The countdown to the game fishing opener is finally upon us and we’re expecting a good one this year. The ice is gone and the water is waking up. The peepers are out in force, the tree frogs have made their presence known and the loons are back. There’s nothing like hearing their calls over the water for the first time in the Spring! This week’s weather is looking a bit unsettled and cool towards the end, but right now all signs point to a beautiful early May weekend in the Northwoods. The fish have been moving into nice, Spring patterns so regardless, it’s going to be a good weekend.

Water temperatures will depend a lot on the lake and the location. The bigger lakes to the north just lost their ice recently, but the Chain has been open for a while and temps are running in the 50’s there, which is a nice place to be for the opener. If it is a sunny or bright weekend, expect to see plenty of activity in shallow bays and northern shorelines, especially on those cooler lakes.

Heading into the opener, panfish action has been great for anyone anxious to get out before Saturday. Perch are active and anglers are finding them with crappie minnows and fatheads, working both the weed edges and the shallower mud flats. The bluegill are pushing into the protected bays and weed pockets, and a waxie or a worm on a small jig under a slip bobber is a fine choice for targeting them. Crappie are a little more scattered, but we’re now starting to see them moving in, too. Small minnows on a light jig under a slip bobber are working. For all three species, focus on the warmest, most protected water you can find. The north-facing shorelines and the dark, shallow backs of bays will be running warmer than an open basin, and that degree or two makes a real difference this time of year. Calm, sunny evenings are your best window.

Walleye will be the main attraction for the opener this weekend, and many of them will still be on or near their spawning areas along rocky and gravelly shorelines. Good old jigs and fatheads fished slow and shallow will be a great approach. Keep things small and your line as light as you can stomach right now. Evenings will be far more productive than midday and bright-light conditions. Treat them gently – and when you catch a fat female, put her back. She’s doing important work right now.

The Northern have finished their Spring routines and are feeding heavily. They are great for action and will hit anything flashy. They can be an annoyance for the walleye anglers, but they can also provide some great fun on the water.

The big change for this year is that muskie season also opens on the 2nd, and while they may be fishable, we hope they’ll be left alone by anglers for the time being. It’s not an ideal time to fish them anyhow, and we’re hopeful they’re left to their business when they’re shallow – and that they’re handled with care if they’re caught. The change in dates puts targeting them up here right now square in the middle of their typical spawn, and the health of the musky population depends on their reproduction.

All in all, we’re looking at a great opening weekend. If you haven’t already, this is your last chance to prep before Saturday. Make sure your equipment is in good condition, check your line and replace it if it’s been a couple of years, check your boat’s battery and motor, and make sure you’ve got all the essentials in your tackle box. In plenty of years past, we’ve still had ice on our lakes – this year we get a “real” open-water opener. We hope it will be the start of a fantastic season on soft water. Enjoy!

Good luck and good fishin’!