Walleye spawn season now???

[Caleb]

I was just wondering when do walleyes spawn. Few years ago while throwing a bomb fire outside at night around this time we saw dozens and dozens of I'd assume 30+ inch walleyes pass along this creek behind my cousins house. The creak was probably only 2 ft deep but they all seem to be heading up current. It was neat to flash a light at them and see all the mad glowing eyes. They school up in 30-50 before a ledge.

[youngie22]

Some one will post a better response I am sure, But... it has alot to do w/ water temp. In the spring once the water temps get close to forty and into the mid forties, they will be spawning. They do tend to go very shallow at that time.

[Scott K]

I would look for water temps in the 50s, depending on the weather, they should start spawning in a couple weeks. Most of the times they start spawning from mid to end of april, to the beggining of may, in shallow water, in creeks. But as a reminder during these times the season is closed, and they are volnerable in this stage, leave them alone to do their thing!

[Team Otter]

Water inlets and sand or gravel flats are typical spawning grounds for 'eyes. Things start happening when the water reaches ~45 F, generally speaking.

[Mike Walerak]

Whiel I can't give a an exact answer I can tell you what I know. Experiaece tells me that the males begin to milk when the water is in the low 40s and continue until the mid fifties. The females will drop there eggs once the water reaches the mid 40's. The photo period can be a triggering factor also from what I am told.

I was out today on the Mississippi River and found the larger saugers to be just starting to drop there eggs and the walleyes still plump full. Most of the male walleyes I caught were milking a little but not the full blown squirting that it will be in a week or two.

mw

[Dances with Walleye]

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Whiel I can't give a an exact answer I can tell you what I know. Experiaece tells me that the males begin to milk when the water is in the low 40s and continue until the mid fifties. The females will drop there eggs once the water reaches the mid 40's. The photo period can be a triggering factor also from what I am told.

I was out today on the Mississippi River and found the larger saugers to be just starting to drop there eggs and the walleyes still plump full. Most of the male walleyes I caught were milking a little but not the full blown squirting that it will be in a week or two.

mw

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So now when Walleyes spawn in a small river where do they head to...

My buddy has a lot on a River resevoir on the Upstream side of a Dam, we were planning to go there for opener, but my other buddy believes that the Walleye will be heading WAY up stream to spawn, and won't be anywhere near the Dam/Resevoir on opener weekend.

Is that a true assessment?

[Northlander]

Most likely they wont be at the top side of the d a m. I would look farther up river. Without knowing the area I cant really give ya much more but if theres another area where the eyes cant go any farther or you get bottleknecked I would try there. Any little creek inlets are also good.

[Dances with Walleye]

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Most likely they wont be at the top side of the d a m. I would look farther up river. Without knowing the area I cant really give ya much more but if theres another area where the eyes cant go any farther or you get bottleknecked I would try there. Any little creek inlets are also good.

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There is a feeder creek that pours into the upstream part of the resevoir about a mile upstream of the (Contact Us Please)...

Otherwise the River itself is only navigable for another mile or so past the in-flux of that feeder creek.

Thanks for the input!

[james_walleye]

It happens earlier than a guy realizes i know that. I'd bet that the eyes in these southern MN lakes gotter done already. It doesnt take much of a warm spell too get the lakes warm enough and it gets done in a hurry.

[anchor man]

What's the typical staging location right before and after the spawn. Will they be deep or will they have moved shallow just outside the spawning area???

[Team Otter]

The fish will stage, for awhile, near their spawning areas both before and after it's done. The biggest difference is that the fish are a touch more sluggish following the spawn.

[james_walleye]

Find a current area early in the season and fish it at night and hold on. They quite often spawn close too these areas and they hang around for quite some time and put the feedbag on. It can be hawg heaven and it can be done from shore in many locations.