Walleye Location & Behavior in Reservoirs

More likely, structure will be subtle, formed by sections of cliff breaking off the wall and sending a rockslide plummeting into the depths. Note areas where cliffs appear to be broken, move up tight to the wall, and lower a spoon or jig 50 feet or more. In fall, walleyes may be as deep as 100 feet in the crystal clear water.

Wind whistles through miles of expansive canyons, though mudlines are rare due to the rocky, rather than soft shale terrain. As on plateau impoundments, however, exercise caution as a boater. These two reservoir types are subject to sudden wind, big waves, and long runs between boat accesses.

Tips For Fishing Big Reservoirs

Scott Fairbairn, former biologist and past PWT Angler of the Year, relies on a basic philosophy for fishing big reservoirs in spring. In lakes like Oahe in South Dakota, where a natural spawning area is available in the lake itself, walleyes don’t have to run to the rocky face of the dam to spawn.

“Most of the major creek arms in Lake Oahe probably have at least a small population of walleyes that spawn, forage, or both in spring,” Fairbairn says. “Some more than others. The Cheyenne River arm, for example, is a major spawning area, with other lesser creeks branching off the Cheyenne holding at least temporary populations of walleyes.

“In spring, water within creek arms warms quicker than in the deep main lake, and fish of all species are attracted to the warming environment. In addition, water levels usually are stable or rising over about a two-month period, which further draws walleyes and baitfish up into creek arms.

“I’m usually looking back into at least the midsections, if not the back ends of creek arms, for spawning-related sites, specifically, rock or gravel bottom. Sometimes, rocky areas are extensive and obvious. Other times, they can be surprisingly subtle, like long sections of mud banks with occasional patches of small broken rock vein extending down into the water. Walleyes key on those areas, partially for spawning purposes, and partly because they also attract forage. In many cases, small specific spots hold walleyes.

“With water levels currently low on the Missouri River system and many other reservoirs throughout the West, people should be out photographing shorelines to document the locations of prime spots before they flood again once the water begins to rise. They’re prime fish-attracting areas for the future.

“Because these are sometimes small spots, using presentations that keep you right there, focused on limited areas, generally are best in spring. Sure, you often need to troll larger areas to determine smaller sections that hold fish. But once you locate areas of fish activity, turn around and focus on the key spot. I learned to keep bait in the strike zone at Mobridge some years ago, where catching a walleye and then trolling on down the shoreline was a mistake, because you left the fish. Instead, you had to slow down and refish prime stretches.

“Jigs, livebait rigs, even slipbobbers typically are your best tactics in spring. Don’t forget your anchor, either. The fish generally are shallow, right up onto the banks, usually in less than 10 feet of water. Presentations that strain the 5- to 8-foot depths are best.”

If spring fishing revolves around plying precise areas with shallow presentations, summer is more geared to covering water with presentations that effectively search for schools of walleyes actively roaming the impoundment in search of food. Rick Olson, past PWT Angler of the Year, fishes reservoirs throughout the plains, mountain, and midwestern states, and he knows that in order to catch walleyes, the first thing you need to do is find active fish.