Walleye are among the first freshwater species to spawn – usually in late February, so they are definitely active in wintertime. They generally spawn in the rivers over gravel or rocky shoals.
Do walleye bite when it’s cold?
Great catches of walleyes can be made not only because high numbers of fish are concentrated in relatively small areas, but because the species bites rather well in cold water. But this doesn’t mean they’ll chase down a bait.
Can you catch walleye in cold water?
The average high temperature in Minneapolis, Minn., in December is 23.7 degrees. Yes, that’s the high. “And when the really cold weather hits, you can find such incredible concentrations of walleyes in a small area that you may easily have the best day of your life.
What water temperature are walleye most active?
A:Jerry, believe it or not preferred water temp for walleyes is 70 degrees. This is the temperature they’re most comfortable in and also most aggressive.
Do walleye like cold water or warm water?
Best Water Temperature for Walleye
Many walleye are caught through the ice in ponds and lakes during winter months when the water temperature is much colder, but the best open water temperature begins at 65° and extends to 75°. Walleye do not like warm water as bass and perch will tolerate.
What do walleye do in winter?
As winter progresses and the water gets colder, walleye move into deeper water. In mid-winter, they are often found in basins that are 30-40 feet deep, and like to hold in areas that are close to more shallow structures, such as underwater hills or mud flats rising to a depth of 10-25 feet.
How do you catch walleyes in the winter?
When late-winter walleye really start snapping as the weather warms, turn again to jigs and spoons tipped with minnows. Ball-head jigs of 1/4- or 3/8-ounce work well in most situations, and you can hook the minnow by the head. To save on bait, push the hook point through the minnow’s mouth and up through the head.
How do you catch walleye in early winter?
Adding a 3- to 4-inch shiner minnow to the back of the jig makes the lure more appealing to wintertime walleye. If the fish keep short-striking the bait, add a number 4 or 6 stinger hook to the lure to increase your hookups. Knowing your jig retrieves can be a huge difference maker in the hunt for winter walleye.
How do you catch a walleye from a shore in the winter?
Winter is coming and they need to feed. Fish these walleyes with moving baits like swimbaits, crankbaits, and swimming jigs. Go for the most active fish first. If the bite isn’t happening on fast-moving baits, slow down and go with a vertical jigging approach.
How far off the walleye do you ice fish?
On clear lakes, the best depths are usually in the 10-foot to 20-foot range. However, fish movement does vary and depths as shallow as 2 feet and deeper than 20 feet can often be very productive as well. Live bait is most often used on tip-ups.
What is the best weather for walleye fishing?
weather. The best times to fish walleye are when choppy conditions create current, diminish light penetration, and stir up shallow water causing baits to be more active. Windswept shorelines also will be especially good. A great time for big walleye is the three days before and after a new or full moon.
Do walleye bite in 40 degree water?
Walleye bite well at -40 degrees F, if you can endure the cold and have a long enough auger to get through the ice. No low temperature on open water. If you can get on open water, the fish can be caught.
What triggers walleye to spawn?
The pace at which the sun warms the water determines the pace of the spawn. Similarly, shallow water warms faster than deep water, so spawning starts earlier and proceeds faster in streambeds than in lakes and reservoirs. Deep inland lakes can take a while to absorb sufficient sunlight to reach the trigger temperature.
What is the best time of day to fish for walleye in the spawn?
Generally, the best time to fish for Walleye is early morning and late evening. When the sun is high at midday, Walleye move deeper and hold tightly to shade providing Cover. During periods of low light however, Walleye will move in shallow to feed on baitfish holding close to shore.
At what water temp do walleyes spawn?
40 degrees
Speaking of rules of thumb, Hartman says that 40 degrees is the point at which walleyes typically start the spawn. The fish are almost always finished when the temps reach the mid-50s.
What temperature do walleyes prefer?
Southern walleyes prefer spawning temperatures between 48°F and 50°F, while their Yankee cousins and Canadian counterparts favor temperatures between 44°F and 48°F. In the extreme Far North, if those ideal conditions don’t arrive early enough, walleyes absorb their eggs and forego spawning.
Can walleye live in warm water?
But by mid-day, walleyes will seek out the warmest water they can find. They can often be in shallow water less than 10 feet deep. ” Bohn – Walleyes will travel miles to find slightly warmer water”. Even (1 to 2) degrees is a big deal.
Where does walleye go in 75 degree water?
mud flats
Mayflies hatch when water reaches 75- to 80 degrees. Walleyes will be drawn to the mud flats.
What depth do walleye like in winter?
Generally speaking walleye will hold to the same structure as they would during fall months during early ice. Slight drop-offs, sandy or rocky flats, green weed beds, and hard structure anywhere from 8 to 15 feet deep are great places to start.
How far should walleye be from the bottom?
Baits can be set within 6 inches of the bottom, even half that, which is often where the bait should be when Walleyes are only slightly active.
Where is walleye in January?
The coldest part of winter puts most walleyes in main basins of lakes and reservoirs, using deeper areas than they did during early winter or than they will toward the end of the ice season. Deep, of course, is a relative term, and mid-winter depths vary pretty dramatically from one lake to another.
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