Pre-Spawn Walleye to Target

[Vollmer]

With spring coming (eventually), how do you tackle the pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn walleye?

Where? When? What water temp do you look for?

Anyone hit the Rainy River? Hit the MO?

How do folks attack the big lakes?

We usually have a blast during a run in the DL area every year (off-shore).

I generally get excited when the water temps are in the 45-50 degree range. Focusing shallow gravel areas in lakes.

 

[Kickemup]

Jig and a minnow right after ice out. Moved slowly along the bottom. Once the water warms. I'll switch over to plastics and fish faster. I don't go off water temps to much. I usually start with the minnow and if they are aggressive I'll switch to plastics.

 

[Downrigger]

With spring coming (eventually), how do you tackle the pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn walleye?

Where? When? What water temp do you look for?

Anyone hit the Rainy River? Hit the MO?

How do folks attack the big lakes?

We usually have a blast during a run in the DL area every year (off-shore).

I generally get excited when the water temps are in the 45-50 degree range. Focusing shallow gravel areas in lakes.

I've done the Rainy 4 times. Hit it right once and missed it 3 other times. When you hit it right it is a lot of fun. When you hit it wrong it is not a lot of fun but might be able to tie into a sturgeon. Haven't been there the past 2 years.

Usually target shallow flats like Kickemup stated with a jig and minnow for the pre-spawn. Post spawn I'll start casting plastics and #5 cranks when I can. Never gotten into the DL Shore Fishing before.

 

[KDM]

Same spots with jig 'n minnow or plastic. Mostly depth breaks on gravel flats and the current seams where fish can rest up. The trend I see in the spring is small males early, small males, big males, and a few females during spawn, Everything post spawn. Faster retrieves tend to get aggressive male bites and the slow almost lay on the bottom type retrieves get the bigger males and females. Patience is KING in the SPRING!!!!!

Guess I should have answered the questions better....

Sheyenne River at any time the ice is out works for walleyes. Water temp hasn't seemed to make a difference on catching fish. Use the smallest jig possible. I have used 1/16ths and 1/32nds in the spring with just a minnow and found good success. larger jigs will get bit, but a greater percentage of the bites will be short and just strip the skin off the minnow instead of getting a hookup. Don't forget the bobber rig either. A slow moving jig and minnow under a small bobber going the exact speed of the current about a half inch above the bottom has turned up more limits of fish then I can count.

 

[SDMF]

With spring coming (eventually), how do you tackle the pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn walleye?

The water's pretty cold to be trying to tackle anything. Plus I bet the fish are faster than I can tackle anyway.

 

[Vollmer]

^ dont sell yourself short

 

[LBrandt]

^^^^^ and you would have to factor in shrinkage.

 

[johnr]

I heard catching fish during this time period makes you a racist, or something like that. The more like Minnesota we can become the better fisherman we will all be.

#spawningwalleyelivesmatter

 

[tikkalover]

Between now and ice out, get the titty sprinkle out of my way, as I will be speeding south or north after work. After ice out, in my line of work, it depends on the soil conditions, and the weather, whether or not I can fish. Most of the time camping and fishing doesn't start until July 1.

 

[Tikka280ai]

find a bridge around devils lake 3/8 ounce jigs and and walleye assasin. Throw it as far as you can and retrieve slowly

 

[wildeyes]

Pre- spawn is such a short window doesnt last long on the mo. Small jigs with minnows shallow with deep water close little to no current at this time,spawn thank god they all dont do this at the same time. lots of males. post spawn game on. Over the years i would fish jigs/ minnows from ice out to post spawn now i will pull cranks as soon as i get on the water. I look at water temp to give me a general idea where the fish are in the spawn cycle and if it drops alot (because of a rain or snow) give me a starting point to find fish. I like it when the dam is releasing water to the point of raising water, it seem to bring the bait fish and fish up the river farther. years ago would follow the big fish all the way to the dam but after the flood screwed that up a bit. I noticed last year there was some normal to this migration and will be doing that again. I dont know about u-all but there is something special about being on the river early in the year, the world around you is on mission and the wildlife is coming alive. love it.

 

[Huskerdu]

Plastics for early river walleye try B N Fishing Moxies and ring worms. Ripple shads work after the water warms on DL

 

[SlamminSalmon]

On the mo I work current breaks pre spawn depth doesn't seem to matter. The fish are looking for an easy meal. I'll pick to the edge of the current and let the jig and minnow roll down with the current and as it comes out that's when they usually hit. Shallow calm water on sunny days works well also as they seem to sun themselves. Probably just looking for warmer water.