I’d like to take a week long fishing trip for Walleye and really want to be able to maximize my time on the water - if you had to choose the best time of the year for the best catch - what would it be?

I fish for Walleye year round, but assuming you’re not planning on doing any ice-fishing, I’d have to choose the fall.  I do believe the chance to catch the biggest Walleyes are better when they’re feeding up for winter.  When you’re planning your trip, depending on how far you’re willing to travel, you’ll want to do your research.  Is your goal to catch a lot of fish or are you trying for a trophy fish?  Making that decision first will help you narrow down your location of choice.  If you want to catch a lot of fish, you’ll want to choose a lake or river that is known for a high Walleye population.  In these areas, though - your average catch will probably be around three pounds.  When I plan on bringing in a lot of fish and the location can support it, I’ll drift and troll a Fire-ball jig with a minnow no larger than 3 inches.  If your goal is the really big Walleye, you want to select a lake that might not have as many but is known for producing the big guys.  A deep clear lake is going to be your best bet.  You can still use the Fire-ball but you’ll want to add a larger minnow.  You may also want to try a Roach Rig with a good sized minnow as well.   If you’re going to be fishing at night, you’ll want to be trolling with crankbaits which is the way the pros fish.  Look for schools of whitefish when you’re trying to find the big Walleye, they prefer larger baitfish.