For more information, contact the DNR in Friendship at (608) 339-8087 or Sunrise Bait and Tackle in Nekoosa at (715) 886-5440.

BIG CEDAR LAKE
“The best walleye lake in my area may be a tie between Big Cedar Lake and Pike Lake, but for the past few years I’d have to say Big Cedar has been the better choice,” fisheries biologist John Nelson said. “The lake has a reasonable number of walleyes and there is always the potential for a true trophy-class fish. Big Cedar requires anglers spend some time discovering where the fish are hanging out, but once a pattern is found, the catches can be consistent.”

Spring walleyes may be shallow and completely missed by those who assume the fish will always be deep.

“Anglers always think walleyes will be in deep water, but that’s not always the way it is,” professional walleye angler Tommy Skarlis said. “These fish can be up near the surface, along the shore or just about anywhere. You just have to look for them.”

Drift-fishing is possible when the fish are 10 to 20 feet deep, but casting to structure works better when the fish are shallow. You may find a straggler or a school of fish wreaking havoc on shoreline minnows.

The lake is sometimes busy, so come prepared to share it with other boaters and anglers.

Big Cedar is located in Washington County off Highway 144.

For more information, contact the Southeast Region in Plymouth at (920) 892-8756.

LAKE WAUBESA
According to fisheries biologist Kurt Welke, Lake Waubesa in Dane County is a quality fishery for all the state’s top predators, walleyes included. Muskies and northern pike sometimes get top billing on the Yahara Chain of Lakes and that just leaves more good fishing for the walleye guys.

Anglers looking for eating-sized fish are in luck because there are plenty of them. The numbers of walleyes are down from 2000, but the population is still looking good.

Trophy-class anglers aren’t going to be left out in the cold, either. Fish measuring up to 28 1/2 inches were found in the lake in 2006 and there’s a chance they may be even larger by now.

The eastern side of the lake has plenty of rocky structure and that’s where the ‘eyes are likely to be, Welke said.

A jig-and-minnow combination or a small crankbait can put a few fish in the boat in this location. Electronics come in handy if the fish are suspending.

Launch ramps are off Libby, Waubesa and Larson Beach roads and U.S. 51. Access is fairly good.

Anglers who aren’t finding fish on 2,080-acre Lake Waubesa can give other lakes in the chain a try. Lake Mendota covers more than 9,800 acres, Lake Monona and Lake Kegonsa more than 3,000 acres each and Lake Wingra 345 acres. You can find walleyes in any of them.

For more information, contact the DNR in Fitchburg at (608) 273-5946 or D&S Bait, Tackle and Archery in Madison at (608) 241-4225.

CHIPPEWA FLOWAGE
“The flowage was literally on fire for walleyes in 2007 and I expect the trend to continue,” fisheries biologist Frank Pratt said. “It’s always a good early-season lake because the dark water warms up faster, so you can often find post-spawn aggressive feeding behavior and both sexes on opening weekend.”

According to Pratt, the bite is often a shallow daytime one because of the dark water’s screening effect. Walleyes prefer low-light conditions and they can be shallow here.