Sandusky River and Maumee River walleye

Western Basin
Walleye: Walleye fishing continues to be excellent for anglers trolling, mostly around the eastern and northern cans of the Camp Perry firing range. Fish have also been caught by jigging on the reefs of the Camp Perry firing range and nearshore around Turtle Creek and Wild Wings. Anglers trolling have been using crankbaits (Rapala Deep Husky Jerks and deep diving Reef Runners) at speeds from 1.0 mph to 1.6 mph; anglers jigging are catching fish on hair jigs and blade baits.
Sandusky River and Maumee River walleye fishing update
MAUMEE RIVER: The river is normal to slightly low at this time and wading to Bluegrass Island is possible; water visibility is limited and water temperature is 56 F. Fishing pressure is high with anglers using all access points; a few limits are being reported and most anglers are catching several fish. Sampling by the DOW has shown a lot of new fish have moved into the river and a few white bass are now showing up. … Anglers are catching fish at all locations at this time.  We are past the peak of the walleye run at this time but there are still large numbers of fish in the river with a fair number of females to present; the fishing will continue to be excellent through the weekend. A few white bass are being seen. Most access areas are now open to anglers, except Buttonwood Park. For the latest updates on Side Cut Park, please check the Toledo Metroparks web page (www.metroparkstoledo.com).  Most anglers are fishing between the Hays and State Street bridges.  We are past the peak of the walleye run but walleye are still in the river; anglers will still be able to catch them for a little while longer. The white bass fishing has started and will continue to get better over the weekend.

Lake Erie walleyes spawn

The early season lake fishermen are there to fish the reef areas for pre-spawn, actively spawning, and post-spawn walleyes. While the river runs get most of the attention, large numbers of Lake Erie walleyes spawn in the lake around the reef complexes.
Catching those fish often requires a different tackle package, approach, and technique than what works on the lake later in spring or in the summer months. Bob Barnhart and a lot of other anglers go “old school” this time of year, breaking out the hair jigs that some might consider museum pieces and fishing vertically.“In many ways, we treat it the same as ice fishing,” he said. “We’re doing everything but standing in the ice, and instead we’re using the boat as the platform.”
That might mean double-anchoring to keep the boat still, using the same flashers that were used a month ago on the ice, and “dead-sticking”   putting the rod in the rod holder and not touching it until it loads up.The tackle arsenal for jigging the reefs closely resembles the best ice fishing gear, with the addition of those hair jigs.The short ice rods have been put away, but the Swedish pimples, jigging lures, and stinger hooks are still in the active rotation, according to Barnhart.
“Those stingers are really important, especially on those short strikes,” the owner of tackle supplier Netcraft said. “Some days, without that stinger hook you can just about forget it.”
The hair jigs of choice for most anglers are purple or purple with chartreuse, either in synthetic or bucktail. Barnhart said the 5/​8 and 3/​4 ounce sizes usually get the bulk of the work.

Mille Lacs Lake

Minnesota's best known walleye fishery got its tightest restrictions ever Wednesday. Anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will be allowed to keep only one walleye daily this season instead of two.
The new regulations will let Mille Lacs sport anglers keep one walleye 19 to 21 inches long, or one more than 28 inches. Last year, Mille Lacs anglers could keep two 18- to 20-inches long or one longer than 28 inches.

The Department of Natural Resources also said an extended night walleye ban will take effect the Monday after the May 9 fishing opener. The ban will extend to Dec. 1.

walleye run

"Some guys are getting them pretty good, and some guys aren't," said Don Drogowski, Morenci, Michigan, on Monday. He was suiting up for a day on the river at Orleans Park with his son, also named Don, who lives in Manitou Lake, Michigan. Orleans Park is frequently cited as having some of the best fishing on the river during the run.
The walleye run occurs when the fish swim into the Maumee from Lake Erie to spawn as the waters warm. The fish can pack the river in the hundreds of thousands, and anglers usually catch tens of thousands of them in the Maumee each year. The first two weeks of April are generally considered the peak time for the run.

Walleye fishing

Walleye fishing can be more productive when water levels drop after a period of runoff. The increased flow triggers walleye to move upstream, and the declining flow helps concentrate them.
Walleyes are not built to swim against a strong current for long periods, so anglers can find them on the edge of eddies, behind boulders or anything that provides a break from current. Anglers also should look for areas of slow current near the bank, especially after sunset.    

Dale Hollow fishing early april

Dale Hollow:  Fishing is great.  Water temperature is 53 degrees;  lake is falling slowly. 
Smallmouth:  Smallmouth fishing is fabulous.  Lots are being caught on jigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits and Alabama rigs while fishing points and flats in 5-to-15 feet of water. 
Largemouth:  Fishing is great.  Lots of fish are being caught on spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and Alabama rigs while fishing pockets and flats in 5-to-10 feet of water.
Crappie:  Fishing is slow.  A few crappie are being caught in the grass while fishing minnows and jigs in 10 feet of water. 

Ice Fishing Book

I don’t have 100% success, but I’m damn close. Even the people I have taught have had incredible success. I recently went ice fishing with a good friend's wife, who had never even been out on the ice before. She caught seven pike on her very first ice fishing trip! So I know what I’m doing. What’s really going to help you, is why I can get this kind of success. That’s what this website is really about. Helping you to get the same success when ice fishing. Like I said earlier, Ice Fishing really started for me about 11 years ago when my Father-In-Law took me out to Moose pond (his favorite ice fishing spot in all of Maine). And this was real ice fishing, no heated shanty, just a hole, and two upside down buckets for our tired butts to sit on. We were out there for almost ten hours, but it seemed like seconds because the fish just seemed to leap out of the ice into his hands. My father-in-law just seemed to understand how the fish would think, and he whispered to me the secret…. “we don’t catch fish….they catch us.”. It was fantastic, my idea of fishing heaven, except for one thing. You see, as easy as my father-in-law made it look, it was still very difficult for me. The fish only seemed to be drawn to his line. He would laugh and just tease me. Ice Fishing Book!

Missouri River

Missouri River Report:Lake Oahe:With ice breaking up along shorelines, ice fishing is on hold for the most part. There are a few spots where extremely cautious ice fishing is possible, though for the most part anglers are putting gear up until weather conditions stabilize.Lake Sharp: The main channel is open water down to Ft. George and while the fish are showing up on screens around bridges, and sandbars, they are not responding to normal presentations at present, a very fluid situation that could change quickly depending upon water discharge or barometer change.Lake Francis Case:The channel in Chamberlain area is open. The boat ramp at south end of Big Bend is open though difficult to access because of low water. Anglers have been catching a few walleye below the dam. Ice fishing has ceased at present.