Walleye Presentations 101: A Day on Big Winnie with Tom Neustrom
When it comes to learning the fundamentals of walleye fishing, Winnibigoshish Walleye fishing offeres the same classroom-like clarity as Lake Winnebagoshish—affectionately known as “Big Winnie.” Nestled in northern Minnesota, this legendary body of water is more than just scenic beauty; it’s a renowned fishery that delivers consistent walleye action and a variety of presentation options that are perfect for both novice and seasoned anglers.
Joining me on this outing is my longtime friend and seasoned guide, Tom Neustrom. With decades of experience navigating the lakes of northern Minnesota, Tom’s deep familiarity with Big Winnie is unmatched. Today, we’re diving into the many techniques he uses as a professional guide, showing how adaptable presentations can make or break a day on the water. 
Trolling, Jigging, and Spinner Rigs: A Morning of Versatility
We kicked things off with some light trolling. Tom quickly hooked into a healthy 20-inch walleye, and a few more eater-sized fish followed suit. The trolling bite was steady but not red-hot, so we changed it up. That’s a core lesson on Winnie—adaptability is key.
Tom decided to head into the weed lines and test a few spinner rigs. Within minutes, the change paid off with another solid fish in the boat. These types of presentations are not just effective—they’re essential for finding active walleyes scattered in different parts of the lake.
Tom’s rig of choice included a long-shank VMC hook, perfect for threading live minnows so that they run straight. He emphasized pulling the barb slightly out of the back of the minnow to improve hookup ratios. Old school in theory, but timeless in its effectiveness.
Why Winnie Is Walleye 101
Lake Winnie is truly a multi-dimensional fishery. Whether you’re trolling crankbaits, dragging live bait rigs, pitching jigs, or pulling spinners through the weeds, all techniques have their time and place here. This lake provides anglers with a textbook opportunity to explore the foundational methods of walleye fishing.
Tom explained it well: “This is your classic northern Minnesota walleye lake.” From jigs tipped with leeches or crawlers, to bottom bouncers and spinner rigs, these methods consistently put fish in the boat. You might hit the jackpot with both quantity and quality—and sometimes even on the same day.
A Look at the Lake’s Rich Fishery
Beyond walleyes, Big Winnie is home to a diverse population of gamefish. “The money fish here is walleye,” Tom said, “but don’t overlook the perch, pike, and even muskies.” In fact, the state record musky was caught in this very lake—a title that has stood for more than 50 years.
There’s also strong crappie and bluegill action, particularly in the fall. Surprisingly, there’s a bass population too, although not many anglers target them. With 13 resorts surrounding Winnie and its adjoining Cut Foot Sioux Lake, the remainder of the shoreline remains pristine wilderness—a rare balance of access and serenity.
Precision Boat Control Without a Kicker
One curious aspect of our setup was Tom’s choice to forgo a kicker motor. Instead, he relies entirely on his 200 HP Mercury four-stroke. Through SmartCraft digital gauges, he can fine-tune his trolling speed down to the precise 1.4 mph needed for pulling spinners effectively.
“Speed is everything with spinners,” Tom emphasized. “Mercury gives me the precision I need to do everything—forward troll, back troll, pull cranks, or slow roll spinners. I’ve been running Mercs for four decades and have no plans to change.”
The Spinner Rig Setup: Simple Yet Deadly
The finesse spinner rig we used was tailored for weed edges. The components were straightforward:
- 1/8-ounce bullet sinker
- Bead and barrel swivel
- 14-inch VMC Revolution Hex Spinner Rig
This system not only allows for blade color changes without retying, thanks to its unique clevis design, but also proves incredibly snag-resistant in dense weed beds. With a gold blade and controlled speed, it became clear why this was Tom’s go-to in shallow cover.
Even the Pros Keep Learning
As with all things in fishing, even the experts find themselves humbled now and then. Tom recounted a recent trip with a long-time female client who out-fished her husband and everyone else in the boat. Her secret? A slight tweak in color and cadence. “Fish on, fish off,” Tom laughed. “She had it dialed in.”
