Post-Spawn Walleyes

[EYEHUNTER10]

Just wanted to get a few opinions of what we can expect for opener with the colder water temps and if we think they all have finished spawning and will be in re-coop mode I'm wondering myself the water is 50 degrees after being a strong 58 degrees 2 weeks ago I'm pretty sure they all spawned good when that happened so this is not really a question of what lake to go to or nothing like that but rather what to do when we get there as most of us will be targeting shallow lakes and rivers unless this weather trend does a huge flip flop???? I will for sure be targeting lake 45 feet deep or less but most likely much shallower and most of these lake have some classic structure and deep basins ect .

[danfall]

Typically, if water temps are uncooperative for opener, I battle it a couple ways. First, if the weather blows, sometimes I blow off the opener. Nothing like a week later and 65 and sunny versus 50 and rain/wind. Sometimes I've even just shore fished with the boat on the trailer. Sitting in the car drinking coffee watching a bobber, but that is worst case only.

I target shallower, smaller lakes with basins that can warm faster. I am not experienced on whether darker water warms faster than clear water, but it may/may not depending upon bottoms. It usually is the bottom I look for... I try to find north bays with darker bottoms, or lakes that are oriented NS, and then I fish the north end.

Smaller baits versus larger as well, and with every drop in degree temperatures, the presentations slow. I'll use a lindy rig with a cheater tiny split shot and pull a bait across the bottom ASAP (as slow as possible).

If I can't call a walleye bite for anything, I'll switch to try for notherns or even sunnies. I have a fishing mindset, and sometimes certain fish might be a waste of time. One year in Canada, we couldn't keep the smallies off our line. I was frustrated for three days that the walleyes didn't even have time to bite for us. Then I chilled out and realized how much fun the smallies were, and we caught one 21".

[gunflint]

I think it depends on where you are. I was at the Seagull River today at the end of the gunflint and the water temp is 38 degrees.

It's a good question though. If they have already spawned and then the water temp goes below spawning temp I would probably stay shallow and try to find the warmest bays preferably where the bait fish are spawning.

If the thermocline hasn't developed they could be anywhere. I would follow the bait fish.