Adam Steinhilber, Excelsior • 27-inch walleye • Lake of the Woods
(As told by dad, Paul Steinhilber)
"We were blown off Lake of the Woods on opening day because of high winds, so we instead fished the Rainy River and caught smaller fish. But on Sunday, we got out onto Fourmile Bay and had better luck. We used half-ounce jigs with frozen minnows because of the bait shortage, and fished straight down beneath the boat in about 12 feet of water. Adam caught and released this 27-inch walleye. Three of us — Adam, his friend Matt Carlson and I — boated a lot of large fish, including a 31-inch walleye.''
INTO THE FRYING PAN
Casey Bailey of Apple Valley caught this 18-inch walleye on Prior Lake on the fishing opener, using a slip bobber with leech on a red hook. "I was frustrated that I couldn't go up to a northern Minnesota lake due to the late ice-out, but it all worked out. I caught this guy and cooked him up for lunch!''
MINING GOLD
Ernie DeBoer of Minnetonka caught this 13 1/2-pound northern pike while fishing a Cuyuna mine pit lake near Crosby with family and friends, trolling with a cane pole and a bright orange lure. "The fish put up a good fight and gave him a run for his money,'' said daughter Denelle Jensen of Eden Prairie. He released it.