BARAGA -- The official walleye opener is Sunday, and Department of Natural Resources officials think it will be a great fishing season.
Anglers out this Sunday will want to focus on larger lakes where the population of walleye will tend to be greater. That is because the DNR was not allowed to stock the fish for the past four years due to the spread of a virus.
As for spawning, the walleye in the southern U.P. started several weeks ahead of walleye in the northern U.P.
"In the more northern areas, they're going to be in shallow water occupying their spawning territories," said George Madison, Western U.P. Fisheries Manager. "In the southern portion of the U.P., the walleye are going to be occupying breaks, drop-offs, river mouths...their pre-summer habitats."
Madison also reminds people to look at the 2011 Michigan Fishing Guide for rule changes which are highlighted in red.