Week #1: May 11-May 18, 2026

Week #1 5/11-518

Water temps: 48-50 (maybe 51/52 in shallow bays with not much wind)

It’s been a slow start to the 2026 walleye season that’s for sure! All of our fish, which isn’t a ton, are coming in the deep holes and they aren’t aggressive biters.

Our main tactic right now is rigging or jigging the deep holes in 28-40’ of water. The holes that are loaded with fish have all been 10-12” class fish with some random bigger eaters mixed in. The holes with far less marks are the nicer quality eaters and bigger slot fish.

Dragging a lindy .3 mph with the nicest minnows you can get has been key. Rainbows and bigger style minnows have produced better fish but fatheads are catching enough to make them worth while. When jigging, our nicer fish have came dragging the jig on bottom or pounding the bottom with it, only a couple have been aggressive biters and eaten when jigging up off bottom.

There are some fish shallow. Not a lot, but some and they are very scattered. They are nicer fish by far but they are few and far between and hard to find. I imagine this is because of the cold conditions we have had. Probably the coldest month of May I have experienced yet and it’s showing in the bite.

However, there’s warmer days in the forecast and I think once it hits, the bite will be as good as it’s ever been. The few nice days we have had so far this season the bite has been great so I imagine it’ll be more of the same once the nice weather arrives!

Remaining openings for June! Only one morning before June 17 so if you’ve been thinking about a trip now is the time to book! The bite is only going to get better from here on out!

3 AM/PM

9 PM

10 PM

15 PM

17 AM

18 AM/PM

22-25 AM/PM

29 AM/PM

30 AM/PM

July and August dates are already starting to book as well. Getting on the books early is never a bad thing! Lock in your dates today for the amazing late summer bite as well as the always fun lead core bite in August. Call or text anytime (218) 404-9200 or book directly online at fishingwithz.com!

As always, tight lines!

Z