After spawning, walleyes may remain in the spawning area if forage is present. But in most cases, such large concentrations of fish quickly deplete the available food, and walleyes must begin spreading out into the main lake’s warming, developing habitat to seek others sources of food. Thus after spawning, forage generally is the focal point for walleye activity. As forage goes, so go the walleyes.

In bodies of water with many forage types, different feeding patterns often develop. Potentially, walleyes may move many miles from spawning areas only a few days after spawning. Usually, however, patterns develop near spawning areas and dispersal, if it occurs, is gradual and predictable.

A—This spot lacks the structural diversity to hold walleyes for long. The fish will move to B, including the nearby sunken island near B. Eventually some walleyes may move to large, prominent bars in the main body of water; this depends on foraging conditions around B.

B—Covered in A.

C—Necked-down lake areas with current attract some walleyes all year long if there are holding areas in deeper water. That's the case here. Compared to bars in the main lake, however, this spot isn't much.

D—Similar to A. Walleyes move quickly to the nearby sunken island area and then to the major main lake bars between C and D.

Notes: Daytime walleye activity in most bodies of water will be shallow only if the water is dark. In fertile prairie lakes and reservoirs, for example, the shoreline may become the focal point for walleye activity. The lake above, however, has weedgrowth in 10 feet of water, so we know it's moderately clear. The only shallow daytime activity is likely to be relative to weedgrowth. Most of the walleyes will hold at the first drop-off or deeper.

As the season progresses from postspawn to presummer to summer peak, small groups of dispersed walleyes regroup and eventually gather in the best possible feeding areas. Summer peak is keyed by fish concentrated in prime feeding areas.

Fewer groups of fish mean it will be tougher to contact walleyes, but once you find them, grouped fish will likely be feeding aggressively. Summer peak offers some of the year's finest fishing.