Rice Lake Wallleye

By Ivo & Annie Zulian… For many experienced anglers, Rice Lake is well known as the best lake in southern Ontario for catching Walleye spring, summer and fall. Rice Lake is an Eutrophic Lake, which means it is very fertile and supports a large population of Walleye, and other sportfish. The key to finding Walleye in Rice Lake is understanding light penetration.

Light penetration is the NUMBER ONE FACTOR determining the location of Walleye. It will cause them to move out of an area that has optimum temperature and where baitfish are plentiful. To catch Walleye consistently you must react to the light conditions and water clarity that affect light penetration.

In May, post-spawn Walleye must begin to feed heavily.  Predator and baitfish alike are attracted to shallow water at this time of year because it holds the water temperature they prefer. In an Eutrophic lake the water is clear at this time of year resulting in light penetration, but because the sun1s rays are angled in the spring the light penetration is not intense. Abundant weed growth also helps to keep the Walleye and baitfish in shallow water, and active all day long.

During the hot summer months many people expect to find Walleye in deep water, but this is not the case in an Eutrophic Lake. Heavy algae bloom, and dying weeds will cause low oxygen levels in the deeper water, and the Walleye will stay in the shallows. They are comfortable there because the algae bloom has minimized light penetration.  Walleye are feeding heavily because their metabolism is dictated by the higher water temperature. The main problem in an Eutrophic lake is that baitfish are so plentiful in summer a Walleye does not have to constantly roam for food. Indeed, a few minutes may be all it takes for a fish to complete its feeding for the day.

Many anglers think that because the water is so shallow in an Eutrophic lake that the Walleye will only be feeding at night, however this could be a mistake. Walleye are sight feeders. To see its prey in a lake with heavy algae bloom a Walleye must feed during the day. Even low light conditions may not provide enough light. You may have to fish during the sun’s brightest light, and often your most successful fishing will be at midday. Walleye will key on areas that have green weed growth providing oxygenation. If there is no green weed, check creek or current areas that allow the water to mix, increasing the oxygen levels and moderating the water temperature.

In autumn an Eutrophic lake goes through a quick turnover that affects the fish very little. Walleye can be found roaming the shallows in search of food, due to dwindling baitfish numbers. When the shallows become cooler than the depths, the fish will locate on a drop-off or even in a shallow depression if no definite break exists. On warm, sunny days these breakline fish will again venture  onto shallow flats to feed. Keep in mind that with the cooler temperatures there will no longer be heavy algae bloom and the water will be clear, as in the spring.

Your tackle selection for fishing shallow water Walleye will be predominantly a medium to heavy action spinning outfit, with light, 6 to 10 lb. test monofilament line. We also like to keep a medium to heavy action bait casting outfit available when fishing Rice Lake’s dense weed growth, rigged with 14 lb. test monofilament.

Number one on the list of lures in all conditions are jigs. Plain jigs rigged with assorted plastics or hair jigs in the 1/8th to 1/2 ounce sizes will be useful in almost all situations. Remember that a shallow water fish that is feeding moves quickly as a reaction to a possible meal, so moving the bait quickly is best both in clear water in low light conditions, or all day long in murky water. As light increases you will have to slow the bait down because the Walleye becomes unlikely to chase a bait down and are holding tight to cover. Keeping a bait in front of them longer becomes important. Use larger jigs in the spring to mimic the size of the baitfish available to the Walleye.  Colours of preference include reds, yellows, and greens.

Crankbaits are very effective, and as a general rule, the murkier the water the brighter and noisier the crankbait should be. Walleye in lakes with heavy algae bloom are relying on their lateral line sense to bring them to the bait so a crankbait with a lot of vibration and a rattle is indicated.  Spinnerbaits can also work well in murky water.  Try slow rolling one that has large blades for plenty of vibration. Fish your lures more slowly in murky water so that the Walleye have no trouble finding it. If the water is clear use natural colours and you may eliminate the rattle.

Large, slow falling bass jigs, can be deadly for shallow water Walleye in dense weed, or in very murky water. Yes, I1m talking about a jig n1pig, or a large Texas rigged worm.  Make sure you include a rattle in all cases so the Walleye can locate the bait more easily. This is a technique we use to fish bass on weed flats, but it is also effective for Walleye and the fish caught on these baits are usually large. This is the technique the baitcasting rod is best suited to.