Big Winnie rewards those who pay attention to detail, and sometimes, even subtle changes make all the difference.
Walleye Wisdom, Weeds, and Faith: A Memorable Day on Big Winnie
A Guide’s Roots and a Lake Full of Promise
As the day on Big Winnie continued, the fishing action never slowed. Tom Neustrom, with decades of guiding under his belt, reflected on how rewarding it felt to return to his roots—both in guiding and in reconnecting with the lake he knows so intimately. With each passing hour, we pulled in more quality walleyes, and yes, Tom was definitely outfishing me like a “Salvation Army drum.”
We landed another thick walleye, too large for the fryer but a testament to the lake’s robust population. Big Winnie’s current walleye regulations include a protected slot limit between 18 to 23 inches, which helps maintain a healthy population of quality fish.
The Power Behind the Fishery: Cutfoot Hatchery
A key part of Winnie’s continued productivity lies in its unique blend of natural reproduction and stocking. Tom shared a statistic that floored me: nearly 50% of the walleyes stocked in the entire state of Minnesota come from the Cutfoot Sioux Hatchery. That’s a staggering figure—and a testament to the hatchery’s role in statewide conservation.
Of the millions of fry harvested from Cutfoot each season, at least 10% are returned to Winnie and Cutfoot waters. Combined with the lake’s natural spawning success, the result is an incredibly fertile walleye fishery that has sustained generations of anglers.
Unlocking the Bite: Weed Beds and Structure
Winnie is a massive and complex system—a puzzle of sunken islands, hard-bottom flats, rock piles, and, critically, weed beds. Today’s most productive areas were sparse cabbage patches mixed with clean bottom. Walleyes here weren’t randomly scattered; they were holding tight to ambush points inside the weeds.
Utilizing Humminbird Helix electronics with side imaging and split-screen 2D sonar, we could lock onto productive zones and track our passes with precision. Tom’s experience showed: the moment he pivoted away from shallow rocks and targeted cabbage weed beds in the main lake, the fish started flying into the boat.
The repetition of our trolling passes over the same weed edges became a rhythm—cast, troll, bite, repeat. Every lap brought more fish. In Tom’s words, “When you’re on the same trail and you’re catching fish, there ain’t nothing like it.”
The Gear That Made It Happen
The spinner rig remained the star technique. We used finesse setups—light line, 1/8 oz bullet sinkers, and VMC Revolution Hex Spinner Rigs. Gold blades were the top producer, but blade color was something we experimented with often depending on light and water conditions.
Our gear was tailored for this specific bite. Both Tom and I ran Daiwa Fuego 20-sized spinning reels, perfectly balanced for walleye tactics and known for their affordability and smooth drag. Paired with St. Croix 6’10” medium action elite rods, these rigs were sensitive enough to detect even subtle taps, yet had the backbone to drive hooks home through weedy structure.
I spooled up with 10 lb Tasmano braid, a simple but deadly combo. While baitcasters are common for spinner rigs, in this scenario, spinning gear felt like the better choice—more finesse, better feel, and more fun.
The Day That Kept Giving
Every pass was productive. We literally caught fish on nearly every single troll along the weed edges. Some walleyes hit the spinner before it even reached bottom. It was what anglers dream of: one of those rare days when everything clicks—the spot, the presentation, the gear, the guide.
As we wrapped up, I thought back to what Tom said early in the day: that fishing on Winnie is like Walleye 101. And he was right. This lake teaches you to read structure, to adapt presentations, and to appreciate the richness of a well-managed fishery.
Winnibigoshish, also known as “Winnie,” is a popular fishing destination known for its big muskies and northern pike. In fact, the state record muskie was caught here, and it hasn’t been broken in over 50 years. The lake is also home to a vast population of walleyes, making it a prime spot for anglers to take advantage of.
Here we join Al Lindner and Tom Neustrom as they explore the waters of Winnibigoshish in search of walleyes.
