Most days on the water, especially early in the spring is quality not quantity. As a charter captain who specializes in fishing for walleyes it's hard to imagine finding any better place to pursue my business than the Detroit River. I never promise limits or wall hanging walleyes. Once the visibility gets back to about 8 inches or as soon as you can see your prop in the water, these migrating sand lizards are here willing and waiting. Experienced anglers bring two or three changes of gloves, at least one being waterproof, because they know they'll be spending a lot of time changing rigs, handling baits and dealing with lively walleyes that are none too interested in taking their place in the creel or on the stringer. Wicking layers of lightweight clothing are recommended because conditions often change from balmy to stormy in just a few minutes. Walleyes are notoriously fond of baitfish, which means any lure or bait that resembles their favorite forage species will get the most looks. EDITOR’S NOTE: Mike Peluso is a long-time resident of Bismarck and one heck of a walleye fishing guide in the area. But the big gals are migrants, coming in from the baitfish-rich waters of Green Bay. However, this can cause problems for anglers as some spots, such as dams, become particularly crowded, because typically these are the places that the walleye will travel to when spawning. In large lakes, schools of walleyes can be anywhere at varying depths and often in places where only boat anglers can reach them. Believe it or not, I was one of the first … Certainly, give fellow anglers room to work the water around them, and don't be afraid to move upstream or down to find fish. Generally, the worse the weather the better the walleye fishing, which means anglers should head for the water prepared for anything Mother Nature can dish out. In the winter, anglers can find plentiful numbers of walleye when the ice thickness permits. The Tailrace is a whole other article to write about but let’s just say it’s a hidden gem in the world of fishing. You do have a crack at a personal best walleye every pitch of the jig or troll of a crankbait. Perhaps the greatest challenge to spring river walleye fishermen is the weather, which can vary from warm and sunny (not very good for walleye fishing) to blustery, stormy, rainy and cold. You’ll find me most years waiting in the parking lot as the front end loader is doing work. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means there’s really no need to fish the best walleye lakes, reservoirs or river stretches in the spring, because even smaller bodies of water containing less-than-stellar walleye populations have plenty of walleyes within a cast from shore. It was staggering for awhile how many fish over 13 pounds were being caught. I don’t consider myself old by any means, but I have piled up the time here to over 40 years. Spots with a current break or … We are looking forward to another fantastic walleye and sauger year on the Illinois River. If you want to keep fish to eat you can or if you want a fish for the wall you can do this also. Tagging efforts between the South Dakota and North Dakota Game and Fish have documented fish that have migrated over 100 miles in very short periods of time. Check him out at, 2021 ReviewYourGear.com, LLC - All Rights Reserved. Walleyes range in size from a few inches to more than 20 pounds, but the average spring river fish is likely to be in the 1- to 3-pound range, or about 20 inches on average. River walleyes are similar to lake fish in that they also follow roving schools of bait from pool to pool, and so it pays to fish a variety of deep holes until discovering a school of walleyes. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. To increase your walleye catch, you need to know when and where to fish. I couldn’t even try and give you a number of the number of walleyes I have caught over 8 pounds in my lifetime on this system. Once I get everything back to where it’s supposed to be, I start checking for damaged treble hooks. What makes the upper river portion of Lake Oahe so interesting year after year? The only problem you run into while trying to fish this way is other boats. Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week. Many anglers use standard spinning tackle with a 6-foot, medium-weight rod and 8-pound-test monofilament. For that reason it's not necessary for anglers to gear up with heavy tackle. River Gravel Beds. Things like how you will store and transport your kayak as well as where you will be fishing the most are all important considerations. This river was nicknamed the Big Muddy for a reason and when the tributaries break free of ice, it can bring in a lot of mud and silt. Walleye fishermen should approach a river in much the same manner as a summertime trout angler. It's much easier to pull off a layer or two if temperatures allow, but it's impossible to stay warm in a T-shirt and flannels when the wind comes up. Across the Walleye Belt, early spring is prime time to tap some of the year's best bites. Tools of the Trade: In order to begin walleye fishing a recommended tool is obviously a fishing rod, … Some anglers opt for baitcasting gear with braided line to thwart the inevitable snags, and some even use fly-fishing gear with monofilament line to take advantage of the longer rod's fish-handling capabilities. Once a lot of those wintering fish are caught we need the spring spawning run to begin. In the spring, it’s a sure bet that walleyes will migrate upstream toward the dams or marshes looking to spawn. Whites and pinks have always been my favorite colors. Spring walleyes are the first focus of fishermen as winter turns to spring. |   If it’s low and falling conditions, you will often times find those spring walleye right in the middle of the channel in some of the deeper corners. Indiana’s portion of the Ohio River … Expect company when the bite is on, and come prepared with extra lures, baits and terminal tackle for those days when snags seem to be the order of the day. High, cold water means walleyes will be sluggish, even more so than usual, but patient anglers can expect to creel a limit of fish if they pay attention to the signs and deliver preferred baits and lures to bottom-hugging 'eyes. G&F readers Bill, Jr., and Bill, Sr., Bayless with walleyes in early 2017 caught on the Clinch River, Ky. (Camera Corner image). Muddy Water River Walleyes. That’s when the fish start to seek out cooler water either back down on Oahe or all the way up towards the Garrison Dam Tailrace section. I also say, if you ain’t rubbing you ain’t fishing, a different version of Nascar. Find other great walleye fishing locations online. To be sure, below any given dam on a northern river there will be a degree of spawning walleye activity. 