THE PRIVATE MARINA at Bayshore Bait and Hideaway is shown as it looked Tuesday. One dock was put in Monday, and the process of adding rub rails to it had begun; the second was poised for setup and was expected to be ready for the opening of walleye season. New rocks have been added around the point, and its surface was just leveled. (R. R. Branstrom/Daily Press photo)

KIPLING — Anglers began taking to Upper Peninsula waters Thursday to try their luck targeting walleye and pike.

Hopes were high about walleye opener, and one local business was working to make their place more attractive to visiting fishing enthusiasts.

Conditions seems right for a productive start to the season. Since the ice was late going out, walleye have recently spawned and are still up at the head of the bay. Later in the season, there will likely be fewer active in Little Bay de Noc as many head out to southern waters.

“From the reports we’ve been getting from a lot of guys who are out there perch fishing, they’re seeing a lot of walleye up by the river mouths and through the bay,” Jon Creten said Tuesday while working at Bayshore Bait and Hideaway in Kipling. “So I think with the warm weather coming, it’s only going to get better, and the opener should be really good.”

Since the winter of 2023 to 2024 had been so warm, area walleye spawned early and were no longer near the mouths by last year’s opener, said Keith Soderman, manager at Bayshore.

The bait shop this week started to see a noticeable surge of anglers shopping for the current season. In preparation beforehand, Bayshore had been stocking up on crawler harnesses, jig heads, and other tackle appropriate for spring walleye fishing.

Some preferred products at the shop have been Walleye’s Choice harnesses and Wicked Walleye harnesses, Soderman said, but most anglers troll, and a lot use bottom bouncers.

In addition to stocking the store, Bayshore Bait and Hideaway has made improvements to their private marina, which is for the use of guests at the Bayshore’s cabins.

Since their purchase of the Kipling bait shop and cabin rental business a little over a year ago, Chad (C.J.) Meier and Jeff Diebold have been working to upgrade the facilities.

The jetty that shoots out into the bay behind Bayshore had been overgrown; now, freshly trenched and leveled, it makes for an easier walk. Rock was added along the side, and new lighting was installed for the benefit of guests.

The cabins are fully booked right now, and the next month remains pretty full, but rental availability opens up slightly later in the season, Soderman said.

Thursday and today were expected to be good for walleye fisherman but with colder weather this weekend, the fish may hunker down, and “it might be tougher then,” Creten said.

While many anglers are targeting walleye, some look forward to fishing for pike, the season for which opened Thursday as well. One of those was young Kendrick Soderman, Keith’s son, who was regaling customers at the bait shop with tales of his past catches.