The adage about fishing being best when wind is from the west holds true on Shawano's east end. Before weeds provide a favorite hiding place from boat traffic, a large percentage of the lake's walleyes relate to several shallow reefs on the east end. Once the sun goes down, these are great places to target by anchoring upwind and pitching lighted slip-bobbers baited with jumbo leeches or fathead minnows. Get there before dark and locate breaklines with marker buoys, then move around until you find the reef's "sweet spot."

Contact the Shawano Chamber of Commerce at (715) 524-2139.

EAGLE RIVER CHAIN
Touted as the world's largest contiguous chain of lakes, this popular vacation area offers some of its best walleye fishing during the first couple of weeks of the open-water season.

Check the first deep-water weed edges at entry and exit points between lakes and the channels running between them -- especially channels between Cranberry, Catfish, Scattering Rice and Eagle lakes. Fish holding in the channels typically relate close to cover, with any deadfall, fish crib or dock holding the potential to fill a quick limit.

Weeds are just beginning to grow now on the Eagle River Chain, and are below the surface. You'll find a very distinct weed edge on most of the chain. The key lies in anchoring up near points and inside turns in the weed edge and fishing minnows 4 to 7 feet below a slip-bobber within inches of the greenery.

You'll go through a lot of bait once the pattern is dialed in, with most of your catch falling in the 14- to 18-inch protected slot limit, thus requiring release. The chain has incredible numbers of 13-inch walleyes and a solid population of 18- to 22-inch fish. The bag allows three fish per angler.

Contact Eagle Sports Center at (715) 479-8804.

BIG CEDAR LAKE
Washington County isn't known as a walleye destination, even though Big Cedar Lake near West Bend holds a solid population of double-digit walleyes. DNR surveys have cranked up walleyes in excess of 15 pounds in recent years, with 12-pound 'eyes present in good numbers.

Fish don't grow to these dimensions by making silly dietary choices. A solid forage base of smelt and ciscoes inhabiting this deep, clear 932-acre lake can be seen on electronics -- with large arches that are probably walleyes suspended nearby.

Big Cedar has classic walleye structure with plenty of deep humps, steep breaklines and transition zones holding fish all summer long when the lake's thermocline can be down 30 to 35 feet. Action is best at night by targeting offshore structure that tops out in less than 15 feet of water. Once waters warm up, trolling large chrome/black or chrome/blue stickbaits about 40 feet behind downriggers at the same depth as suspended baitfish schools could produce a fish of your dreams.

Contact: (920) 892-8756.

MADISON CHAIN
This chain of natural lakes around our capital city is generally seen as panfish water that holds a walleye population. This opinion can change instantly if you shine a spotlight in the water near the Tenney Park locks on Lake Mendota on an early May evening.