Fishing Frenzy

It can always be said that any day spent fishing in the Great White North of Canada is better than the best day at the office. Who could ask for a better day than being on the lake out casting for those trophy sized Walleyed Pickerel or just even a plain old perch fish. What a life of leisure, relaxation and just plain good old fashioned fun with your family or fishing buddies at your side.

Although often referred to in the sporting and hunting books and magazines as a "Walleyed Pike fish" this creature that our creator perfected for our angling pleasures is none of those what so ever. Massive specimens growing and attaining weights of 9 kg, the average size of most landed are in the 1- 3 pound class - with the the rank average being 1 kg in size and weight. Yet few of these see it back as pickerel fillets or even the more treasured delicacy of "Pickerel Cheeks. You can bet that these land smack dab, promptly in the middle of a hot frying pan or skillet. Poor fish. Yet these are not trophy sized - not yet. The smart Walleye get away for the fisherman to yet be taunted by them.

If there is one type of aquatic and water landscape condition and conditions that Walleye and the Canadian pickerel fish like its cold water living and swimming. Less than 29 degrees Celsius of water temperature is the general rule of thumb. Hence conditions such as in Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin or the vast cooler lakes of Lake Manitoba especially in the Lake Manitoba Narrows regions or the very large Lake Winnipeg inland sea are more than ideal.

Catch one Walleye, odds and experience says that there are plenty of others from the same schooling group just loitering around waiting for you just to tease and taunt them with fresh bait or a bright colored lure or jig. Experienced anglers will teach you that greatest amount of cases that the Walleye and Pickerels hold near the bottom of the lake. Not unlike Goldeye fish and the patterns of landing trophy sized Goldeyes. When fishing at these depths watch your line (or lines if local fishing and game laws and regulations allow), for any lateral or unusual movements and strip. In these cases simply remove or retrieve your fishing line by hand. It seems that Walleye fish take their food very slowly, thus the hook must be set the very moment and second that a fish takes the fly or it will simply reject it.

In the end it can be said that this valued trophy fish - is a boom, a triumph and a bust. Wonderful to catch, great to eat, yet more than amazingly smart and wily. The reputation of the Walleye or its Canadian namesake - the Pickeral is more than just and well earned.