Walleye Location = Water Temperature + Structure + Food

Unlike other species of fish, walleyes will hold tight to vegetation or wood at times, and haunt the rocks or cruise the sand or mud. They can be on the bottom of the water column, near the top, or anywhere in between. More than one pattern can be at work in the same body of water at the same time. Obviously, it's easy to over-think the process of eliminating unproductive water.

But finding walleyes isn't as hard as it seems. Two factors dictate walleye movements. They're cold-blooded, so they respond to water temperature. And like an army, they travel on their stomachs, always searching for food. With those things in mind, you can find a game plan that works.

Top walleye pro Jason Przekurat developed an easy mantra to remember that will offer a good hint on where to start. North to South, Inside and Out.

Ted Takasaki

Northern areas of lakes and reservoirs warm first, especially if that's where the feeder river and creeks empty in, so that's where you'll find active fish first. After the spawn, fish move south along the shoreline structure. As water warms more in natural lakes, they migrate from shallow shoreline to deep-water, mid-lake structures. Their main characteristic is here one day, gone the next. They are on the move, so you must be, too. Putting fish in the boat is a matter of the right location, the right presentation, and enough confidence to know you can do it.

Start by buying a map of your targeted water. Spend some nights studying it to learn all you can before you launch. The first step and the one often overlooked is to read the map legend. That's the box that tells you how to translate all the map's abbreviations. You need to know what stump fields, standing timber or weed beds look like. You need to know what it means when the contour lines are close together, which signals a sharp drop-off or if the lines are farther apart, denoting a flat. Good maps also indicate important transitions from sand to gravel or rock to mud.

Look for the inlets that bring warmer water during the spring and identify structures that might hold fish at various times of year. Include the flats used for spawning and to feed, the areas with cover of all kinds that attract ambush predators such as walleyes, the drop-offs where they may lurk, midlake mud flats, humps, and others.

Next, evaluate the fish-holding potential of each one. Small structures and those void of cover are boring to walleyes. They won't hold as many fish as larger structures that offer a variety of cover to hide for both walleyes and their prey.

Check For Water Temperature

Now factor in water temperature. Surface temperature should be 45- to 52 degrees at about the time of the walleye opener in the Midwest in May. Look for walleye spawning on hard-bottom flats in the northern sections of lakes, which the sun warms first. The best locations are near rivers and creeks that provide warmer water. Catch walleyes by pitching jigs. Forget the southern section of the lake for now with the exception of isolated bays.

Walleyes begin feeding shortly after they lay their eggs. As water warms from 50- to 60 degrees, begin moving gradually toward southern structures. Look for major feeding opportunities, such as flats with emerging weeds or sandbars stretching from the shore to deep water. Casting crankbaits can be deadly at this time of year.

Don't waste time fishing the entire weed line. Concentrate on the something different, such as points and inside turns. Focus on places where two kinds of plants meet one another. Those spots signal a change in bottom content, and that means a wider variety of forage is present.

As water moves to the 55- to 65-degree range, check flooded timber related to structure. Use slip-bobber rigs with NO-SNAGG jigs tipped with leeches or crawlers. Cast them into pockets in the wood. Set the hook as soon as the float disappears.

Water warms into the 65- to 70 degree range by midsummer, the walleye's preferred temperature range. Search for the deeper rock piles that top out in shallow water less than 10 feet deep. Start by motoring around the rock pile in order to identify subtle changes in shape. Anchor and fish the points and inside turns with slip bobbers, small jigs and leeches.

Mayflies hatch when water reaches 75- to 80 degrees. Walleyes will be drawn to the mud flats. If trolling is legal, try it. If not, drift with spinner rigs and night crawlers. Match the blade size to the average size of the walleyes in the lake. Try No. 5s to No. 8s for the Great Lakes, No. 3s and No. 4s for flowages.

A GPS is critical at this stage. Catch a fish, mark the spot with a way point. Move off to the side and make another pass. Catch another fish, mark it with another waypoint. Soon, you'll know the size of the school and you can troll or drift through it time and again.

