There’s something special about fishing the clear, deep lakes of Ontario in August. The scenery is incredible, the water is pristine, and if you understand what the walleyes are doing, you can experience some of the best fishing of the entire year.
Right now I’m fishing on Minis Lake in Ontario, and the action has been nothing short of phenomenal. In fact, one morning alone we boated 57 walleyes, and here’s the kicker—we didn’t use a single piece of live bait.
Instead, we relied on a simple jig paired with one soft plastic that has become an absolute staple in my tackle box: the Big Bite Baits Scentsation Slim Minnow.
Why August Walleyes Are Different
Many anglers come to Canada expecting to catch walleyes the traditional way—dragging live bait across the bottom or slowly working a jig along structure. While that certainly works at times, August often presents a completely different situation.
As summer progresses, many of the biggest schools of walleyes position around:
- Deep underwater humps
- Offshore rock piles
- Long tapering points
- Breaklines adjacent to deep basins
Electronics will often reveal fish suspended several feet above bottom instead of hugging the structure.
Why?
Because they’re feeding on open-water forage.
Depending on the lake, that could include:
- Smelt
- Ciscoes
- Tulibees
- Other pelagic baitfish
These baitfish spend much of their time off the bottom, and the walleyes follow them.
If you’re dragging your bait directly on bottom, you’re often fishing underneath the fish.
Keep Your Presentation Above the Fish
One of the biggest adjustments we’ve made is changing where we present our bait.
Instead of constantly hopping a jig across the bottom, we do something much simpler.
We let the jig reach bottom just long enough to know exactly where it is.
Then we reel up roughly three to four feet.
That’s where the magic begins.
Rather than aggressively jigging, we simply hold the bait in place and give it subtle little twitches.
That’s it.
Just tiny movements that make the Slim Minnow quiver naturally.
Those suspended walleyes simply can’t stand it.
A Simple Jig Is All You Need
One of the reasons I love this presentation is how uncomplicated it is.
We bring a variety of jig sizes to match depth and wind conditions:
- 1/8-ounce for lighter conditions
- 1/4-ounce for everyday fishing
- 3/8-ounce when fishing deeper water or battling stronger winds
The goal isn’t to overcomplicate things.
Choose the lightest jig that allows you to maintain contact with your presentation while keeping it in the strike zone.
Why the Big Bite Scentsation Slim Minnow Excels
The Big Bite Baits Scentsation Slim Minnow has become one of my favorite plastics for Canadian walleye fishing.
It offers several advantages that really stand out:
- Built-in scent and flavor that encourages fish to hold onto the bait longer
- Slim, natural profile that closely imitates smelt and ciscoes
- Soft body that moves with even the slightest twitch
- Excellent durability for catching multiple fish on a single bait
When fish are feeding on slender baitfish, matching that profile makes a tremendous difference.
Sometimes it’s not about making your lure move more.
It’s about making it move just enough.
Let Your Electronics Guide You
Modern sonar makes this presentation incredibly effective.
When scanning offshore structure, you’ll often notice:
- Schools of bait suspended over deep water
- Walleyes positioned just off bottom
- Fish relating to the edges of humps instead of the tops
- Individual fish several feet above the structure
When you see those fish suspended, resist the urge to drag your bait on bottom.
Instead, put your lure right in front of them.
Hold it there.
Twitch it gently.
Many strikes come while the bait is nearly motionless.
Don’t Overwork the Bait
One mistake anglers often make is trying to create too much action.
These fish aren’t chasing a fleeing baitfish.
They’re feeding on vulnerable forage hovering nearby.
Small rod-tip twitches create all the movement you need.
Often the bait barely moves more than a few inches.
That’s exactly what makes it so deadly.
Incredible Results
When a pattern comes together, the fishing can be absolutely unforgettable.
Over the past couple of days on Minis Lake, this simple combination has produced one fish after another.
One morning alone, we landed 57 walleyes, all without relying on live bait.
Just a jig.
A Big Bite Scentsation Slim Minnow.
And a presentation that keeps the bait exactly where the fish are feeding.
If you’re planning a trip to Ontario this summer or early fall, don’t overlook how suspended many walleyes become as they key on pelagic forage.
A simple adjustment—raising your jig a few feet off bottom and fishing it with subtle twitches—can completely change your day.
Before heading north, make sure you pack plenty of Big Bite Baits Scentsation Slim Minnows in a variety of natural baitfish colors. They take up almost no room in your tackle bag, but they can make a huge difference when the walleyes are feeding offshore.
Sometimes the most effective presentation isn’t the most complicated.
It’s simply putting the right bait at the right depth and letting the fish tell you the rest.
