“Our studies have shown that there are more than 460,000 adult walleyes in Little Bay de Noc alone! That’s a lot of walleyes,” Herman stated.

Herman also said the exploitation rate is somewhere around 12 percent, which means that 12 percent of the adult walleye population is caught by anglers each year. Generally, biologists are not the least bit concerned until exploitation rates reach 25 percent.

“The walleye fishing is so good that a lot of guys are giving up their deer hunting so they can just fish,” Herman declared.

A good spot to start the season on Little Bay de Noc is off the river mouths on the north end of the bay where walleyes feed while recuperating from the rigors of spawning. Reefs, rocks and structure off the Rapid, Tacoosh, Days and Whitefish rivers produce good catches right after the May 15 opener through June.

“We really don’t know where the walleyes go throughout the year,” admitted Herman.

A good guess is that some of the walleyes head out into the wide-open expanses of Green Bay to shadow schools of alewives. Herman theorized that schools of midsummer walleyes could be found relating to reefs found off Cedar River.

“If you fished for them, I think you could find them,” Herman said. “The trouble, or opportunity if you will, is that no one does. It’s basically an untapped fishery from Ford River all the way to Menominee.”

Some walleyes stay in the Bays de Noc throughout the year. Productive summer hotspots are off the ore docks near the mouth of the Escanaba River, over the reefs in 18 to 30 feet of water off Stonington and near Portage Point. You can catch the ’eyes then by jigging or trolling.

“Little Bay de Noc is more productive than Big Bay de Noc, but Big Bay has tremendous potential,” Herman said. “The stockings in Big Bay have great survival, and it is definitely an up-and-coming fishery.”

Herman said that one problem, though, is that Big Bay de Noc is farther from the population centers, and with such great fishing on Little Bay de Noc, no one bothers to try Big Bay de Noc.