There are always a few other variables to consider including water clarity. If the water is too dingy or too clear, move on. Watch wind direction and fish the wind-blown structures.

The Forage Factor

One thing is for sure, if food isn't present on a structure, walleyes will not be there. A walleye's main course is typically perch, shad, ciscoes, alewives, or smelt. They also focus on newly-hatched insects or even frogs at times.

Department of Natural Resources websites often name the forage base in lakes and rivers. If not, make a quick phone call to the nearest DNR office. Other sources, such as Hot Spots maps, also offer forage information.

Perch eat other small fish, small crustaceans and insects found on the soft bottom in weeds. Vegetation also provides comfort and security. So it's no surprise you'll find walleyes in the weeds much of the year where perch play a major role in the food chain.

Cast crankbaits over the tops of weeds or pitch 1/8-ounce Fuzz-E-Grub jigs or NO-SNAGG Veg-E-Jigs into pockets and along the edges. Focus on points and inside turns that will concentrate hungry fish.

Predator fish follow spawning shad into shallow water or feeder rivers and creeks during the spring and summer when water is 50- to 70 degrees. After laying eggs over sand and rock bars at night, huge schools of shad return to deeper water to suspend and roam vast areas in search of plankton. Walleyes are nearby, and trolling is usually the best tactic to catch them.

Biologists have dubbed ciscoes as the restless fish for good reason they're constantly on the move. Find them shallow in spring and over deeper water as the weather warms. The bigger walleyes in the system will be right with them, but trophies can be tough to find until autumn when water temps drop back to 40 degrees. That's when ciscoes move back to the shallows again to lay eggs over rocks free of vegetation 3- to 6 feet deep. Their arrival coincides with the fall feeding frenzy when predators fatten up for the winter. Cast or troll crankbaits at this time.

Alewives, a major food source for walleyes in the Great Lakes, such as Green Bay and Bay de Noc, are extremely sensitive to cold water. They migrate deep in winter to stay warm and move to mid-depths in spring and fall. Summer walleye fishing can be tough because alewives give predators a ready food source when they spawn from June through August. But, after eggs hatch, perch and a variety of minnows move to the rocks and gorge on them. Walleyes then eat the perch and minnows.

Smelt go very deep during warm months. Great Lakes salmon fishermen accidentally catch walleyes at depths of 40- to 50 feet and more profound. But, as the water cools in fall, smelt move into the bays, and that's where you'll find walleyes.

You can't miss a mayfly hatch. They're everywhere, and most anglers think it's time to head for home when they see them at the boat landing. But that's not so. Mayflies hatch in mud on lake bottoms from 15- to 30 feet down and rise to the surface, where clouds of minnows congregate to eat them. Walleyes will be near the surface eating both minnows and insects. Troll shallow baits using lures that mimic the size of the minnows.

Find the Structure

Walleyes are structure-oriented fish, often found near underwater features that offer shelter, hunting advantages, or access to varying depths. Understanding the types of structures walleyes prefer can significantly improve your fishing strategy.

• Points and Drop-offs: These provide access to deep water for safety and shallow areas for feeding. Walleyes often patrol these structures, especially where sharp changes in depth occur.

• Weed Lines and Reefs: Weed lines offer camouflage for ambushing prey, while reefs and rock piles provide an abundance of forage and protection. Walleyes utilize these areas for feeding, particularly where there is a clear transition from hard to soft bottom.

• Rivers and Currents: In riverine environments, walleyes take advantage of currents to catch their prey. Look for them in areas where the current slows, such as behind large rocks or in river bends.

Conclusion

Finding walleyes involves understanding the interplay between water temperature, structure, and available food sources. Adjusting your tactics according to these factors can enhance your fishing success across seasons. Remember, the key to walleye fishing is adaptability and a willingness to learn from each experience on the water. Happy fishing!

Water temperature and food dictate location. Figure out how those two factors work on your next trip to the water, and finding walleyes will be a snap.