Skip to main content

Walleyes: Understanding Edge Fish

Walleyes: Understanding Edge Fish

A: The upper edge of the shallowest zone (shallow pivot point) where walleyes roam during and after twilight periods. Walleyes here may be near bottom, but often suspend up off the bottom, up to about halfway down.

B: The primary drop-off edge. Walleyes often travel up and down this edge on their way shallower or deeper, but they spend even more time traveling parallel to the edge as they hunt baitfish. Walleyes traveling and hunting along this edge often aren't tight to bottom but push 5 to 10 feet or a bit more away from the edge. That often puts them 5 to 10 feet or so above the actual bottom.

C: The deeper pivot point (base of drop-off) that fades into the lake basin. This is a primary holding area for walleyes in the hour before dark, but also as darkness sets in. Off course, walleyes may also be found well away from the primary pivot area, although they become hard to contact. Walleyes in deep water often hold right on the bottom or within a foot or two above it.

D: The area at the edge of open water just off the shallow pivot point, where Stange often catches large walleyes at first-ice and throughout the first portion of winter. This is an overlooked area for walleyes. These fish range from 3 to 5 to 10 or 15 feet above bottom and from 5 to 30 feet or more away from the drop-off edge.

Open-Water Zone: When walleyes travel with baitfish out in open water, they become hard to target. The primary high-percentage contact area remains along the edge of primary hard-bottom structural elements that project into the main lake.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

Trails End Outfitters at Tobin Lake - with Barry Prail and Anthony Kleinwacther

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

Finesse Tips for Great Lakes Smallmouth Bass with Capt. Ross Robertson

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...

Coors x Ross Reels Collab

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

Doug Stange: Early In-Fisherman Magazine Development

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Lift-and-Drop Baits For Walleyes

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Big Jigs for Big Walleyes

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Snap Jigs for Big Walleyes

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Big Walleyes Love Jigs Tipped with Soft Plastics

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Specialty Walleye Rigs in Rivers

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Late Ice with Legendary Ice Angler Dave Genz

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Proven spring crappie tactics

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal ...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Understanding the Seasonal Movements of Yellow Perch

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the In-Fisherman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use