than winter coats.
It might be easier to narrow it down to what many anglers might consider the two best lakes. Bear Lake at the town with the same name does produce some spectacular walleye action at times, but it usually turns on later in the summer or early fall.
Platte Lake at Honor has been hot the last two or three years, and it produces three or four different year-classes of fish. Walleyes to 12 pounds have been taken here, and that is a huge walleye wherever they are caught. One thing about fishing Platte Lake is it holds some huge channel catfish, and they often hit trolled crankbaits or crawler harnesses. I know catfish up to 17 pounds were caught from this lake last year, and some were likely larger.
Manistee Lake at Manistee always produces some walleyes, and many of those fish are of Master Angler Award size. The smallmouth bass action often over-shadows the walleye bite. Best bets here are off drop-offs and points.
The lower Manistee River upstream from Manistee Lake is a sleeper. Savvy anglers catch some nice fish but angling success is not consistent. The idea of river fishing does appeal to many people. Fishing a jig and throat latch in deep holes can produce. Most holes are snag-filled but the fish are there.
Could or should Lakes Cadillac or Mitchell at Cadillac be mentioned? Of course, and they also produce some wonderful moments of great walleye sport, but in fairness to everyone involved, over the past several years this question about best-bet walleye lakes has become a toss-up between Long Lake west of Traverse City or South Lake Leelanau near Leland.
Studies on South Lake Leelanau show it has good to excellent natural reproduction, and this news has led to ending a walleye fry plant some years ago. The lake has plenty of walleyes, and doesn't need more. Walleyes are available in several year classes, and angler success is very good although other lakes consistently produce larger fish.
Zebra mussels have filtered into South Lake Leelanau's water, and the improved clarity means anglers should fish with lighter line and troll bait rigs or lures farther behind the boat. Walleyes in the 15- to 18-inch size are common, and South Lake Leelanau produces more walleyes than the water north of the narrows. However, it should be noted that some larger walleyes are caught in the deeper waters of North Lake Leelanau.
Good structure and habitat is present for walleye numbers even though many Lake Leelanau residents feel bluegill and perch numbers are down because of possible northern pike and walleye depredation. Department of Natural Resources studies have been conducted to assess the population numbers of both ends of the lake. The DNR feels there are enough walleyes, and no plants are required until research decides they may be needed.
It should be stated that both the North and South portions of Lake Leelanau have walleyes and other game fish species. South Lake Leelanau has 5,370 acres while North Lake Leelanau has 2,950 acres. Bottom structure is as different as night and day between the two ends, and the North Arm has the more complicated structure for anglers to fish.
Past creel census figures indicate that July and August may be the best fishing months although it's arguable that those months also have the greatest angling pressure. Some walleyes of seven pounds have been caught from both ends of the lake but big walleyes are relatively scarce.
Walleye hotspots on the south end are in the 15- to 20-foot depths from Gordon's Point north on the east side of the lake, and in the same depths in Perrin's and Weisler's bays at the south end. Try fishing just south of the boat launch on the west side of the lake. Look for walleyes in the 12- to 20-foot depths in North Lake Leelanau near the boat launch site at the southwest end of the lake, south and west of the boat launch site near the Leland River and in the bay between Brady's and Cemetary points.
Trolling nightcrawler harnesses or crankbaits behind in-line planer boards produce most of the fish. However, my decided preference is to cast minnow-pr leech-tipped jigs along structure, and some good success has been had casting crankbaits along the drop-offs as well. Note that leeches work well for summer walleyes, and bait seems to out-produce lures in both lakes.
Long Lake in Grand Traverse County is another genuine hotspot. At 2,860 acres, it offers excellent walleye structure. For years, this lake had a reputation for producing only small marble-eyes, but more recently, it has delivered some seven-pound fish although the average fish caught is much closer to two or three pounds.
Two boat launches, one at Gilbert Park and another off Crescent Shore Road (both on the west side of the lake) offer reasonably easy access. Of the two, my preference is Gilbert Park even though it's necessary to back the towing vehicle and boat trailer across West Long Lake Road and down a ramp to the water. One person should stand out in the road to provide extra warning to oncoming vehicles.
Long Lake is filled with great walleye structure. Look for walleyes on the big 30-foot-deep flats at the south end of the lake. Three hotspots exist near South Island (directly south of, directly north of and northwest of the island). Check the 15- to 25-foot depths off the big point east of Gilbert's Park. Another 20- to 30-foot-deep flat is found northeast of Gilbert's Park launch ramp. Still another walleye flat is in 15 to 25 feet of water directly east of Long Island. All can be good producers at times, and deserve fishing time.
Although Long Lake is built up more than South Lake Leelanau, the changing bottom structure makes it far more exciting to fish and offers the prospect of some bigger fish. The scenery with the islands (all are private) breaks up the monotony of a smooth lake surface.
Nightcrawler harnesses trolled slowly along bottom are very productive. Orange or gold spinner blades work well, and some trollers favor Hot-N-Tots or Wiggle Warts trolled off in-line planer boards. Be warned, however, that Long Lake is very popular among anglers and boaters. It can be a complete madhouse on weekends and from 6-9 p.m. during the week, and if you dislike personal watercraft and speedboats, an angler may choose to skip this lake and experiment with Bear Lake, or other lakes which are not as popular.
So, again, the big question: which lake is best? My nod goes to South Lake Leelanau for sheer fish numbers and the odd chance for a bigger fish. Long Lake wins, hands-down, because of the islands and the different bottom structure.
Anglers can find great sport in both lakes, but do not overlook the other lakes. Although they may not have been covered in detail, all could serve as a back-up for Long Lake or South Lake Leelanau. All of them have attractive features, but I'd try any of them early in the morning or just before dark.
The walleye fishing is usually best at low-light periods, and it eliminates competing with personal watercraft and high-speed boats. And, if you fish at night, leave your running lights on. It's the law and may help keep you safe.
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