Targeting Pre-Spawn Walleyes
By: Jonathan Dietz
February 3, 2020
One of the most anticipated events in the fishing season is the movement of big prespawn walleyes. These fish are highly targeted by millions of anglers not only for their challenging catch but also for their fight and table fare. Walleyes are among the most sought-after fish in the country, and the prespawn period offers anglers a unique opportunity to catch high quantities and quality fish funneling through small areas. This time of year also presents the chance to catch the biggest fish of the entire year, as large females move into shallower waters full of energy and eggs.
One of the most anticipated events in the fishing season is the movement of big prespawn walleyes. These fish are highly targeted by millions of anglers not only for their challenging catch but also for their fight and table fare. Walleyes are among the most sought-after fish in the country, and the prespawn period offers anglers a unique opportunity to catch high quantities and quality fish funneling through small areas. This time of year also presents the chance to catch the biggest fish of the entire year, as large females move into shallower waters full of energy and eggs.
However, prespawn walleye fishing can be a frustrating experience if you don't know where to look and what baits to use. In this article, we’ll delve into the best times to start looking for prespawn walleyes, where they are likely to be staging, the most effective baits to use, and how to avoid the crowds.
Table of Contents
Time Of Year And Location
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Understanding the Prespawn Period
The prespawn period for walleyes marks the time when these fish begin transitioning from their deep winter habitats to their spawning grounds. This journey typically begins in early February, with walleyes moving from their traditional feeding areas and deep winter holes to shallower spawning locations.
Where Do Walleyes Spawn?
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Walleyes spawn in two primary types of locations: larger rivers that lead into the main body of water and rocky shoals in shallower lake waters. These fish require specific conditions—such as proper gravel, depth, oxygenated water, and sunlight on the eggs—for a successful spawn. Understanding these requirements can help you locate the best spawning areas on your local water body.
Scouting for Prespawn Walleyes
Scouting for prespawn walleyes involves fishing just outside of potential spawning locations since most walleye seasons close during the actual spawn. Some walleyes will arrive early, while others will spawn later, allowing you to catch them moving to and from spawning areas before and after the season closes. Additionally, observing large concentrations of anglers can help you identify prime spawning spots.
Walleye Migration
How Walleyes Move from Wintering Areas
Walleyes transition from their wintering areas to spawning grounds in a deliberate and methodical manner, stopping at ambush points along the way. These staging areas serve as refueling stations where walleyes can feed before continuing their journey. Identifying these ambush points—such as humps, drop-offs, and rocky areas—can greatly improve your chances of intercepting migrating walleyes.
Ambush Points: The Key to Success
Ambush points are critical for successful prespawn walleye fishing, as these areas act as feeding stations for walleyes en route to their spawning grounds. Just as you would stop at a gas station on a road trip, walleyes stop at these points to feed and gather energy for the spawn. Targeting these ambush areas can lead to more successful fishing outings during the prespawn period.
The Best Baits for Prespawn Walleyes
Choosing the Right Baits
Selecting the right bait for prespawn walleyes can make the difference between an average day and a phenomenal one. While being in the right location is crucial, the choice of bait depends on factors such as weather conditions, time of day, fishing pressure, and whether you're fishing on ice or in open water.
On Ice
When ice fishing for prespawn walleyes, vertical presentations are essential. Starting with aggressive, attention-grabbing baits like Rapala Rippin Raps and VMC Rattle Spoons can help you cover water quickly and target more aggressive fish. If the fish aren’t responding, you can downsize to less aggressive options like Tingler Spoons or jigs with minnows.
Adjusting Baits Based on Fish Behavior
To maximize your catch, it’s important to adjust your bait based on the behavior of the fish. If walleyes are showing interest but not committing, switch to something less aggressive, like a Tingler Spoon or a Jigging Rap. Reading the fish’s behavior and adjusting your tactics accordingly is key to successful prespawn fishing.
Having confidence in your bait is crucial, but don’t hesitate to experiment with different options. While many baits can catch fish, understanding how to read the fish’s behavior and adjusting your approach can significantly increase your success on the water.
Some of my other favorite aggressive baits include Rapala Slab Raps and Rapala Jigging Shad Raps. These baits are my go-to options when I first hit the water. If the fish aren’t biting, I switch to more finesse approaches, such as the VMC Tumbler Spoon and VMC Flash Champ, which are effective when the fish are more finicky.
