The Great Lakes and their connecting waters are the perfect example of how big water can produce big fish.

Some of Michigan's best hotspots for trophy walleyes are Great Lakes bays and the rivers that link them, where 'eyes have access to a bountiful food supply, excellent habitat and plenty of room to roam. On the other hand, many of these same waters can produce good numbers of eatin'-sized walleyes, too, and are great places to try if you're just looking to fill the freezer.

All indications point to a banner year on the open waters of the Great Lakes in 2006. Ideal environmental conditions led to a phenomenal walleye hatch in 2002 in many locations. Walleyes that were just short of being legal-sized last season will be plump 16- to 18-inch eaters this year. This will definitely be the year to get some extra peanut oil for the fryer and to stock up on bags for your vacuum sealer.

LAKE ERIE
"I'm expecting the fishing to be phenomenal in 2006," said Lake Erie charter boat skipper Joe Pikulski. "Last year, you had to catch 60 fish to find 10 keepers. This year, those fish are going to be 16 to 18 inches, and the fishing should be fantastic."

Another bonus for Michigan anglers is that the season will be open on Lake Erie during May and June this year due to a regulations change. Some of the best walleye action of the year for Michigan anglers takes place early in the season when the walleyes are in the shallows after the spawn.

Pikulski said action heats up in late May and early June off ports like Luna Pier, Bolles Harbor, Sterling State Park and Monroe. It's only a short run to the 12- to 15-foot depths where late-spring walleyes can be found. Early in the season, slow-trolling with ThunderStick Juniors can be very productive, but as the water clears in June, anglers need to change tactics.

"Lately it's been more of spoon bite in June," declared Pikulski. "As the water has gotten clearer with the zebra mussels, the walleyes have seemed to have become more bottom-orientated."

Pikulski relies on a spread of disc divers run off planer boards. The divers get a 4- to 6-foot lead. Pikulski said that using 12-pound-test and letting them back 70 feet, they dive to 16 feet, thus putting them in front of bottom-hugging walleyes. Small spoons like Michigan Stingers and Fishlanders are the ticket in colors like blueberry muffin, gold/orange and copper. Pikulski supplements his disc-diver spread with regular Dipsey Divers run off the side of the boat from 40 to 60 feet out. With enough anglers, Pikulski said he'll have as many as six divers off each side of the boat. Weekend anglers might better subscribe to the theory that "Less is more."

Ten or 15 years ago, all you had to do was drag a Hot-N-Tot or Wiggle Wart through the water and you could catch your limit of Lake Erie walleyes. Even with all the changes, crankbaits still have their place.