Where To Target Walleyes After They Spawn
Depending on the time of year that you decide to chase after walleyes, you’re going to need to mix up the methods you use and the locations you try in order to have a successful day on the water. One great time to go after these fish is during the post-spawn season. But where do you actually find them during this time? Let’s dive in.
Post-Spawn Walleye Migration Patterns
After the walleyes are done spawning in the shallower areas of lakes and rivers, they start to move to the cooler, deeper waters where they tend to spend the warmer months. Usually, this migration will occur within 10 miles or so of their spawning grounds. Some of the main things that influence when this migration is going to start to happen are water temperature, food availability, and structures that they like to hang around in.
Where To Look For Post-Spawn Walleyes
The specific areas you’ll want to look for post-spawn walleyes will change depending on where you’re planning on fishing.
In main lake areas, you’ll have a few different things to look for. Rock piles and rubble flats are a solid first thing to look for. Walleyes love finding these areas in some deeper, cooler water. Emerging vegetation beds can also work really well. Deep shoreline and undercut banks are a third place that you can typically find walleyes after they spawn.
If you’re fishing more transitional areas, you’ll want to look for mid-depth shelves with plenty of baitfish or other food that are in between the spawning areas and the deeper water where they’ll spend the warmer months. Sand bars, rocky bottoms, and emerging vegetation area all great things to look for.
If you’re fishing in a river system, things are slightly different. You’ll want to look for deep holes formed near their spawning grounds and near gravel bars. Slack-water pools and eddies can also be a great place that holds post-spawn walleyes. Additionally, don’t forget to find some channel edges and current breaks.
How To Fish Post-Spawn Walleyes
Post-spawn walleyes are hungry and ready to feed, making them perfect targets for a variety of fishing methods. When it comes to what to actually try to catch them, here are two solid options:
Jig With Bait:
Nothing beats a well-presented jig for post-spawn walleyes. Look for fish hanging out in some of those post-spawn areas, and once you mark some, you can start fishing. You can either vertical jig if they’re in some deeper water, or you can cast out and pull the jig through the water column where you’re seeing fish to trigger a strike. As for bait, both live and artificial work great. Two of the best live bait options include worms and leeches.
Trolling:
This classic method helps you cover tons of water efficiently. Try diving jerkbaits or crawler harnesses to entice aggressive fish. While you can catch fish all day with this method, it’s not a bad idea to give it a try at night, especially when the moon is full.