Photo By Ron Sinfelt

It’s never too early to start thinking about New York’s walleye opener in May. It’s been months since the season closed, and whether it was a banner year of fishing on open water or through the ice, anglers know that once the walleye season opens in May, the game is on.

The spring opener is the best time to be on the water in hopes of catching that walleye of a lifetime. Fall usually produces walleyes with a little more girth because they feed heavily before they enter their “lethargic state” for the winter.

Once ice-out begins, the water begins to warm, and the walleyes once again go on the attack for food to kick off their annual spawning season.

Here’s a look at where you’ll have your best chances for prime walleye action in New York this spring. Each lake has its attractions: Some hold high numbers of fish, while others produce massive walleyes. But in any case, it’s time to drop the lines and wet the net!

HONEOYE LAKE
Honeoye Lake is a warmwater fishery and the perfect place to begin your spring walleyes trail. Honeoye is shallow, so weeds can be an issue. But there’s nothing better than getting on the water at this time of year, before the weeds take over.

Sean Hanna, regional director for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Region 8, expects Honeoye to have better fishing this spring.

“We introduced a size restriction, thus anglers are going to be seeing bigger and more stronger fish,” he said.

Some 30 miles from downtown Rochester, Honeoye has an average depth of 30 feet, yet produces some amazing ‘eyes.

The best place to look for spring walleyes is midway up the lake, off the points. The walleyes will be patrolling these points as they forage for baitfish. Try launching your boat at dusk and start long lining the shoreline between these areas.

A public boat launch is at the southeast corner of the lake off East Lake Road. Parking is available for 30 cars with trailers. The New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates the launch. Winter maintenance allows for ice-fishing access.

At Sandy Bottom Beach, launching is available for small trailered boats, cartops and canoes off Sandy Bottom Road, at the northwest corner of the lake. Lakeside parking allows for about six cars. There is additional parking near the baseball diamond. The town of Richmond operates the launch, and winter maintenance allows for ice-fishing access.

For more information on walleye fishing at Honeoye Lake and accurate angling reports, contact Dan Sharp at Honeoye Bait and Tackle at (585) 229-2266, or you can visit him at 4864 County Road 37, Honeoye, NY 14471.

SILVER LAKE
Silver Lake is tucked away in the hills of Wyoming County. Anglers here normally target bass and sometimes overlook its abundant walleyes.

Periods of low light are the ticket for filling your livewell with Silver Lake walleyes. The eastern shore of the lake is where the majority of fish will spawn. Long-lining stick baits after dark and jigging the dropoffs at dusk can be deadly.

Mark Hoak has fished Silver Lake for many years.

“The DEC has done a decent job with the population of walleyes in Silver Lake, which can be tricky to fish. But working the weed lines at dark has proved productive for me.”