Once a particular cove area or large flats has been selected, consider
this a miniature Lake Michigan for the day. Coves contained small
sections towards the back that are similar to larger riverbeds. This
can provide a healthy stock of walleye fish at times. During spawning
season, search this area as the waters tend to be on the shallow side.
Walleye prefer shallow waters to spawn in for early spring.
Approach
With a certain cove area pinpointed, it is now time to move in for the
kill.
Start by moving into a small area of brush or rock piles. Start in the
back portion of the cove. Move through this area in a sort of zig-zag
motion to reach the shallow areas of the cove. Continue moving forward
approaching medium to deep water depths in spots. Leave the cove in the
reverse order by focusing on the middle sections as opposed to the
shoreline.
Going through this methodical process will help determine the best
sections of a particular cove to focus on for walleye. A review of the
cove area should pinpoint the location of walleye either in the
outside, the middle or the back areas of the cove. As the day
progresses, the walleye will more than likely move to various parts of
this section.
Take mental notes on where they are striking and what structures they
are hanging around to define a pattern for the remainder of the
day. Keep in mind that walleye move to different water depth
levels during the day. In the early hours and towards the end of the
day, they prefer shallow to medium depths for feeding activities. In
the middle of the day is when walleye tend to hang out in the medium to
deep water depths. Be prepared to adjust fishing depths accordingly for
the most walleye success.
Conclusion
An essential key to fishing walleye in Lake Michigan is information.
Knowing the lake region like the back of the hand is the best way to
lure walleye out of their hiding spots. Match bait selections to what
the walleye like best, crayfish movement, and the cooler should be full
by the end of the day.
To get the full "Walleye Fishing on Lake Michigan" article you'll need to download it here.