Proper boat control is essential for fishing Walleye in shallow water. Too much of a disturbance from a boat can make Walleye wary. Methods include drifting, which is quiet and doesn1t require long casts. If conditions are very windy a drift sock is beneficial in slowing down your speed so you may fish effectively. An electric trolling motor is the most effective method of boat control. However, in very dense weed in shallow water, or indeed, in very shallow water without weed, the electric may cause some noise and spook fish. Back trolling and forward trolling are both methods used often for fishing Walleye. These methods are difficult to use in dense weed and are more suited to locating Walleye that may be scattered on the outside of deeper weedlines at night or during low light conditions.

Learn to use the light to your advantage when fishing for Walleye. I’m sure you will find, as we have, that Rice Lake is the best Walleye lake in Ontario.

Swiss Walleye Fillets

1 1/2 pounds walleye fillets
salt and pepper
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp. dill
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup bread crumbs
1/3 swiss cheese, finely grated

Sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine parsley, dill, garlic powder and melted butter. Add milk, egg and a little salt and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Dip fillets in egg mixture then roll to coat in crumb mixture. Place fillets on a well greased baking pan. Drizzle with butter mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serves four. Enjoy!

Fishing for the Big One!

There are anglers and then there are muskie anglers, a breed unto themselves. Where others chase fish to fill their coolers, muskie anglers chase a living legend and a dream. They live for that unforgettable moment of magic when the greatest of Canada’s freshwater predators clamps its toothy maw over one of their offerings.

Whether you seek the fish of a lifetime or the time of your life, the fish-rich waters of Ontario are among the crown jewels of North America’s best muskie habitat. With careful stewardship and a firm belief in the importance of catch-and-release techniques, they just keep getting better with every passing season.

Peak times to catch muskie are when seasons open in June and again from early September through until almost freeze-up. Although muskie are often caught in July and August, action usually peaks during periods when waters are cooler and boating activity less hectic. Cool water also enhances survival rates of released fish.

Catch & Release Ethic Commit to a complete catch-and-release philosophy, protect the muskellunge for future generations.

Each of the three regions– Northwestern Ontario, Georgian Bay/Lake Nipissing, and Kawartha Lakes – offers its own variety of angling opportunities. All of the operators listed on provide quality accommodations, boats, and often guides and are dedicated to the conservation ethic of catch and release.

Right Tackle & Equipment Essential
Essential gear includes polarizing sunglasses, sunscreen, a camera, a soft 60-inch tape measure, and all-weather clothing that can be shed as the day warms or donned in the chill of a cool afternoon breeze.

Basic tackle requirements consist of a pair of casting rods with quality reels. A 6-foot heavy-action rod, matched with a casting reel loaded with 25-pound test low-stretch Dacron or heavy monofilament, can do dual duty for trolling big lures and casting jerkbaits. A second 6-foot or longer medium-heavy casting rod, matched with a casting reel holding 20-pound or stronger quality monofilament, can be used for working surface lures, bucktails, and most crankbaits. Carry spare hooks to replace snipped trebles, extra leaders in 12- to 18-inch lengths, and a release kit with bolt cutters and longnosed pliers.

Although each area has its own favourite lures, a selection for a top-to-bottom approach allows for maximum versatility. A well-stocked muskie tackle box has surface lures, jerkbaits, in-line bucktails, spinnerbaits, a selection of oversized crankbaits that work a variety of depths from 6 feet down to 25 feet, and a few 1-ounce or larger bucktail jigs that can be rigged with big soft-plastic creatures. Trust the advice of your guide.

A Fishing Experience Like No Other
If ever a fish had the qualifications for greatness, it’s the muskie. The waters it inhabits are open to everyone. It has a penchant for aerial acrobatics and is fabled as one of the most unpredictable of all gamefish, particularly when it latches on to the end of your line. It sports row upon row of razor-sharp teeth and a pair of evil eyes with a gaze that can send chills up and down the spine of even the toughest of anglers. Combine all this with an elusiveness that sees one good angler boat dozens in a year and another, just as capable, die fishless after a life-long quest, and you have the qualities that make this uncommon fish our greatest angling prize.

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