04-25-2024, 12:51 PM
Hey guys. Thanks for all the supportive replies. Glad my pictorial ramblings still get a few "followers". I enjoy fishing and being able to provide some fish porn for fellow addicts.
Just a couple of notes:
1. The south marina is probably a bit busier due to the current construction project at the north marina that has sent more anglers south for at least the time being.
2. Good walleye fishing is likely still a few weeks away. We are getting a few post-spawn fish now...some more than others...but until water temps climb over 60 to about 65 it will not become "wide open". But once the post-spawn/cold water lethargy is over I am predicting some wunnerful wallie action this year. DWR has been spawning out a lot of walleyes and dumping in a whole bunch of new hatchlings the past few years. And each year we see more and more good sized fish being caught. Based on previous 2 years planting numbers it would seem this year could be a bananer year.
There have already been more walleyes reported this year than most years this early. But most anglers are doomed to seeing more on "TV" than on the end of their line until the water warms just a titch. However, once the temps climb a bit and the post spawn fish get active...hold on for the ride.
For those who are not familiar with the biology involved, the walleyes' main source of food is the gizzard shad. Last year's hatch has either died off or grown too large for all but the largest predators to swallow. So the walleyes, wipers, crappies, catfish, bass and any other predators gotta scrounge up what they can for groceries. And there is a lot of competition for any available food source. The shad spawn during April-May. Until the new hatchlings grow to at least 1.5 - 2" (usually by about July) all the predators have to scrounge for aquatic insects (midge larvae), the scarce spottail shiners and log perch, last year's young yellow perch and baby catfish and anything else they can find. The hungry and aggressive walleyes we catch in the next weeks before newly hatched shad are big enough to eat will have a lot of "make do" food in their tummies...even including some crawdads.
So, once water temps are up just a titch, walleye fishing will be sporadic. Some guys will find active fish in select small areas. Most will not. But once the water warms enough to get them active and hungry it will be wide open for a few weeks...usually from about the end of May through the first week or so in July. That's usually about when the wallies begin to glut on the huge schools of newly hatched shadlets and largely ignore the silly stuff anglers drag by them.
And no matter what kind of fishing you prefer...dragging crawler harnesses very slowly to speed trolling over 3 mph...you will catch walleyes. Of course there are a lot of variables from day to day...in terms of best areas, best depths, type of lures, color combos, etc. And due to weather, weird wallie anomalies, water clarity & temps, etc., the hot lure, color, depth and speed can change from day to day...and even during the same day. Always good to go well equipped with the gear to adapt to any set of conditions you find on any given day...and always be ready to change it up when the action drops off.
Just a couple of notes:
1. The south marina is probably a bit busier due to the current construction project at the north marina that has sent more anglers south for at least the time being.
2. Good walleye fishing is likely still a few weeks away. We are getting a few post-spawn fish now...some more than others...but until water temps climb over 60 to about 65 it will not become "wide open". But once the post-spawn/cold water lethargy is over I am predicting some wunnerful wallie action this year. DWR has been spawning out a lot of walleyes and dumping in a whole bunch of new hatchlings the past few years. And each year we see more and more good sized fish being caught. Based on previous 2 years planting numbers it would seem this year could be a bananer year.
There have already been more walleyes reported this year than most years this early. But most anglers are doomed to seeing more on "TV" than on the end of their line until the water warms just a titch. However, once the temps climb a bit and the post spawn fish get active...hold on for the ride.
For those who are not familiar with the biology involved, the walleyes' main source of food is the gizzard shad. Last year's hatch has either died off or grown too large for all but the largest predators to swallow. So the walleyes, wipers, crappies, catfish, bass and any other predators gotta scrounge up what they can for groceries. And there is a lot of competition for any available food source. The shad spawn during April-May. Until the new hatchlings grow to at least 1.5 - 2" (usually by about July) all the predators have to scrounge for aquatic insects (midge larvae), the scarce spottail shiners and log perch, last year's young yellow perch and baby catfish and anything else they can find. The hungry and aggressive walleyes we catch in the next weeks before newly hatched shad are big enough to eat will have a lot of "make do" food in their tummies...even including some crawdads.
So, once water temps are up just a titch, walleye fishing will be sporadic. Some guys will find active fish in select small areas. Most will not. But once the water warms enough to get them active and hungry it will be wide open for a few weeks...usually from about the end of May through the first week or so in July. That's usually about when the wallies begin to glut on the huge schools of newly hatched shadlets and largely ignore the silly stuff anglers drag by them.
And no matter what kind of fishing you prefer...dragging crawler harnesses very slowly to speed trolling over 3 mph...you will catch walleyes. Of course there are a lot of variables from day to day...in terms of best areas, best depths, type of lures, color combos, etc. And due to weather, weird wallie anomalies, water clarity & temps, etc., the hot lure, color, depth and speed can change from day to day...and even during the same day. Always good to go well equipped with the gear to adapt to any set of conditions you find on any given day...and always be ready to change it up when the action drops off.