Lake with little structure

[SharkSlayer]

I have this one lake that the Fisheries say is loaded with walleyes. It is Stocked hard and I see few people catching them. Maybe to much baitfish or something.

The lake has large 10' flats that extend 300 yards offshore or more around almost all of the lake. Then there is steep transition down to 30-40ft  main lake basin around the hole lake. It is has 1 large water inlet and 5 tiny streams. There is one point that is classic steep drop to the main lake basin, but few are caught there.

What would you do?

[SharkSlayer]

The one point on the east is where i see tonnes of boats and no fish all summer.
There are shacks there catching jacks burbs whites.

Hope that Helps

How can i get a eye on this lake.

[walleyeslayer1978]

I would fish the transition water out from a bay.  if the flat is ten then set up in 15, 20, 25, drill holes along the drop off. Fish it at dawn and dusk. Throughout the day, try the deeper water. If you wanna fish at night, set up in shallow. We have a lake similar to that here. Full of walleye, but the whole lake is shallow, there is no deep water. the deepest it gets is maybe 14 feet, and the walleye are tough, if not impossible to catch in the winter. Good luck!

[Wiener]

Talk to the fisheries people and see what the main forage is for the Walleye.

Are they feeding in the mud flats on blood worms or chasing shad in the open basin?

When you get a handle on what the fish are using for their main forage, then you can start to eliminate water (or ice) that will be unproductive.


Hope this helps,


Wiener

[SharkSlayer]

I know there is tiny perch in the lake. It is in Northern Canada and we usually sew a few minnows during the summer.

Do you think the North half of the lake would be better because of the major lake inlet and the fact that they may be on their way to spawn??? In a few months.

So If I think they feed on perch should I just find some perch and then fish there at dawn and dusk?
Any better strategies

[Wiener]

Here's my best guess:

I would setup on the first major drop off on the north end of the lake.
especially if I can find Rock or gravel or other structure.  
Drill holes at the base of the dropoff, and up on the flat.   Fish will start hitting deep, and move shallow as the bite continues.
(make sure you've got all you're holes drilled, no need to spook fish drilling more holes after the bite starts)

The main lake basin won't be as good a place to start, because you have a major inlet which provides fresh oxygenated water.
I would setup close to the area(s) that will be used for spawning in spring, but be careful, the ice may be much thinner in these area(s).

The major bites will be dawn, dusk, and throughout the day.  Use Jigging Raps, Salmos etc in perch and glow patterns.
Perch have poor eyesight and will disappear during the hours of darkness, which means walleye feeding will also be limited.
I would also try to find any deep water holes or troughs to fish during the day.

Use hole covers, you don't need open water to "shine" light onto an area that you are trying to fish.

Hope this helps,


Wiener

[CableGuy]

I live in sask and know this lake very well we have a cabin there. The lake is stocked well but receives alot of pressure. It's not un common to see 10 -20 boats ancored in a small area.

I have fished the lake many times all areas of the lake, most of my experiences are in the summer. we have caught lots of pike most of them small but some nice ones have been caught. Out of 5 years of fishing that lake I have only caught on walleye and a very small one at that!

I have always wanted to ice fish the lake but we have done so poorly in the summer i have not bothered to drill any holes in the winter.

Good luck its a tough lake to fish!