Tracking Transitional Walleyes at Akins Lake Lodge
Jeremy Smith and Pete Przeporia hunt down transitional walleye in transition from shallow to deep while fishing out of Aiken’s Lake Lodge in Manitoba.
Understanding “Tough” Bite Windows
Seasoned anglers love to debate when walleyes are hardest to catch:
- Before, during, or after a cold front
- At peak‑summer surface temperatures
- Smack in the middle of the spawn
- During seasonal migrations—the “transition” periods
A Fly‑In Maze of Opportunity
Touching down at Akins is an adventure in itself. The lodge sits amid a complex, island‑dotted labyrinth that grows fat, healthy fish—walleyes, “jackfish” (pike), and even trophy lake trout.
“My parents taught me I can’t control the weather or the fishing, but every other part of a trip has to be perfect,” says owner Pit Turenne. From dawn coffee service to a nightcap at Big Molly’s Bar, the staff makes off‑water hours as memorable as the bite.
First Contact: Walleyes in Two Feet of Water
No sooner have Jeremy, Pete, and guide J.B. idled away from the dock than side‑imaging and polarized glasses reveal a school of walleyes milling in just 60 cm (2 ft) of water. Pete flips an X‑Rap jerkbait and instantly sticks the first fish of the trip—Canadian gold that cartwheels like a largemouth bass.
Rapid‑Fire Action
- Presentation: Flat‑line troll crankbaits to locate, then fan‑cast jerkbaits, swimbaits, and jigs once fish are pinned down.
- Location: Cabbage‑rimmed pockets and wind‑washed rock inside bays; water so skinny the skeg barely clears bottom.
- Behavior: Fish inhale baits the moment they splash—many are spitting mayfly larvae, proof the hatch is on.
The pair doubles up repeatedly, releasing robust, photo‑ready walleyes while their hands grow raw from constant unhooking.
Tools for Covering Water
| Technique | Primary Bait | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Fan‑casting | Rapala X‑Rap | Suspends, slashes, and triggers reaction bites without snagging in inches of water. |
| Swim‑Jigging | VMC Moon Eye Jig + boot‑tail plastic | Swims clean over rock and rubble; lets anglers “feel” bottom transitions. |
| Flat‑line Trolling | Mid‑running crankbaits | Rapid survey tool to find scattered fish and new structure fast. |
Bass Tactics for Walleyes—Why It Works
Jeremy can’t quite believe he is “casting X‑Raps in two feet of water” for walleyes, yet the proof erupts at the surface with every airborne fish. Both anglers agree this is large‑mouth style fishing for Canada’s signature species—fast, visual, and loud. The key is aggression: in ultra‑skinny water walleyes smash lures the instant they land, giving anglers unrivaled feedback on cadence and color.
Decoding Hump Progressions Through the Season
Staying on migrating walleyes means understanding how they stair‑step from shallow to deep humps as the year advances. Jeremy lays out a rule‑of‑thumb roadmap:
- Post‑Spawn (early June):
- Basin depth ≈ 3 m (10 ft)
- Target humps ≈ 1.2 m (4 ft)
- Late Spring (late June):
- Basin depth ≈ 7.5 m (25 ft)
- Target humps ≈ 3 m (10 ft)
- Mid‑Summer and Beyond:
- Fish continue sliding toward even deeper basins and taller humps, always using structure as stepping‑stones.
Track that progression and you track the fish—simple, repeatable, and deadly.
Plastics Arsenal: Pack Light, Pack Smart
Pete’s boat deck is littered with chewed‑up soft baits. His must‑have list for a fly‑in:
- Minnow profiles for subtle swim‑and‑stop retrieves
- Curly‑tail grubs for steady do‑nothing drifts
- Paddle tails (e.g., Big Bite Cane Thumper) for aggressive thump and flash
Bring assorted colors but multiples of each style; after a dozen fish the tails will be shredded.
Spotlight on Tackle Innovation
- Daiwa LT Series & EXIST Reel – ultra‑lightweight yet stronger than ever, perfect for all‑day finesse casting.
- Rod Choices:
- 6’10” Medium‑Extra‑Fast
- 7’0″ Medium‑Fast
These two blanks cover jigging, ripping jerkbaits, trolling crankbaits, even bottom‑bouncing.
- Line & Leader: 10‑lb Sufix 832 braid topped with a 12‑lb fluorocarbon leader handles rocks, wood, and toothy pike.
- High‑Vis Braid Advantage: Pete watches the yellow main line for subtle ticks long before he can feel them—critical in wind or when fish short‑strike.
Dress for Anything—Blackfish Reindeer
Weather dictates nothing when your rain gear vents body heat yet stays 100 % waterproof. The eVent‑based Blackfish jacket and bibs let the crew fish comfortably through mist, midday sun, and evening chill.
Electronics: Mapping an Uncharted Maze
Aikens Lake isn’t on any commercial chart, so Humminbird Helix 7 with Side Imaging plus AutoChart Live becomes mission‑critical:
- Zero Lines SD Card stores shoreline detail for safe navigation.
- Real‑Time Mapping draws contours over every new hump, instantly turning a blank slate into a high‑definition LakeMaster‑style map.
- Side‑Imaging Sweeps 60 m (200 ft) left and right—Jeremy marks rock spines, bait balls, even cruising pike before making a single cast.
Boat Control: Old‑School Precision with Modern Quiet
The lodge’s 40 hp Mercury four‑stroke tillers are stealthy enough to idle in 1 m (3 ft) of water without spooking fish. Jeremy steers in reverse while pitching, tweaks throttle to crab across wind‑blown flats, and later trolls bouncers along 6 m (20 ft) breaks—all from the same handle.
Bottom‑Bouncers for Mid‑Day Relocations
When the inevitable mid‑day slowdown arrives, the duo drops bottom‑bouncer live‑bait rigs on deeper breaks. Results are immediate:
“I marked a bunch—got it down and boom,” Jeremy grins as the Stowmaster net scoops another thick walleye.
Trip Timing & Temperature Cues
- Current Visit: Mid‑June, surface temp ~18 °C (65 °F)
- Morning: Walleyes roam 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft) flats.
- Afternoon: Fish slide to first or second break lines.
With fish everywhere, there truly is no “bad” week to book Akins, but matching your tactics to the daily migration keeps rods bent.
Quick Sponsor Shout‑Outs
- Mercury V8 Pro XS – unrivaled horsepower for big‑water runs.
- Bubba Fillet Knives – non‑slip grip, salt‑ or fresh‑water ready.
- Seafoam Motor Treatment – keeps outboards clean on marathon trolling days.
From explosive shallow‑water jerkbait bites to precision bottom‑bouncer drifts—and from cutting‑edge electronics — this Akins Lake adventure showcases more than just “catching.” It underlines the importance of adaptability, stewardship, and perspective on the water and in life.
Whether you’re chasing first‑break walleyes at dawn or charting unmapped humps by afternoon, remember the real edge is staying curious—about fish migrations, and new tackle innovations.
