Fish are scattered throughout the system and may be found in deep holes and runs and shallower flats. Match your technique to the water depth. Trolling works best on the flats. Jig in the deeper runs and holes.

For live bait, tackle and licenses, call Gamm Hardware at (989) 695-5741 or the Gander Mountain store at (989) 791-3500.

Lake Erie
"The year 2007 was a super fantastic year on Lake Erie," Lake Erie Management Unit fisheries biologist Jeff Braunscheidel chirped. "The 2003 year-class had the best walleye reproduction year we've ever seen and we're still reaping the benefits of that great hatch."

Braunscheidel said fry survival depends on a complex mix of interrelated weather conditions, including water temperature, ice cover and wind speed.

Everything seemed to click in 2003, as ideal spawning conditions coincided with a sharp decline in the alewife population.

"Alewives prey on walleye fry, so their absence along with ideal climatic conditions insured better survival," Braunscheidel said.

Those walleyes reached legal size in 2006 and anglers enjoyed a banner year. Last year, they were even bigger, averaging 17 to 19 inches, and bag limits were the norm.

"There's still a good population of walleyes out there," Braunscheidel said. "Even though there's been some harvest and mortality and we haven't seen another really good year-class since 2003, there should still be good numbers of larger walleyes in the lake this year."

After spawning, walleyes school in the shallow Michigan waters of the lake until late June or early July and then swim to Ohio waters, so most anglers take the precaution of buying an Ohio license, too. Limits differ from state to state and year to year, so check the current fishing regulations.

Anglers will find excellent walleye action in Michigan waters at Bolles Harbor, Luna Pier, Sterling State Park and Monroe in spring and early summer. The 'eyes are caught by trollers and anglers drifting, although trolling is steadily gaining in popularity. Anglers pull crawler harnesses, crankbaits, and in recent years, spoons. Try the 12- to 18-foot depths off Stony Point, in Brest Bay and the mouth of the Raisin River at buoy No. 1. Boats may be launched at Pointe Mouillee, Erie Metro Park, Sterling State Park, Bolles Harbor and Luna Pier and Hieldenburg Park on the Raisin River.