Last Chance for Walleye Fishermen
Munuscong Bay
By Amy Polk

Kasey Sajdak of Barbeau hoists her walleye, which weighed in at 4.7 pounds and was caught January 26, when she took fifth place in the Munuscong Walleye Jamboree near Pickford. That contest will be followed by this weekend's Last Chance Walleye Derby. (Photograph courtesy of Carley and Tom Ball)

Walleye anglers' last chance to earn a prize for catching the "big one" on Munuscong Bay is coming up this weekend, as the Soo Area Sportsmen's Club hosts its final tournament of the season.

The Last Chance Walleye Derby will start at midnight Friday, February 22, and will end at noon Sunday, February 24. Organizer Tom Ball described the tournaments as an abbreviated version of the club's four-day Munuscong Walleye Jamboree. That one ended in January, with Jim Hatfield of Pickford's six-pound walleye in first place.

Ice anglers are now catching fish nearly twice that size, Mr. Ball said, and he expects catches this weekend should be large and plentiful.

"They've been catching some really big fish. We had a 10- pounder come in last week," Mr. Ball said. "They're doing really well inside the bay, in two to three feet of water. Guys have been coming home with their limit."

Mr. Ball is not sure whether to attribute the success to many fish now moving into the bay, or if it is because anglers are now able to access the places where fish are. Ice conditions have improved considerably since January, he said, but anglers are advised to always use caution on the ice.

Anglers seem to be having the most luck with chartreuse and green spoons with minnows, Mr. Ball said.

The Department of Natural Resources reports good catches of walleye in two to three feet of water, near Grassy Island, for instance, and recommends jigging with spoons and minnow heads.

Walleye fishing will end Friday, February 29, when the Department of Natural Resources closes the season so walleye can spawn. The fish typically move from the deeper water into Munuscong Bay to spawn around the end of the month.

The Soo Area Sportsmen's Club established the second walleye fishing tournament to take advantage of the sometimes better fishing opportunities available later in the season. This is the third year for the contest.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the 10 largest walleye in an adult contest, and for the five largest walleye and five largest perch in the children's division.

The event will award a $400 grand prize to the adult angler who catches the largest walleye. Second prize is $250. Third prize is $150. Fourth prize is $100, and fifth prize is $75. Catches landing in sixth through 10th places will earn $25.

In the children's contest, the angler who catches the largest walleye will receive $50. The second largest fish will earn a $25 prize, and $15 will be awarded to the youngsters who catch the third- through fifth-largest fish. In the children's perch contest, the largest will earn $25. The second largest will win $15, while the third- through fifth-place perch will earn $10.

About a dozen local businesses and individuals have donated money and raffle drawing prizes to the derby, Mr. Ball said.

Weigh in hours will be Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon and from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon. No fish will be weighed after noon. The awards ceremony will be after the final weigh-in.

Activities will be based at Dan's Cabins and Resort, eight miles east of Pickford, off Gogomain Road. Anglers can access the ice from there.

There will not be a tent this year, so fish weigh-ins and the awards ceremony will be outdoors.

All anglers, adults and children, will be allowed only two lines each.