Walleye Move Shallow??

[shorthairman]

Being in teaching and fall and winter coaching (not to mention squeeze in some hunting) I usually wind down my fishing about now, but this year I'm going to keep plugging away as much as I can. I see a lot of you keep your boats out until it ices up so I have a few questions for you guys. I was wondering if/when the walleye move back up shallow again, is there a certain water temp you are looking for? How shallow will they go? Also what kind of presentation do you find most successful? I'm about 8 hours away from Sakakawea so not making the trek up there, but I'm going to give it a go on Lake Francis Case. I would assume temps, tactics, etc. would be similar...

 

[eyexer]

In fall they can be found in all kinds of different depths. The water tends to be close to the same temp throughout the depths until the real cold weather moves in. I've had days in mid october where I caught them on jigs inside of 10' in the morning and on cranks in 25-30 in late morning throughout the afternoon.

 

[Rizzo]

Find the bait fish and you will find the walleyes. They transition their focus to young of the year white bass, perch, etc. Rippin raps, blade baits, glide baits, and 4+inch paddle tails are killer this time of year. Look for fish along steep breaks coming from shallow water out to the main channel. The steeper the break the better. Walleyes like to push bait up against the wall and you will often times find them near the top or up on top of the break. Rocks, weeds and trees tend to hold the bait so that's where you need to look. Big baits rule this time of year.

 

[Auggie]

Shallow walleye bite should be improving. They scatter once the turnover hits. That's when I usually troll deeper. But, I'll catch Walleyes on the ice in the trees in December too.

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Also, the shallow bite can be really good and fun (Walleyes breach) when frogs and salamanders return to bug water for winter hibernation.