RIDING HIGH IN WESTERN RESERVOIRS DURING THE SPAWN
by Chad Richardson for Walleye Insider
Fishing for walleye during the spawn is legal on most western and southern reservoirs. The debate about open and closed seasons during the spawn is just that, debatable. In some cases it may be warranted to have closed seasons but in others, it's not. The consensus in western states is that most reservoirs do not get enough harvest pressure during the spawn to warrant closing the season. Most state agencies believe the opportunity it provides bank anglers to catch walleyes does not seriously affect the fishery. Meanwhile, the fine fishing may recruit new anglers to the sport.
That was the case with me – fishing during the spawning season hooked me on fishing, as a teenager. I remember trying to convince my mother to let me stay out with my buddies on a Friday night to fish for spawning walleyes. "The best bite is after midnight," I would plead. "We need to stay late to really catch the fish!"
I'm sure she thought it was an excuse to stay up late and run all over town with my buddies. I was, however, "the good son" and always did what I said I was doing. My brother, on the other hand, wasn't as good as a fisherman and always seemed to get caught doing things he wasn't supposed to be doing. Not that I was a saint; I just usually had a fish or two in possession as an alibi to prove my whereabouts.
I've been fishing for walleye during the spawn for a long time and have learned a lot since my teenage years. Here are a few tips and observations from a guy who has spent more than a night or two with his feet in the air and his butt lodged between two large boulders, after slipping on moss--covered rocks while navigating the face of a dam in the dark.
Basic Spawning Conditions
Most if not all reservoirs have riprap (large rock) dams and causeways.
Depending on other available habitat, these rep rapped areas generally
always attract at least a portion of the reservoir's spawning fish. If
you're unsure of spawning areas on your local reservoir, consult your
nearest lake biologists, and they should point you in the right direction.
Once the surface temperature reaches 40°F (mid-March through April, depending on latitude), walleyes move onto these shorelines at night to spawn. Females generally are not feeding but occasionally can be caught; the majority of the action is from males in search of females. The males feed readily, given the opportunity. Walleyes can be spooky when they're spawning. It's fun to shine a light on them to verify their presence, but don't expect to catch them immediately after shining. Use your headlamp only when necessary, and keep noise to a minimum.
Shore Tactics
Bumbling down a riprapped shoreline at night is a young man's game. I've
done it for about 20 years and still do it. I always like some sort of
headlamp, a fanny pack to carry stickbaits, a stringer, tape measure,
pliers, and a trout-style net with a bungee cord attached to the belt
of the fanny pack. Having everything you need in a pack is convenient
and simple. When the spawn is over, hang up the whole works in the garage
so it's waiting for you next fall – or next year.
Some guys get worked up about timing: Is it best before midnight, after midnight, or during the early morning? I've caught fish during all these times, so would suggest you just go when you can go. Some nights you catch fish, and others you don't; but you can't catch them if you don't go.
Jigs and plastics work to catch males, but crankbaits are a better choice to get a strike from a big female; therefore, I use crankbaits because they appeal to both sexes. I use heavier, plastic-bodied stickbaits instead of balsa baits – most of them cast better, particularly if you have a stiff wind blowing into shore.
