By Steve Weisman
Well, ready or not, here it comes: the 42nd annual Walleye Opener! It’s one of those special HAPPENINGS, you know an event that brings people together year after year after year! In 2023, nearly 2000 anglers entered the walleye contest vying for the chance to catch one of the tagged walleyes. Part of the proceeds from those entries helped fund various projects directly related to angling in the Iowa Great Lakes area.
Lat year that amount came to $20,000 and was distributed to the following groups: the Center Lake Improvement and Protective Association, the East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation, the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club, the Okoboji Protective Association and the Spirit Lake Protective Association. Organizers hope to be able to award more than that in 2024.
A look back
The weather for fishing the 2023 opener could not have been any better, and the night bite for boat trollers turned out to be unbelievable, a walleye smackdown! For the most part, the walleyes were closed mouth during the day, but it was incredible after dark. At 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, things went crazy. Limits of walleyes up to the 19” – 25” slot were taken on both Big Spirit Lake and West Lake Okoboji. Of course, slot fish had to be released.
The best bite, however, occurred on Big Spirit, with anglers trolling crankbaits in 8-9’ of water using #4 and #5 Flicker Shads, Berkley Hit Sticks and #4 Salmos. In visiting with anglers, they worked different colors and adjusted cranking speed until the walleyes cooperated. It was nothing for boats to catch and release 20-30 and even 50 slot fish (19-25”) in the first four hours of legal fishing.
Saturday and Sunday nights were also good. That nighttime bite continued even after the opening weekend.
How about 2024?
Well, if the gill netting is a foreshadowing, 2024 could once again be a banner walleye opener. A total of 585 females were caught, along with 277 males. That’s 862 walleyes in basically two nights with only two boats used. I saw a lot of them in the hatchery, and they were fat footballs. In great shape.
So, the potential is there…but for great night fishing to happen, we must get Mother Nature to cooperate like she did in 2023. Extended forecasts for the opener weekend are for temperatures to be mild with chances of rain showers Friday night and northwest winds from 15-25 mph on Friday night and 10-20 on Saturday evening.
So, it won’t be as easy as it was in 2023, but that is still doable. It just might put more boats on the same areas. Meanwhile, daytime winds are going to be northwest at 15-25 mph on Saturday with a chance of showers and then switching to west at 10-20 mph Sunday. Now, remember that’s extended forecasts, so they can easily change by the day!
According to Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins, walleye numbers and quality of the age groups are excellent on Big Spirit, West Okoboji and East Okoboji. “Our gill netting was incredible, and the fish were in great shape. We also have good walleye populations at Silver Lake (Lake Park), Storm Lake, Lost Island Lake, Tuttle Lake and Ingham Lake.
Even with the quality numbers, fishing on the Walleye Opener waters will be a challenge. Hawkins explains. “If it’s anything like last year and the results of our gill netting this spring, the walleyes are just not moving into the shallows until late. During gill netting this year, it was around 10:30 p.m. before the bigger fish would move in.”
That held true when the Hatchery personnel netted walleyes for the Walleye Opener tagged fish. Smaller yearling walleyes were around, but the bigger fish didn’t move in until around 10:30 p.m.
Water levels on the rise
It’s been a slow process, but the water levels are rising. After last week’s rainfall, Big Spirit had moved to -4 inches below the spillway. This means there is some water movement, which can be a positive for walleyes and walleye anglers. Meanwhile, the Okobojis were going over the Lower Gar overflow by +4 inches. According to Hawkins, however, the surface water temperatures actually have gone down since the gill netting. This week’s up and down temperatures will most likely make this a problem for the weekend.
The big walleye contest continues
By signing up for the Fish Donkey App, anglers can get into the optional Biggest Walleye Contest (measured by length, photoed and released). In 2023, nearly 100 registered anglers entered with 30 trophy walleyes submitted via the Fish Donkey App. My thought on this is…why not enter? If you’re fishing after dark, the chances are good for catching a big fish. Get the app, follow the instructions and send in your pictures! The cool thing is you can get on the app and see updates.
In 2023, first place went to Karsten Elsen of Milford, with a 27.75 incher worth $435. Second and third place fish were brought in by Dustin Koele of Alton (27”) worth $261 and Drew Laidig of Bettendorf (26.75”).
Another part of the walleye contest is weighing in the heaviest stringer of three walleyes (under 19”). These can be brought in to the baitshops for weighing because they are below the slot.
More than just walleyes
The Opener is more than just fishing for walleyes. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass anglers have been catching some true trophy fish. This last weekend was the Bass Federation’s (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF) State Championship on the Okobojis.
A total of 65 teams fished with 20 teams in the Junior Division and 45 in the Senior Division. A total of 44 teams brought in their 5-bass limit with the largest bass coming in at 7.39 pounds along with another dozen large fish weighing in over 5 pounds. Congrats to director Bob Harris and his crew, the anglers, boat captains, the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club’s volunteers and cooks for the post-tournament meal and all the sponsors!.
At the same time, this time of year, you don’t need a boat to catch big bass. See the photo of West Walz, a sophomore at Spirit Lake High School with the big largemouth bass he caught last week on the shores of Turtle Lake (Crescent Beach).
Likewise, big crappies and bluegills have been taken in the canals and shallow bays. Of course, walleye fishermen will run into a northern from time to time, which means anglers targeting northern pike have a good chance of catching some of those toothy critters. The Grade is always a top place for the bullheads, and I’ve seen some good buckets of them.
For contest entrants, payouts go to the top three placers in the Heaviest Northern Pike Division; top three placers in the Heaviest Stringer of Bullheads (10); top three placers in the Heaviest Stringer of Panfish (5).
(photo submitted) Elle Johnson caught these two big crappies fishing the canals with Hunter Wheatley.
(photo submitted) Wes Walz with a big largemouth bass taken last week from the shore at Turtle Lake (Crescent Beach).
(photo submitted) Yes, the big ‘eyes are out there! Weather conditions will be a huge factor in angling success.
