Photo by Ron Sinfelt

Finding and catching 10-pound-plus walleyes takes a lot of hard work, but your reward could be a wallhanger. We're talking 11-pounders that measure over 30 inches and have canine teeth like a junkyard dog. Everyone loves catching walleyes, especially monster fish. All you have to do is follow some simple rules to make your quest much easier.

First, find the fish. Begin your search when the dead of winter causes a lull in the action for panfish, pike and other species on inland lakes. If you are in search of a trophy walleye, concentrate on the Great Lakes bays or connecting waterways that host spectacular runs of big fish.

Take a look at the Department of Natural Resources' Master Angler Awards list and you will notice the majority of big walleyes come from just a few locations. This is where walleyes grow to large proportions by feeding on alewives, shad, smelt, emerald shiners, chubs and other forage fish found in huge schools.

This abundance of forage is the key to growing lunker walleyes, and Michigan has gained a reputation throughout the country as an ice-fishing honeyhole for trophy fish. The most popular wallhanger walleye waters are Saginaw Bay, the Saginaw River, Lake St. Clair, Muskegon Lake and Little Bay de Noc. Sure, there are many more walleye waters, but why mess with the rest when you can fish the best? Focus your efforts on these hotspots and you will be pleased with the "eye-popping" results.

SAGINAW BAY & RIVER
I can't say enough about the splendid walleye fishing on Saginaw Bay and the Saginaw River. But I'm biased after growing up with the fantastic fishing close to my home. Heck, in a decade of ice-fishing, I've entered five walleyes over 11 pounds in the "Saginaw Shiver On The River Contest," taking first place one year and placing in the top five in three other contests. The bay/river area is my most successful hawg walleye fishing location. I've wet a line in almost every inch of the Saginaw system and know the water intimately.

DNR fisheries biologist Jim Baker from Bay City best described the fantastic fishing.

"Saginaw Bay has a tradition of producing monster walleyes, tipping the scales over the 11-pound mark and limit catches when the weather is ideal and ice forms across the bay," Baker said. "Each year is different. Some winters, the walleye fishing is outstanding -- the best in the entire Midwest. The next winter, ice is precarious and anglers can not get out to the good fishing grounds."

Saginaw professional walleye angler Don Leuenberger fishes Saginaw Bay every day. He has the uncanny ability to find roaming schools and stay on top of hot walleye action.