The pro singled out one extremely important piece of equipment that must work properly for the walleye angler: a marine radio, either handheld or mounted in the boat. "Spring is a transition time from winter," Gofron said. "Big storms can blow up in a hurry at this time of the year, so it pays to watch the weather forecast so you know what to expect on a given day. And of course, keep the marine radio handy so that you can tune in and keep abreast of changing conditions."

Think that all this might be a bit much? Think again, said the longtime pro angler. "You can really take a pounding on the water during the early season," Gofron remarked. "Early spring storms have a way of really creating some rough conditions. I've seen waves from 4 to 9 feet during this time of the year. You can really find out how good your boat and your rain gear are. That's why pre-tournament preparation on your boat and safety gear is so important. If you get wet out there, it's very cold" -- not to mention potentially deadly.

Accordingly, Gofron, the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoors Games gold-medal winner, never leaves the boat ramp without a high-quality Gore-Tex rainsuit stowed away, relying on it both to help break the chilly spring winds and to keep him dry and warm all day long as his boat pounds through the early-season waves.

"When you're on the water at this time of year, if you get wet, you're going to really get cold," Gofron said. "Spend a few extra dollars on this gear, because when you need it, it will more than pay for itself. If you have an inferior suit or don't have one at all, a good day of walleye fishing can turn into a miserable day of fishing real quick."

Having ridden as a media observer with Gofron in the year he snagged his PWT Championship, I can testify to the value of a rainsuit in a walleye boat. With a 1- to 3-foot chop on the Missouri River, a Gore-Tex rainsuit spelled the difference between a comfortable day on the water and a miserable day as the champ staked himself to a wire-to-wire lead on the first day of competition.

Having ridden as a media observer with pro walleye angler Mike Gofron in the year he snagged his PWT Championship, I can testify to the value of a rainsuit in a walleye boat.

A final safety tip from Gofron to early-spring walleye anglers: Have all equipment ready to go before the boat's ever launched; pre-tie all rods, jigs, spinners, and live-bait rigs on dry ground before hitting a favored walleye hole. "I've got my equipment ready when I get out there," he said. "It may seem warm on the shoreline, but out on the water, the water temperature is in the low-to-mid 40s. That's going to influence the air temperature as well. Add in some wind, and it is always colder on the water than on dry ground. Get everything ready on the shore or even at home before heading out."

Once you've got the boat and safety equipment issues ironed out, it's time to hit the water in search of early-spring walleyes.

When his attention actually turns to fishing, Gofron will be on a quest to find some warmer water -- "warmer" being a relative concept. "You've got to look at the water temperature," he said. "That's very critical. Preferably, on an inland body of water, you want to look at the northern side of a lake. The sun will be on that water a little bit longer, so it's going to be a little bit warmer there. That will pull the baitfish in there and it will also pull in the walleyes."