Faced with a long crossing through the shallows, most fish wait for the cover of darkness. If fish are moving throughout the day, quite a few can stack up below a long shallow stretch, below a rapids, or just downstream of a long, narrow neck where current increases dramatically. These barriers and others like them become key spots during migration periods.

(5) In the northernmost states and in Canada, resident river walleyes migrate from summer habitat to winter habitat during autumn. These migrations hit full stride when water temperatures first dip below 60°F. Walleyes in harsh northern climes tend to reach winter destinations before water temperatures drop below 42°F. They hold in deeper water during winter, looking for pools and holes with at least 20 feet of depth, and deeper where possible.

Walleyes leave wintering pools to stage near spawning habitat when water temperatures begin to rise in spring. Staging could be the wrong term, however, as walleyes may go directly from wintering to spawning without much activity in between. Walleyes spawn on rock-gravel riffle areas in 1 to 3 feet of water at temperatures ranging from about 43°F to about 49°F, usually while snow and ice still line the banks in northern states.

(6) Some populations of walleyes leave the river immediately after spawning to spend the summer in connecting lakes or reservoirs. True river walleyes begin appearing near summer habitat within the first week or so after spawning, and they live in and around current areas until fall migrations resume. The idea that walleyes rest or recuperate after spawning can be misleading, especially when they’re recharging their batteries with food so far away from spawning habitat that most anglers lose track of them.

(7) By the time water temperatures reach 60°F, most river walleyes are somewhere in the vicinity of areas where they spend the summer, unless their migration distance is extremely long. Summer habitat tends to be in classic riverine areas with lots of current and midriver structure like reefs, wing dams, or humps. As water levels tend to be higher in spring and lower in summer, walleyes change positions accordingly. Water temperature, water level, and water clarity have everything to do with river-walleye location during summer. For instance, walleyes may use increasingly faster water as the river warms.

But in years of high water, walleyes may not migrate as far upstream, opting not to buck the increased current. Key spots tend to be on inside bends, away from the main river channel, and even in backwater areas that walleyes seldom use in low water. In flooded rivers, walleyes often invade the floodplain, using living trees and bushes as current breaks.

In low-water years, the opposite tends to occur; walleyes push farther and scatter more. They also tend to remain in the river proper—the main channel and its immediate environs. River walleyes use midriver current breaks in low water. Key spots become reefs, rockpiles, bridge abutments, wing dams, humps, and islands that split or intersect the main current.