ESCANABA — It is just over a month into walleye season, and the Bays de Noc have shown results comparable to recent years.

Migration patterns fluctuate slightly, but as they follow weather patterns, experienced anglers tend to gauge walleye behaviors and fish accordingly. Specifically, following a warmer winter, walleye might be heading south slightly earlier than usual, but no one doubts that they will return.

Though bait shops do not see as much business as they do in the winter, anglers will be on the water all year, with a number of fishing methods available and a walleye tournament approaching near the end of this month.

Walleye season in the Upper Peninsula differs from elsewhere in the state. The season opens May 15 and closes March 15 — the two months in between allow the fish to return to the rivers where they hatched to spawn.

Come May 15, boat traffic increases noticeably in the rivers and bays as anglers return to the water to target walleye. Sizable walleye runs in the Escanaba and Ford Rivers also result in large numbers of fish in the bay.

Anglers must be aware of state fishing regulations. The minimum size is 15 inches, with a daily possession limit of five. There is a special rule pertaining to Little Bay de Noc that is an exception to general regulations: within the bay — which is defined as north of a line drawn from the Peninsula Point Lighthouse at the end of the Stonington Peninsula to the mouth of the Bark River — no more than one walleye 23-inches or longer is allowed in a daily possession limit.

Jordan Harper, a creel clerk for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, is responsible for collecting data from anglers returning to boat launches in the area. He reports that numbers and trends have been steady the past few years. Referring to the 2023 season so far, he says, “It was and always is a good opener.” He explained that after a couple very successful weeks, the catches start to tail off in early June.

“They (the walleye) start to move out of the head of the bay… They go south toward Green Bay,” he said.

Harper mentioned that telemetry studies show that a significant percentage of the local walleye population go to Green Bay, which is nutrient-rich, in the late summer but return in winter. When the bays freeze over, shanties, trailers, trucks, and snowmobiles flock to the ice. Winter is when it becomes clear that Little Bay de Noc, which freezes more reliably than open water and is therefore ideal for ice fishing, truly did earn its reputation as a walleye capital.

Behind the counter at Bayshore Resort Bait & Tackle in Kipling, Jon Creten, who took over the business seven years ago, relays that current walleye fishing is picking up again after a recent cold snap.

“Since we’ve had this weather warm up over the last few days, we’ve seen the water temperature rise, and the fish are getting active again,” he said.

The most popular bait this time of year? Creten says it’s a tie between crawler harnesses and smaller crank baits like flicker minnows and smaller husky jerks.

Down the road at Blade’s Bait & Tackle, the Bloedorns see similar options selling now, but note that everything cycles through the year, and bait of choice is dependent on which method an angler is using.

“It all depends what the bait fish are doing out there,” says Paul, also known as “Blade.”

Proving the point that patterns change, co-owner Lacy pointed out, “Guys were throwing leeches on bobbers two weeks ago and doing good.”

Currently, seasonal gear and high-end kayaks grace the showroom floor at Blade’s, but the couple is ready to swap out the stock, knowing that winter ice attracts far more anglers to the region.

It is understood that fishing becomes more challenging when summer heat drives the cold-water-dwelling walleye to seek deeper, open waters and when natural prey —  particularly smaller fish such as alewives — enter the picture, giving anglers competition. But summer is not here yet, and walleye fishing is still expected to be good for at least a few more weeks.

The challenge makes for exciting tournaments, like the Bay de Noc Walleye Bash set for June 24. The event begins at the North Shore Boat Launch in Escanaba. Registration is required to enter the tournament and may be done between 6 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. at the boat launch the morning of the event. This is exclusively a boating event.

Teams of one to three participants will receive all of the rules at 6:45 a.m., take off at 7 a.m., and weigh in at Chenier’s Reef at 4 p.m. There will be a barbecue, raffles, and prizes, with proceeds benefiting the Delta County Cancer Alliance. Further information may be obtained by contacting Jerry Plourde at 906-420-0022.