In the world of Canadian fly-in fishing, the Walleye is king, not just for the sport, but for the legendary shore lunch tradition. Walleye possess a mild, flaky white meat that is widely considered the best-tasting freshwater fish in North America. After a morning of successful fishing, your guide will pull the boat onto a flat rock or sandy beach, start a fire, and fry up fresh fillets in a cast-iron skillet using a light breading like Shore Lunch or simple flour and lemon pepper.

To catch enough for the pan, most anglers rely on vertical jigging. A 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz VMC Moon Eye Jig tipped with a Berkley PowerBait grub or a live minnow is the gold standard. Walleye are often found in 'schools,' meaning once you find one on a mid-lake hump or a current break, you are likely to find dozens. This abundance makes them the perfect candidate for a sustainable harvest for lunch while releasing the larger 'trophy' spawners to maintain the lake's health. The experience of eating fresh Walleye over an open flame in the middle of the Canadian wilderness is often a highlight of the trip.