Catch Those Trophy Walleye After Spawning

In early spring as the days grow longer and the water temperatures rise, Walleye - being the most intelligent fish they have come to be known as, know that the time has come to abandon their winter haunts and begin the annual Walleye or Pickerel spawning migration.

Walleye are versatile both as a resident of many forms of open fresh water and also in their choice of prey,. In many cases some Walleyes spawn at the main body of a lake or reservoir while others spawn in tributary streams.

Spawning areas are usually one to 6 feet deep, with a bottom of baseball sized rock. Walleyes deposit their fish eggs in open areas , exposed to constant wind flow , so that the eggs are constantly aerated. River Walleyes usually spawn in areas with moderate current. Walleye stay in open water , not testing sheltered areas be they out of the way backwaters or sheltered bay areas.

Male Walleyes are the first to move into the vicinity of the spawning areas. Large numbers of males gather even though the water temperatures may be only a few degrees above freezing and spawning time is months away. Females begin moving in several weeks later, when the water temperatures reach the upper 30's to low 40's degrees Fahrenheit.

Walleye fish remain relatively deep until spawning time approaches. A week or two before spawning, they move into shallower waters and begin to feed more heavily. On some evenings, they mill around in the spawning locales, and then drop back to slightly deeper waters when the sun and daylight comes up. These nighttime movements become more frequent as spawning times approach.

The exact water temperature and temperatures at which Walleye and the Canadian Walleye Pickerel fish depends on latitude. Aquatic and fishing expert Gimli based K. Olson notes that the name commonly assigned to Walleyes in Canada in the fishing trades is "Pickerel". Walleyes in Northern Canada - who may be correctly called Pickeral - such as those found in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, may spawn at temperatures as much as 15 degrees lower than those in the South. In the extreme northern part of their ranges - The Canadian cousin of the Walleye fish , the Pickerel , have adapted to the colder Canadian climate and temperatures by spawning in temperatures in the 40 degree range while their Southern Walleye relatives make do in the 50 degree range.

Spawning times can differ as much as two weeks in waters in the same area. A shallow lake , for instance , warms much faster than a deep one, so that expert anglers know full well that walleye fish there will spawn much sooner and earlier in the seasons.

Because offshore waters warm more slowly, spawning on reefs may take place as much as two weeks later than spawning on shorelines and tributaries.

Finally after spawning is completed. Males stay near the spawning area up to a month time period, continuing to feed. Females begin to move toward their early summer locations soon after spawning. When recuperating they refuse all food after spawning. After their period of rest the Walleye fish now begin a time of most voracious feeding and feeding cycles and patterns.

Anglers who know where to find their prize during this post spawning feeding event enjoy some of the best fishing of the year, particularly for trophy class Walleyes.