Three Strikes On Your Route

Most natural lakes with naturally reproducing walleye populations feature at least one of three basic types of spawning areas where walleyes deposit eggs across a shallow (2- to 6-foot-deep) expanse of fist- to head-sized rock. Find such spots when spring water temperatures are in the high 30°F to upper 40°F range, and walleyes are usually somewhere nearby. Catching them isn’t difficult once you find them.

Strike one—Rocky feeder creeks, incoming streams, and causeways spanning flowing water where rocky bottom is swept by current. Since creeks and streams tend to warm quickly in spring, such spots usually attract the earliest spawning-related activity. Flowing water also tends to attract minnow forage, furthering the attractiveness of inlets to walleyes. These are great places to fish shallow at night, with the adjacent deeper water outside the creek mouth a hot spot for daytime angling. A sufficiently deeper hole immediately downstream from a causeway, however, can sometimes hold fish during the day as well.

Strike two—Rock-gravel-boulder shorelines and extended points where wind-generated current oxygenates eggs deposited in the nooks and crannies between rocks. If suitable areas are limited, walleyes will concentrate heavily along drop-offs. If rocky shorelines are abundant, prespawn walleyes may spread along shoreline areas throughout the lake. All else being equal, shorelines receiving the brunt of wave action due to predominant wind direction tend to be best. Shallow, rocky narrows areas are particularly good candidates. Fish shallow at night, deeper during the day.

Strike three—Shallow rock reefs swept by wind and waves. Generally located amidst deeper cooler water than shoreline spots, reef areas tend to warm slower and host the latter portion of the walleye spawn. Shallow offshore reefs are exposed to wind from all directions, as opposed to shorelines that are sheltered from certain wind directions.

Curve ball—In some areas, chains of natural lakes were created by installing small concrete spiller dams across outflow creeks and raising lake levels as little as 5 feet or so, expanding the original acreage and often permitting boat navigation between several connected waters. Prespawn walleyes may cluster at night immediately below these mini dams, dropping downstream during the day to the first available deeper water. In rare instances, walleyes may even gather above the dam where water exits the upstream lake. Seldom, however, is the outflow above the spiller dam a major draw for spring walleyes. With current being such a strong spring walleye attractor, though, such areas are worth a quick check at night unless soft bottom precludes any possibility of spawning.

Knuckleball—In natural lakes lacking any of the aforementioned shallow rock areas, walleye populations may exist, although they are typically sustained by stocking. In spring, fish instinctively tend to make spawning runs (even though unsuccessful) toward current areas, silted-in shorelines with scattered rock, or something at least resembling a spawning site. Such less-than-classic spots may provide decent to excellent spring fishing, depending on the fish population and how tightly fish gather near them.

Game plan—Interpret the timing and progression of the spawn to take advantage of peak fishing conditions spanning a one- to two-week period. Basically, look for creek spawners early in the game, main-lake spawners throughout the middle innings, and reef spawners to close out the action. Fish adjacent deeper options—drop-offs, cover—during the day, and proceed right up into a couple feet of water at night, often right along the shoreline. Where walleyes concentrate heavily in limited key spots, you can often catch ‘em right from shore, or by wading. Where fish tend to spread out across wider areas, a boat is usually necessary to cover the bases.