Open Water
Open water fishing during prespawn allows you to cover more ground in a shorter amount of time, making it easier to locate fish. Depending on the size of the area you’re targeting, you can either troll baits or cast and retrieve. Trolling is effective for covering large areas, while casting allows for more precise presentations in specific locations.
Casting Baits
When casting for prespawn walleyes, consider using a variety of baits, including plastics, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, blade baits, jerkbaits, hair jigs, swimbaits, and live bait. The choice of bait depends on the type of structure you’re fishing and the preferences of the fish. For example, in areas with heavy cover, a jig with a soft plastic trailer or a slow-retrieved crankbait can be effective.
Crankbaits and jerkbaits are particularly useful for targeting walleyes in open water. Some of my favorite casting crankbaits include the Original Floating Rapala, BX Minnow, and Shad Rap. These baits can be retrieved steadily or with pauses and twitches to mimic the erratic movements of baitfish, triggering strikes from walleyes.
Trolling Baits
Trolling for prespawn walleyes involves using baits that can effectively cover water while staying in the strike zone. Blade baits and lipless crankbaits are excellent choices for trolling, especially when you’re targeting walleyes on clean, sandy, or rocky bottoms. Varying the speed and cadence of your retrieve can help you find the right presentation that triggers strikes.
Check out our guide on the Best Walleye Trolling Lures
When fishing with swimbaits, hair jigs, or live bait on a jig head, use these as search baits to cover water and locate groups of fish. Once you’ve found the fish, you can switch to more targeted presentations to maximize your catch.
A few of my favorite baits to troll this time of year are going to be Rapala Tail Dancer, Rapala Shad Rap, Bandit Generator Walleye Deep Diver, Strike King Walleye Elite Bonzai Shad, Storm Deep Thunderstick Madflash, Storm Thunderstick Madflash, Bandit Walleye Shallow Diver, and Bandit Walleye Deep Diver. These are a few good starter baits that will also cover you as far as hard baits are concerned. For worm harnesses I like a couple different types. If the water has good visibility, 3 or 4 feet minimum, then I like a Dutch Fork Stainless Steel Willow Leaf Blade Harness. If the water has more stain too it then I’m going to go with a Dutch Fork Stainless Steel Colorado Blade Harness. The Colorado blade is going to provide more water displacement and more thump to attract these fish from more of a distance. I also really like the Mack’s Smile Blade Double Whammy Walleye Rig for doing more drift fishing or slower trolling. This bait has a better action at slower speeds.
As with anything you’re going to need to experiment with baits, depths, the amount of line you have out, colors, etc.. This is done in order to figure out the best combo for the fish during the time of day you are fishing. You might run one of each of the baits listed or you may end up running all of the same lure. It is just going to depend on what you are getting bites on and what depths you are fishing.
Dealing With Crowds
Beat the Crowds
The worst part of prespawn walleye fishing is dealing with crowds of anglers. Many fishermen will simply follow the crowds, assuming they’re on fish. However, knowing the area you’re fishing inside and out can help you stay ahead of the competition and avoid crowded spots.
Outsmart the Crowd
The best way to outsmart the crowd is to truly know the area you’re fishing. Understanding the contour changes, bottom composition, and subtle irregularities on flats will help you identify the “spot on the spot” where fish are likely to be holding. This knowledge allows you to target specific areas where other anglers might overlook.
Additionally, being willing to move and change your tactics can set you apart from other anglers. Experiment with different baits, colors, and presentations until you find what works best. If you’re fishing in a crowded area, positioning yourself slightly away from the group can help you target fish that avoid the commotion caused by other anglers.
Understanding Movements Related to Weather
How Weather Affects Prespawn Walleyes
Weather patterns play a significant role in prespawn walleye behavior. During the prespawn period, cloudy days can extend the primary bite window, while sunny days shorten it. Understanding how weather influences walleye movements can help you time your fishing trips for the best results.
Wind and Water Temperature
Wind can have a major impact on prespawn walleye fishing by creating favorable conditions for feeding. Wind breaks up surface tension, creates current, and moves warmer surface water into smaller coves or along windblown banks. These areas can become hotspots for prespawn walleyes as they seek out the slightly warmer water.
Moon Phases and Fish Activity
Moon phases also affect walleye activity during the prespawn period. Fish tend to be more active during full moon phases, especially at night. If you have limited days to fish, planning your trips around the moon phases can increase your chances of success.
By understanding these factors and applying the strategies outlined in this article, you’ll be well-equipped to catch more and bigger walleyes during the prespawn period. Good luck, and tight lines!