Where Walleye Go After the Spawn (And How to Stay on Them)

Walleye anglers find a lot of success leading up to the spawn and during the spawn. But what about after the spawn is over? For a lot of people, they don’t know where these fish go, and have a hard time finding them at all. So do the fish just simply stop feeding, and you don’t have a chance at them until later in the season? Nope, they’re just in their transition areas. 

So once the spawning season ends for walleye, they end up in a few transition areas before they reach their summer grounds. What’s interesting about walleye, though, is that the males and the females don’t act the same way.

For males, they’re going to stick closer to the spawning grounds for a bit. Rather than moving on, they’ll stay close to these areas and feed aggressively. This makes it a great place and time to try for a limit of walleyes this time of year.

The females, on the other hand, act a bit differently. They start off a little bit less aggressively than the males do. They’ll also move off of the spawning areas relatively quickly, opting to spend their time in warming flats or muddy areas that are relatively close. Larger females can often be found separated from the rest of the fish, spending their time along rocky shorelines and other types of structure as they feed to build their energy back up.

So we know that the walleye don’t just go directly to their summer areas, and we know generally where they’ll be, but what about some specific areas to look out for when you’re out on the water? Here are some key places to look: 

Expansive shallow flats are a great place to start. These areas are usually some of the first places to get walleye after the spawn. They also tend to be the first places that heat up this time of year. If you can find these areas with slightly stained water, that’s going to be your best bet. When picking the best spot on the flats, look for areas with rocks, vegetation, or other kinds of structure that may hold fish. 

Another great place to look is around structural edges and break lines. These are usually the areas that break between where the walleye were spawning and where they plan to spend their summer months in the deeper water. Places like points, inside turns, and other steep dropping areas can all hold fish this time of year. These areas are especially good when the walleye are moving between flats and deeper water as summer approaches. 

If you’re fishing a body of water with a river or creek dumping into a lake, try fishing around the mouths of the river or creek system. These areas can also act as a transition area for the fish as they move from their spawning grounds to deeper water in the lake or reservoir you’re fishing.

When it comes to what to actually put in front of these fish, there are a few great options you can try. 

One of the best rigs you can toss to a walleye this time of year is a walleye jig with a minnow. You can use either live bait or an artificial plastic depending on your preference. These work great as they get to the bottom fast and can be worked really slowly, perfect for energy-depleted walleye that need to start feeding. The best way to fish this is by casting it out and slowly dragging it along the bottom back to you. Jigging can work too, but try to keep it slower-moving so the fish actually strike. 

If you’re looking to cover water a bit quicker, try casting some shallow jerkbaits. These are best fished along shorelines and over shallow flats when the water is still cold. When fishing these, take it slow on the retrieve and mix in plenty of pauses. If you’re fishing near break lines, add in a long pause just as you hit that drop, so that fish can rise up to check it out and bite. 

Crankbaits can be fished effectively for walleye after the spawn by either casting them out or by trolling them. This is a method best used on expansive flats without a ton of cover available. Whether you’re casting or trolling, make sure to keep the speed of the lure on the slow side. Casting crankbaits towards shorelines can also be really effective.