Having only traveled north to Quetico / falls and kawnipi, I am curious what the depth of walleye will be in clear water Ottertrack. Any tips on good spots or lures in late June or early July?

I passed through Ottertrack one time and liked the lake a great deal. What a fine place! I have little to offer other than a Houdini pike story. I had decided to troll a perch colored Fat Rap (How I loved that lure!) and popped a pike worthy of having a picture taken. I put the fish on the stringer and eased toward the portage landing and when I arrived lo and behold the pike was gone and the clip on the stringer still closed. My mouth fell open and then all I could do was laugh. So watch those fish there, very educated.

My best guess is they will be shallow early and late and deeper mid day ;-)

In all seriousness I think your biggest mistake will be to fish to heavy of line. I remember Ottertrack being clear. Think 6lb line for Walleye......... Gamma in clear is a good choice.

I like the Real Image Cabalas banana shaped crank baits in natural dark colors for this situation. You can still run them on 6lb line if you ditch the split ring (as in get rid of it) and use fas snaps instead. If you are intent on keeping the split ring tie off to the ring where it is just one thickness of wire (yes that one little spot) preferably using a tie fast tool and the Gryp knot. Yes you can run deep diving cranks on 6lb test and pull it off even with big fish if you do everything perfectly.

Hmmm.......not finding the Real Image walleye lures from Cabalas.......discontinued perhaps? Pity, they were a good cheap lure. But no worries......check these out, go with the natural minnow or the perch in the largest size. The other colors are fine at night. Start trolling these around 10A.M. after a morning of casting about. They run about 17 to 20 ft. Be sure your drag is set correctly and don't panic........you have light line. Just take your time and you will catch them. There are very few fish in canoe country which can't be caught on 6lb test as long as the weeds haven't grown in where your fishing.

Walleye Runner

Thanks Walleye Runner! Great info. Have had great success with 6lb clear trilene xl (yes I am old school) and slip bobber rigs and jig/body combos. Haven't considered the crankbait trolling and will give this a shot. I have read the water is very clear compared to the iron stained color elsewhere.

Fish the shoreline breaks and other traditional spots at dusk and into the night. Lots of nice walleyes in there last time I was there.

Thanks lundojam

quote Sizzler74: "Thanks Walleye Runner! Great info. Have had great success with 6lb clear trilene xl (yes I am old school) and slip bobber rigs and jig/body combos. Haven't considered the crankbait trolling and will give this a shot. I have read the water is very clear compared to the iron stained color elsewhere."

Yo Sizzler
"Walleye Runner" is not my moniker but rather a link.......click on it and pick a few of those up. Again think natural color patterns. I would not strongly advocate pulling deep diving cranks on 6lb XL. You could do it with 6lb XT (which has a breaking strength closer to 8lb) in Green but I prefer clear line in clear lakes so scrap yesterdays advice and go with 8lb clear XL. Make sure the line is FRESH!

Again tie off to the split ring where it is only one thickness of wire or get the fas snap in med black and get rid of that blasted split ring altogether. Even 8lb can be considered finesse trolling and all must be right.

Expect to get some good pike in 20 ft as well.

If you have no depth finder then I like to remove the belly hook and upsize the rear hook by 1 size. This will help with snags substantially. You must hit bottom occasionally or your not trolling with a purpose. Speed can be your friend on clear lakes and I tend to troll faster than normal and not give them lots of time to look at it. Make them react quickly........... plus it helps in setting a hook.

Don't lose your rod overboard.........I am a huge proponent of rod holders for trolling. Stay with the trolling game and it will pay dividends in several ways. You will learn much about the water plus any fish caught are further clues. Troll quietly.........dont be afraid to dig hard on one side to speed lures up and then hard on the other side to create pauses. Trolling should be your mid morning to late afternoon method........yes despite popular opinion to the contrary walleye can be caught mid day provided you get something down to them and get them ticked off ("whats this little fish doing here disturbing my afternoon siesta").