R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press The private marina at Bayshore Bait and Hideaway is shown as it looked on Tuesday. One dock was put in Monday, and the process of adding rub rails to it had begun; the second was poised for setup, which should be complete for the opening of walleye season today. New rocks have been added around the point, and its surface was just leveled.

By R. R. Branstrom

rbranstrom@dailypress.net

KIPLING– Beginning today, anglers will be taking to Upper Peninsula waters to try their luck targeting walleye and pike. Hopes are high about walleye opener, and one local business is working to make their place more attractive to visiting fishing enthusiasts.

The weather seems right for a productive start

to the season. Since the ice was late going out, walleye have recently spawned and are still up at the head of the bay. Later in the season, there will likely be fewer active in Little Bay de Noc as many head out to southern waters.

“From the reports we’ve been getting from a lot of guys who are out there perch fishing, they’re seeing a lot of walleye up by the river mouths and through the bay,” said Jon Creten on Tuesday, working at Bayshore Bait and Hideaway in Kipling. “So I think with the warm weather coming, it’s only going to get better, and the opener should be really good.”

Since the winter of 2023 to 2024 had been so warm, area walleye had spawned early and were no longer near the mouths by last year’s opener, said Keith Soderman, manager at Bayshore.

This week, Monday, the bait shop started to see a noticeable surge of anglers shopping for the current season. In preparation beforehand, Bayshore had been stocking up on crawler harnesses, jig heads, and other tackle appropriate for spring walleye fishing.

Some preferred products at the shop have been Walleye’s Choice harnesses and Wicked Walleye harnesses, Soderman said, but most anglers troll, and a lot use bottom bouncers.

In addition to stocking the store, Bayshore Bait and Hideaway has made improvements to their private marina, which is for the use of guests at the Bayshore’s cabins.

Since their purchase of the Kipling bait shop and cabin rental business a little over a year ago, Chad (C.J.) Meier and Jeff Diebold have been working on upgrading the facilities.

The jetty that shoots out into the bay behind Bayshore had been overgrown; now, freshly trenched and leveled, it makes for an easier walk. Rock was added along the side, and new lighting was installed for the benefit of guests.

The cabins are fully booked right now, and the next month remains pretty full, but rental availability opens up slightly later in the season, Soderman said.

Today and tomorrow should offer success to walleye fisherman, if all goes as expected, but with colder weather this weekend, the fish may hunker down, and “it might be tougher then,” Creten said.

While many anglers are targeting walleye today, some are looking forward to fishing for pike, the season for which opens on the same day. One of those is young Kendrick Soderman, Keith’s son, who was regaling customers at the bait shop with tales of his past catches.