Opening Day Is Finally Here!
By Mike Frisch

The opening of the game fish season, commonly referred to as “The Walleye Opener”, is just around the corner. Rather than write a typical opening day story offering tips on where-to and how-to, this is a look at some less-thought-of, but important, topics that can help make opening day a success.

Dress warm

One mistake I’ve seen early season anglers make time and time again is not dressing appropriately. Remember, that even if the weather forecast calls for mild temperatures, water temperatures will still probably be in the 50’s and any wind blowing across that cold water can make what seems to be a pleasant day downright cold.

I prefer to dress in layers for most of my outdoor activities. Layering allows me to take off and put on clothing conveniently when weather conditions change. Recently, I’ve been layering using Cabela’s Polartec clothing and have been impressed with its ability to keep me warm and comfortable. This clothing allows body moisture to pass through, so if I build a bit of a sweat unloading the boat or loading gear into the boat, I don’t have to worry about being cold later.

Be patient at the boat landing

In addition to getting cold, another thing that can be unpleasant on opening day is a busy boat landing. I think it’s sound advice to expect to have crowds at the landings and to be patient, realizing this is a part of opening day, just like busy bait stores and maybe the presence of numerous boats fishing your favorite spots.

One thing that can make the boat landing experience more pleasant for all of us is if we all are adequately prepared before getting in line to unload the boat. That means transferring gear from the vehicle to the boat before it’s your turn to unload, rather than waiting until it’s time to actually drop the boat in. It’s also sound advice to run your motor before the opener so you can help avoid the frustration of an engine that won’t start while you and your party are anxious to fish and so are lots of others waiting in line to land their boats. 

Be versatile

Many dream of opening day and walleye after walleye being hoisted over the boat’s side. However, opening day and all its variables like unstable weather conditions, cold water and crowded fishing spots can make for a tough bite. With that in mind, it can be important to stay versatile in your fishing approach.

Traditional wisdom says the walleyes will be shallow. However, if not, don’t be afraid to try deeper water. I’ve seen more than one good stinger of early season walleyes that came from spots thought of as more traditional summer areas. Also, if the walleyes won’t bite, don’t forget that crappies can be shallow and feeding aggressively. It’s not uncommon for walleye anglers to abandon a tough opening day bite and bail out the trip by finding hungry crappies.

Finding hungry fish is the goal for most opening-day anglers. While knowing where the fish are and how to coax bites is important, some other less-thought-of things can also be important to a successful day. Hopefully I’ve pointed out some things that you can do to make your opening day hassle-free and successful. Here’s hoping we all have a good 2004 opener!