Seasonal Keys To Catching Walleyes On Flats

From midfall through late winter, walleyes move into major river systems to spawn along riprap on dams or in small tributary streams. Re-entering the big lake, walleyes spread out in small clusters along the shoreline, looking for pockets of warm water that concentrate baitfish. These walleyes typically hold between the shoreline and the first big sandbar formed by wave action off shore, as shallow as 2 to 4 feet. Some linger near the river mouth. By late spring, some environments, like Saginaw Bay, hold fish shallow in giant weedbeds and in old shipping channels. In most areas, walleyes move to mid-depth flats in the 30- to 40-foot range. Inactive fish hold on bottom. Active fish elevate slowly to suspend and feed. By late summer, fish are scattered into numerous patterns, but the largest schools are found on deep flats (50 to 80 feet). In fall, Great Lakes walleyes begin concentrating again near river mouths, holding on shallow sand flats near piers, riprap, and jetties, or in troughs, channels, and other irregularities in the lake bottom.

In some lakes, like Mille Lacs in Minnesota, shallow flats may have as many rockpiles or reefs as weedlines or sand grass. Not long after spawning, walleyes concentrate in these areas, too. Any irregularities, like troughs, depressions, rockpiles, or subtle breaks of two feet or less can attract walleyes. Bumpers (vertical or near-vertical breaks of two or three feet right at the shoreline edge) on the shallow end of the flat are key features. Baitfish tend to concentrate near the most prominent cover on the flat if forage is there and spawning habitat is nearby.

In reservoirs, flats near spawning tributaries that form major creek arms also hold walleyes before and after spawning. On huge flats with little slope, walleyes tend to roam. Search them out, starting at the deep edge of the flat. As walleyes move away from spawning habitat during the Postspawn Period, they tend to migrate from flat to flat toward the main body of the reservoir.

Bigger flats produce more food, which draws more walleyes. The only reason to choose a small flat over a big one along a walleye exit route would be to find an unpressured group of fish in a heavily pressured lake. Given a choice between two flats in close proximity of equal size and with equal potential to produce forage, walleyes tend to be most active on the one where the wind is blowing in.

Presentation—Working a shallow flat in spring with water temperatures still under 60°F is some of the most satisfying fishing of the year. Anchoring and drifting slip bobbers, backtrolling with a long line, or trolling minnowbaits at night are important methods. The prime tactic in most waters, however, is pitching jigs to shallow rocks and weeds. In some cases, backtrolling with jigs or rigs works better, but the shallower the walleyes, the more they are distracted by a big hull directly overhead. The key is to pinpoint the largest groups of walleyes, then choose the method that best suits the terrain they’re on and their aggressiveness.

On big table-top flats with a gradual taper that eventually breaks sharply at the deep edge, walleyes tend to roam. The key area generally is within casting distance of the deep edge of the flat. Start working big flats by positioning the boat on the outside (deep) edge and casting as far as possible with 1/8-ounce jig-and-minnow combinations, a 7-foot spinning rod, a reel with a large spool, and 6-pound-test line. When you connect, search shallower in that area, looking for weeds, rocks, troughs, subtle breaks, or anything different that might concentrate fish.

Walleyes may be concentrated, but not necessarily aggressive. Standard lift-drop retrieves with a short hop frequency (6 inches to 1 foot) or dragging retrieves usually work. When the jig hangs on a weed or rock, work it in place. Let the minnow struggle against the weight of the jig. Walleyes sometimes pluck jigs off bottom, so noise and movement in weeds attracts attention. A minnow struggling in place is a deadly trigger. Many anglers are experimenting with rattling jigs like the Northland Buck-Shot along sparse weededges.

When fish are scattered over a large area, quarter across the flat with a controlled drift. Use the same jigs and the same gear (rod and reel dimensions can be smaller, though an extra-long rod covers more water). If quartering the flat delivers fish, but the bite dies, try snap jigging. Let the jig trail a bit farther back, speed up slightly, and use a more aggressive snap-fall technique (snap the jig up as soon as it hits bottom) to trigger a response from neutral fish. Don’t snap the jig so hard the bait rips free, or so hard as you might in late summer with plastics or feather jigs.