Catching the elusive walleye

I've fished with enough great anglers over the years to notice that they all seem to be able to read water quickly and locate fish. Some anglers, though, just go fishing.

If you want to tap into the walleyes this time of year on South Dakota's glacial lakes, which offer some of the finest walleye water on Earth, learn to read it like a pro, such as Dennis Kassube, a fine all around angler from Big Stone City.

"I look first for inflows because walleyes love current," he told me. "And with all the snow we had up here recently, there's plenty of flowing water. I also concentrate on those areas that might warm quicker. The north shores always get more sun, so I frequently start there, or in a shallow, dark-bottomed bay."

While Kassube will usually start pitching a light jig tipped with a minnow, he's learned through experience that a slow fall on that jig often triggers reluctant fish.

"I slow the fall by bulking up a light jig," he said. "I'm usually casting a 16th ounce jig. And by using a floating plastic worm body, I slow the fall, and I sometimes go to heavier line. Sometimes I even spool up with 8-pound test mono, though it doesn't cast nearly as nicely as thinner lines. But they do sink slower, and a slow fall often gives the fish a good look at the bait."

While jigs will be his first choice, he is not reluctant to cast crankbaits on early walleyes, though he's selective on which baits he uses.

"I like a neutrally buoyant lure such as a Rapala Husky Jerk," he added. I give it two or three cranks of the reel handle and then retrieve it slowly and steadily back to the boat. I have not done well using erratic retrieves in cold water."

The only other neutrally buoyant crank I am aware of is the Salmo Sting, a longtime northern pike favorite of mine, though I think the smaller 3-inch version would work well on walleyes.

Kassube is eagerly awaiting warmer water since it will be accompanied by a smallmouth bass feeding spree.

"That's my favorite fish to catch," he said. "They fight hard, and the glacial lakes produce fish of quality size."

His favorite tactic is the use of small plastic lures such as Berkley Gulp on a light jighead, and he says the key to catching fish is to cast into an area of known depth such as a 5-foot deep warming bay. Kassube counts the lure down beginning as soon as it hits the water. Usually, a count of four will have the plastic bait riding just above the bottom, where he swims it slowly back to the boat; a steady retrieve.

"That will catch smallies, largemouths, walleyes, and sometimes northern pike and crappies," he added.

His favorite lakes?

"Probably Roy, Cattail-Kettle, Clear and Enemy Swim, and what they all have in common is fish of quality size and a good mix of species, including walleyes, small and largemouth bass, pike and panfish that could include bluegills, crappies and perch."

I agree with Kassube on all of the above lakes, though if forced to pick a favorite, I'd opt for Roy, probably because it's where I caught my first large walleyes, and because it might be one of the best bass lakes in the upper Midwest.

Other anglers will head for the Missouri River reservoirs, and Lake Francis Case is currently producing good walleye catches, as is the Fort Thompson area and the Missouri River flowing through Pierre.

Salmon have been on a fair bite in Lake Oahe, though it's not been consistent. One day yields good salmon fishing, though the next might not produce any fish. Problem is, salmon can be comfortable now anywhere from the surface down into deep water.

Tony Dean, an outdoor broadcaster, writes a column every Wednesday for the Argus Leader. Check out his Web site at www.tonydean.com.

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Tony Dean ... Outdoors, Inc. 1013 North Grand Pierre, SD 57501 (605) 224-5104 FAX (605) 224-2977 E-mail for Tony Dean