For early-season walleye, try these (literal) hot spots, tactics and baits

There’s no easy way to put it—early-season walleye fishing can be tough. That’s because walleye tend to be finicky and hard to catch when the water temperature is still below 15°C. They’re cold-blooded creatures, after all, so their level of activity is tied directly to the water temperature. The good news is, there are still ways to get these reluctant springtime fish on the line. The key is to find the warmest water in the system you’re fishing, which is where the walleye will be the most active. Here’s how to find those literal hot spots, along with the best presentations for stirring up some action.

 

TEMPERATURE CHECK

Once a lake has turned over after the warming weather, winds and currents have pushed off the ice, the water will have a consistent temperature of 4°C. This consistency is only short-lived, however. Springtime’s extra hours of sunlight and higher daytime temperatures will begin to warm up the water, although at varying rates throughout the lake. For example, shoreline edges and the shallows warm up more quickly. The areas around creek and rivermouths and feeder springs also tend to warm up faster, since the incoming water is warmer than the rest of the lake.

This warming effect triggers the walleye to become more active, and once the water temperature reaches 4.4°C to 10°C, they will begin to spawn. After spawning, they’ll take a few days to rest and recover, then move to the warm-water areas to feed on the forage already congregating there.

Note that this early-season feeding takes place in different areas of the lake than where you’ll encounter the prime summertime bite. Later in the spring, once the water temperature reaches 15.5° to 19°C, the walleye will move to those summer hot spots we know and love.

 

 

SEARCH OPTIONS

When it comes to early-season walleye fishing, the old saying that 10 per cent of the lake holds 100 per cent of the fish has a lot of truth. So, where is that 10 per cent? Once the walleye have left their spawning locations, but not yet moved into their summer haunts, the easiest way to find them is by seeking out those warmest parts of the lake.

So, before wetting a line, take some time to search for the warmest water you can find. A temperature difference of as little as 0.1°C or 0.2°C can make a real difference when it comes to fishing success. First, eliminate all deep-water areas, which will still be cold, and focus on water that’s less than 10 feet deep. Use your electronics to determine the water temperature, and take note of all your readings so you can return to the warmest areas once you’re ready to start fishing.

The northern and eastern sides of a lake are typically prime starting locations, since those areas receive the most sunshine. Also check shorelines with partially submerged rocks, which gather the sun’s heat and disperse the warmth to the surrounding water. Shallow bays, over dark-bottomed mud flats and sandy beaches are also good bets. And don’t forget to check out those creek and rivermouths, where warmer spring run-off water enters the system.

I keep a journal to document details of all my fishing excursions, including dates, times fished, locations, water temperatures, presentations, lure colours and the number of fish caught. As a result, I’ve developed a fairly extensive database of sorts to help me choose where to go fishing. During the early walleye season, I naturally focus on my temperature recordings to help zero in on probable hot spots.

 

TOP TACTICS

Although you’re looking for the warmest water to find the most active fish, it’s important to remember the water temperatures will still be lower than they would during the summer. That means the walleye will be less aggressive when feeding, making it necessary to use slower presentations and smaller baits. Here are the best options.

SLIP BOBBERS

One of my favourite early-season presentations is a slip bobber, which allows me to anchor over a hot spot and suspend a bait near bottom. In this situation, my go-to bait is a leech, which has a slow, enticing wiggle when suspended.

To set up a slip bobber, slide a bobber stopper onto your line, positioning it so the line below reaches your desired depth for the bait. Then slide on a small bead, followed by the bobber itself; the bead helps prevent the bobber from sliding up the line past the stopper. Next, I like to add a second bead under the slip bobber, followed by a second bobber stopper. That acts as an insurance policy to save my bobber from floating away in case the line below gets broken or bitten off.

Early in the season, I skewer the leech onto a small octopus hook, adding just enough splitshot 12 inches up the line to make the bobber sit upright in the water, with just the upper tip above the surface. I place the smallest splitshot closest to the hook, with the larger shot higher up the line. This helps ensure the fish don’t feel any resistance when they take the bait. As spring progresses and the water gets a little warmer, I swap out the single hook for a jig to give the fish a bigger, more colourful target.

JIGS

These are another excellent early-season presentation. Since you’re typically fishing very shallow water, try 1/16- to ¼-ounce jigs tipped with leeches or minnows. Cast and slowly retrieve them, rather than jigging vertically as you might during summer. My best success often comes when casting towards shore, then bringing the jig back towards the boat. In fact, I sometimes cast my jig right onto shore, then hop it into the water. Often, the sound and flash of the jig hitting the water will trigger a strike. If it doesn’t, I’ll slowly hop and twitch my offering along bottom, with short pauses.

Another options is to troll slowly at 0.5 mph and drag small, bait-tipped jigs. Let out approximately 50 feet of line so the shadow of your boat on the shallow bottom will be long gone by the time the fish see your offering. As you troll, periodically lift the jig to give it some action and hopefully trigger a strike.

Whether you’re casting or trolling a jig in the early season, don’t expect violent strikes. The bites will be light, so the moment you feel any weight or lose contact with your jig, set the hook. A gentle hookset works best, because walleye will often grab just the tip of the bait at this time of year; a hard hookset will only pull the jig out of the fish’s mouth.

LIVE-BAIT RIGS

Later in the early season, when there are larger areas of warmer water to cover, try trolling a Lindy rig, also known as a live-bait rig. When using these rigs in the spring, I thread a 1/16- to ¼-ounce bullet weight onto my main line, followed by a small barrel swivel. I’ll then tie on a three- to five-foot leader with a size 6 octopus hook baited with a leech. This presentation allows the leech to flutter naturally when you slowly troll the rig at between 0.3 and 0.5 mph.

Since shallow-water walleye can often be skittish, let out enough line so your  weight and rig are well behind the boat and its shadows. When a fish bites, start feeding it line as you continue to troll. Again, since walleye aren’t as active as they are during summer, this gives a biter plenty of time to get the bait completely in its mouth before you set the hook. I like to wait about 20 seconds on the first fish, then adjust the time accordingly depending on what happens. If I miss the fish or it’s only hooked on the tip of the lip, I’ll give the next fish a little more time. If the fish is deeply hooked, on the other hand, I’ll set the hook sooner the next time. It’s all part of the rewarding challenge of fishing for springtime walleye.

Saskatchewan contributor Mike Hungle fishes for walleye throughout the season.

BONUS TIP: DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Even under sunny skies, sitting in boat on a cold lake can be quite chilly in the springtime. Throw in a little wind, some clouds or a rain squall, and it gets even chillier. To stay comfortable and focused, dress in layers so you can adapt to changing conditions accordingly. Raingear is a must, and it doubles as an effective wind-blocking outer layer. Also bring a toque and gloves, which you’ll appreciate when driving the boat. Warm socks and shoes (or boots) are a good idea, too, and keep a towel in your boat to dry your hands after handling fish.