6 hooks for worm rigs should be more than adequate for most river walleye fishing. PHOTO CAPTION: In the spring, try a longer, thinner bait like these Walleye Elite Jerkbaits for walleyes. The basic tenets of river walleye fishing have not changed in 100 years. Did you also know it’s home of the new North Dakota state walleye record? This isn’t something that should detour you from giving this body of water a try, especially after our ice out which usually occurs right around the end of March. Here's a list of tools you'll need and how to get setup to become a DIY bow mechanic in your garage. Because spring is spawning time for walleyes, it makes sense to target holes featuring rubble or gravel as well as eddies and other slow-moving hotspots where these fish tend to stack up in dense schools. The shoreline of Green Bay has several tributaries which see a substantial influx of walleyes every spring. So often when targeting big walleyes early in the season, less is more. However, finding the walleyes for fishing in these areas can be little tricky if you don’t know where in these rivers they actually Hide. Basic bass-fishing gear will work fine for most river walleyes. Illinois Dept. Walleyes range in size from a few inches to more than 20 pounds, but the average spring river fish is likely to be in the 1- to 3-pound range, or about 20 inches on average. The damage is usually only a little paint, a little roughness on the prop, and maybe a water pump if this becomes a habit. Talk about an adrenaline rush! Experiment when the fishing is slow but go with what works for the locals when the bite is on. Home » Fishing » Spring River Walleye Fishing Tips for Monster Fish. Walleye fishing on Brookville Lake will start to warm up when April approaches. In either case, bring plenty of "ammo" because river bottoms are invariably rough and full of obstacles. Unlike those doing big-lake walleye fishing, river fishermen have the advantage of casting to a captive audience of sorts. Instead, look for river walleyes near shallow sandbars and similar physical features near deep water where forage species are likely to be found. Another huge bonus to coming out to Bismarck to fish is we have lots of other great things to do. One of the biggest misconceptions about the spring walleye run is that all the walleyes will spawn below a dam. I couldn’t even try and give you a number of the number of walleyes I have caught over 8 pounds in my lifetime on this system. Walleyes like current both for spawning and feeding, which makes rivers and sunken channels in reservoirs golden highways in the spring. I’ve fished them both and I have to say they are completely different. Walleye Rush Location Tips pa river walleyes, pennsylvania lakes, spring pa fishing, walleye fishing in pennsylvania Many of Pennsylvania’s lakes and rivers are populated with walleye. To get to them, you need something heavy. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. of Natural Resources - Fishing License. In the larger small rivers, you can go with a bigger boat. Walleyes tend to congregate in schools, which means anglers can expect fast fishing for same-sized fish once the bite begins. Simply said, this is action that absolutely anyone who wants to go fishing can take advantage of. As soon as these migrators are here is usually when you start finding these fish up shallow. You’re not limited by any means! Unlike a natural lake, the Missouri River seldom has two days in a row where things remain exactly the same. Fishing: Trout and walleye fishing are rated tops, and floating between Mammoth Spring and Hardy is excellent for beginning and intermediate canoeists. These small rivers can be fished from shore, an angler can wade, or you can fish from a small boat. You need to be able to distinguish between shallow and deeper water, logs and rocks can sometimes be mistaken for boiling currents. So what should one look for when trying to navigate the Mighty Mo? Not to worry though, you can usually find areas to fish how you like to fish. Most walleye anglers wait for ice-out on their favorite lake for early-season action with marble-eyes, but instead they could find excellent fishing for river walleyes in the waters that serve as inlets and outlets for those big-water walleye havens. Wherever walleyes live, there are small rivers that are home to these walleyes. G&F reader Charles Levee shows off a large walleye caught last year on the Columbia River (Camera Corner image). They treat the river as a catch and release fishery and have a lot of fun tussling with the big walleyes … Required fields are marked *. Unfortunately, these are sounds of folks that are high and dry on a sandbar somewhere, just trying to free themselves. Walleyes are found in larger lakes and rivers. River walleye fishermen should be ready to adapt to existing conditions and try to match rigs that other successful anglers are using. During the months of March and April, you can bet the river systems gain a lot of attention from local walleye anglers. You won’t be disappointed! Great. Look for areas with a transition from hard to soft bottom, such as rock to sand. Spring spawning and fishing locations Pinpointing walleye locations correlates mostly with the progression of the migration and spawn locations. River Walleye Fishing Tackle It wasn’t a good trolling season if I don’t have to sift through all of my trays and pluck out stray crankbaits that don’t belong. Yes, the elusive walleye record that stood tall for over 5 decades finally came crashing down right in the city limits of Bismarck in the spring of 2018. Because walleyes are popular schooling fish, it's generally considered proper etiquette to fish casting-close to other anglers, who sometimes are willing to impart their knowledge of the fishery and their own "secret" tactics to help other fishermen go home with a limit of 'eyes. Expect plenty of snags and prepare several terminal rigs ahead of time for quick and easy replacement. As spring meltwater increases flows, fish are often in deep holes directly downstream from dams, wing-dams, or other current breaks in the river. The Missouri River is a totally different experience for those who have ever fished the Rainy River or the Mississippi River. Often times, walleye will push up into shallow water areas to get away from the fast current out in the river.

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