Pre-spawn

Understanding the walleye pre-spawn period

As soon as walleyes start assembling in their spawning area, this is a good indicator of the beginning of the pre-spawn period. Every year is different, it's the water temperature that triggers the walleye's biological clock that will tell them to move towards their spawning areas. Biologists have identified that walleyes will usually begin spawning when the water temperature is somewhere between 40˚f and 50˚f. Males are just like military, first ones in and last ones out of the spawning location! Since the pre-spawn period is mostly related to water temperature, it could start even if the lake, river or reservoir is still covered with ice!

Walleyes will usually stay in there pre-spawn location for about a month. Their preferred locations for spawning is among broken rocks / gravel in shallow water (1-3 foot range). They will occupy those preferred locations during the night and in the day they will rest in quiet pool containing 10 to 12 feet of water.

Keep in mind that walleye metabolism is slow during the pre-spawn period and you lure presentation must be very slow is you are allowed to fish!