text by T.J. Schwanky photo by Glen Hales The Ultimate Fish (part 12) WALLEYE: CALLING LAKE, ALBERTA LOCAL BUZZ You can’t go wrong fishing the lake’s east end, particularly where the Calling River flows in. Note: check local regulations, as the lake is subject to special area closures. GETTING THERE Head north from Edmonton on Highway 2 to Athabasca. Continue north on Highway 813 to Calling Lake Provincial Park, where you’ll find a full-service campground and boat launch. LEARN MORE Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, (780) 944-0313; gov.ab.ca/srd/fw/index.html Travel Alberta, 1-800-252-3782; www1.travelalberta.com BAY OF QUINTE: LOCAL BUZZ Quinte offers good shore fishing for walleye, too. Hot spots include the mouth of the Trenton River, the dock at Wellington and under the bridge in Belleville. GETTING THERE Picton is the favoured launching spot. To get there, take Highway 62 south from Belleville, then Highway 33 east to Picton. LEARN MORE Ontario East Tourism Association, 1-800-567-3278; realontario.ca/pages/home.asp Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1-800-667-1940; gov.on.ca/mnr/fwmenu.html LAKE DIEFENBAKER: LOCAL BUZZ Should high winds keep you off the lake, the town of Elbow boasts one of the finest golf courses in the province. GETTING THERE Elbow is the most popular launching point. To get there, take Highway 2 north from Moose Jaw to Highway 42. Follow 42 northwest to Elbow. LEARN MORE Saskatchewan Environment, (306) 787-2700; www.se.gov.sk.ca/fishwild Lake Diefenbaker Tourism, lakediefenbakertourism.com Lakeside Marina Services, (306) 854-2211 The promise Calling Lake rates as one of Canada’s best walleye lakes for both numbers and size of fish. Anglers can catch 50 to 100 fish a day, with enough six- to 10-pounders to keep things interesting. Top tackle & tactics Trolling a two-ounce bottom-bouncer and spinner rig (orange and chartreuse beads with a #4 or #5 hammered silver Colorado blade) tied on a six-foot snell is ideal along flats and mile-long breaks, where the fish are typically scattered. Trolling speeds faster than one mile per hour are the norm. For best results, use an eight-foot rod, leave it in the holder and don’t touch it until it’s doubled over. The fishing here is great throughout the open-water season. BAY OF QUINTE, ONTARIO The promise No list of Canada’s top walleye waters would be complete without the Bay of Quinte. What else can you say about a body of water that gave up a 20.7-pound walleye in 1996, as well as fish that are consistently more than 10 pounds? Top tackle & tactics Zebra mussels have cleared the waters here to such an extent that the walleye hold tight to structure during the day but feed ferociously at night. Trolling long, slim crankbaits, such as the F-11 or F-13 Original Floating Rapala, on long, limber rods spooled with 10-pound super-line is the favoured strategy among locals (and late fall is the premier time to hit the water). Stick with dark-coloured baits that will show up well against the night sky. LAKE DIEFENBAKER, SASKATCHEWAN The promise Lake Diefenbaker is one of the most underrated walleye fisheries in Canada. This reservoir consistently produces 10-pound-plus walleye, and most days there are few other anglers on the water. Top tackle & tactics In spring and early summer, Diefenbaker’s water level begins to rise and long coulees, rich in vegetation and insects, begin to flood. Baitfish move into these areas, followed by the walleye. Using a light-action spinning rod, cast a leech-tipped, 1/16-ounce jig into the extreme shallows, then slowly drag the jig back. At the slightest sign of resistance, pause for several seconds, then slowly lift the rod to see if you’ve got a fish. BONUS HOT SPOTS FOR WALLEYE Pigeon Lake, Alberta Tobin Lake, Saskatchewan Winnipeg River, Manitoba Lake Erie, Ontario Winnipeg River, Manitoba Detroit River, Ontario Lake of the Woods, Ontario Gouin Reservoir, Quebec Dauphin Lake, Manitoba Rafferty Reservoir, Saskatchewan BROOK TROUT: Part 1 | Part 2 CHINOOK SALMON: Part 1 | Part 2 LAKE TROUT: Part 1 | Part 2 PIKE: Part 1 | Part 2 SMALLMOUTH BASS: Part 1 | Part 2 WALLEYE: Part 1 | Part 2 MORE HOT SPOTS