Walleye fishing season is the best in spring during and after the spawning season. However, summer nights and fall months are just as good for fishing for walleyes. Just like the weatherman predicting weather that never seems to be correct, the right fishing time cannot be predicted as well. The right season is when the walleye seem to be the hungriest. This would be right after the spawn in spring. After spawning, the walleye rest for a few days before venturing out for food and the beginning journey to the open waters. Now is the best time to fish for walleye.
Even though the weather is a bit chilly, you will find that you have more strikes after spawning then you do all year long. The fish have had a slow feeding winter and the spawn takes everything they have left. They do not feed much during the spawn, so they are going to be hungry. At this time, it best to use small baits. The fish are hungry and ready to feed, but they are eating in small amounts right now in order to build up an almost dormant appetite. By watching weather reports, water condition and temperature reports, you can almost pinpoint the right time to look for walleye in rivers and by the lakeshores.
By tracking the water temperatures, you will have a better understanding of when to get out and start some fishing. Late April into early May will be a good time in some of the northern states such as Wisconsin. The temperatures of the water are just getting right for spawning and there are many areas to fish where the walleye are present. Rivers, small lakes, larger lakes with plenty of underwater rock formations and weeds and along the shorelines in shallow waters are going to be god places to start. The mouth of rivers is a good place to sit and fish for walleye as they start their venture back to the lake waters.Later in May by the weed beds is a great place to find walleye lurking. You can use a slip bobber and a minnow to drop in right above the tops of the weeds. This a good time to stay in the shallower waters because the water temperature is warmer and the weeds are growing good. The walleye will stay here until the time is right to head to the deeper waters. The best time of day is at dawn and dusk in shallow waters.
Other months of the year are going to be good for catching walleye as well, but you do need to contact some local bait shops for some local reports on how the walleye are biting. Some areas are better at different times. It still stands true that the best time to catch your limit is during and after spawning season in late April to the Middle of May. You want to catch them before they head to the deeper waters where they can hide and not be detected in some cases.
The one thing that all anglers do need to keep in mind when fishing for walleye during the spawning season is to never keep the females before they spawn. This is only going to hurt the walleye population in the future. Most anglers will fish the walleye at post spawning when everything is over and done. During the spawn, the females do not feed anyway, but the males do a little. By waiting until after the spawn, you will have more fish to choose from verses when the fish that are spawning.
