The walleye opener on Lake Leelanau is a big thing for fishers — or not.
“Last year on the opener, I only saw two trucks with trailers in the (MDNR) boat ramp,” said Greg Alsip, a Lake Leelanau guide and proprietor of the Narrows Resort Bait and Tackle. “It’s weather dependent. I don’t think it’s going to be a normal year, and I’m hoping it’s going to be pretty good.”
Ice lingered longer than most years on Lake Leelanau, and the lake has been spilling over its banks due to heavy rain. Alsip isn’t certain how those factors will affect the walleye bite on the last Saturday in April, the traditional season opener in Michigan.
But he does expect to find a corps of die-hard anglers on the water starting at midnight Friday.
They’ll be concentrated near the mouth of the Cedar River and the Lake Leelanau Narrows, searching for walleyes that look for moving water to spawn. On normal years, the spawning is done or nearly complete by the season opener, with walleyes hanging around to recover from their reproductive rigors.
Saturday is also the traditional opening day for trout fishing on Leelanau’s many small streams, although enthusiasm for wading jump-across creeks has waned over recent decades. Pike season also opens.
Alsip also announced changes in the family business with the retirement of his parents Amber and Randy Alsip. The Alsips also own The Fish Hook in Leland, which is being taken over by Greg. Amber and Randy will be operating the Narrows Resort Bait and Tackle.
The tackle shop will remain open and selling minnows through fall, but may close for ice fishing season in 2026-27. Should that be the case, Greg said he will continue to sell minnows for ice fishing at the resort.
