Spottail shiners are the go-to baitfish for many Minnesota walleye anglers from the fishing opener through late May into early June, but supplies have been tight this spring.
Complicating the shortage is a Minnesota DNR requirement that minnow dealers who trap spottail shiners in waters designated as infested with zebra mussels must remove their gear by Monday, May 23.
For me, the walleye has a mystique I find difficult to explain. The appearance is definitely part of it. Walleyes are beautiful fish, and their color varies depending on where you catch them.
Alex Letvin says many lakes in his work area are going through a transition with clearing waters and expanded vegetation. It's a change that naturally benefits fish species like northern pike and largemouth bass. What might that look like for walleye on some of these waters going forward?