Dig back far enough into your high school science class memories, and you may recall a famous quote, "Give me a fulcrum and a place to stand, and I'll move the earth." In similar fashion, walleye anglers might say, "Give me an edge and a method to fish it, and I'll catch walleyes."

Despite the inclusion of three Great Lakes events among seven In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail tournaments in 2004, winning strategies placed less weight on big-water coverage tactics and more on traditional finesse presentations. Even where quick-trolling was key to success, there was less emphasis than in recent years on coverage of large, open basins for suspended fish. Rather, contestants tended to troll the perimeters of large midlake reefs or sandbars or the edges of shoreline flats, incorporating a hybrid blend of coverage and precision techniques.

Why this sudden reversal of trends, where open-water trolling has often dominated numerous events? Simple. At the time of competition, the fish weren't out there suspended in the great beyond. Instead, for whatever reasons -- late seasons, poor weather, baitfish locations, and others -- even walleyes in the larger waters fished by PWT contestants during 2004 tended to hug along or near breaklines rimming major structures. And, when that happens, edge tactics apply, emerging to win tournaments.

In several instances, PWT contestants did in fact stray a bit off structures to catch walleyes at least semi-suspended in close relation to prominent bottom features. Not just stray; they did it with intent and purpose, adapting their tactics to catch fish detected on electronics. The major qualifier, however, is that the fish weren't located far away from or unrelated to structures. Instead, they were either tight to edges, or tickling the fringes closely enough to be considered adjacent, at least to some degree. They were 'in the neighborhood'.

Here's how the pros adapted to conditions faced in 2004.

Wolf River and Winnebago Chain of Lakes, Wisconsin -- With a late spring, harsh weather conditions, and postspawn walleyes slow to disperse downstream from spawning marshes in the Wolf River, most contestants drifted and jigged holes and clam beds at riverbends, using lightweight jigs tipped with soft plastic, livebait, or both. Mini 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jigs positioned baits out and away from the boat to minimize spooking in relatively shallow water.

While some larger postspawn walleyes were caught on open-water trolling tactics in the adjacent downstream open basin of Lake Poygan, the females simply wouldn't respond in any number. In the closing hours, however, winner Tommy Skarlis and high finishers like John Kolinski upgraded limits caught in the river by trolling lightweight bottom bouncers, spinners and crawlers atop shallow 3- to 4-foot flats adjacent to the lake basin, targeting the few females that began moving shallow to feed.

Lake Sharpe, South Dakota -- With lake patterns suppressed by poor downstream dispersal from the dam, most contestants focused their efforts in the immediate tailrace area and within a mile or two downstream. The challenge became to effectively present livebait in the deep, swift current beneath the dam while maneuvering between the concentration of boats fishing the area. Contestants rose and fell in the standings each day under the inconsistent bite.

Mike Kulm

Dave Anderson