Locating River Walleyes & Tactics That Produce

In fall, walleyes make the move upstream. Once they reach a dam or barrier, they fall back into portions of the river immediately downstream where current is reduced. Dams are an obvious barrier, but neck-downs, rapids, riffles, and waterfalls also serve as barriers or staging spots. Walleyes stage in these spots and the population continues to build throughout winter—until the fish start migrating back downstream after they spawn.

As spring approaches, warmer temperatures trigger initial snowmelt. Run-off, spring rains, and an influx of water from the surrounding watershed increases water levels in rivers. Water temperature also begins to rise (most river walleyes spawn in water temperatures of about 40°F to 46°F), triggering prespawn walleyes to start moving even farther upstream toward specific spawning locations.

River walleyes seek out classic spawning locations—hard bottom rock-rubble or riprap areas swept by current, mussel beds mixed with gravel, or small tributary creeks with gravel washout bottoms. Riprap shorelines swept by current also provide good spawning habitat adjoining current breaks where walleyes ambush prey. Causeways, roads, and railroad crossings, housing developments, and boat harbors layered with large rock to protect the shoreline from erosion all break current flow and attract walleyes and baitfish.

During years of high flow, walleyes may even spawn on flooded shoreline vegetation. According to walleye pro Daryl Christensen, “Spawning dictates walleye location, and when the water temperature approaches 40°F, walleyes instinctively move upstream, keying on shallow locations to spawn. Even years where the water flow isn’t significant, walleyes still move shallow to spawn.”

Males generally arrive at spawning sites about a week or two before females and remain about two weeks longer. Female walleyes, however, may seek out warmer water during the prespawn period to help their eggs mature, often staying in nearby warmer backwaters until their eggs ripen, then moving to spawning grounds where male walleyes are waiting. Once the water temperature is right, spawning begins and usually lasts for 14 to 20 days.

Flow Factors

During low flow, barriers in main current attract walleyes—points, wing dams, bridges, and deep holes that break current. Wing dams, for instance, are designed to prevent erosion by deflecting current back into midriver. Fish don’t just use the deep hole formed at the tip of wingdams. Active fish can be found in the “bulge” area of calm water formed on the front face where the current deflects over wing dams. Resting walleyes lie in the eddy formed on the downstream side to get out of current, but they’re often still willing to eat a passing meal.

Bends in the river also create holes and deeper pools that may hold fish. At river bends, the natural force of water cuts deep holes along the outside edges of river bends. Look for bends with deep water. Sharper bends generally create deeper holes. Bars extending into holes likely will concentrate fish, as will rocks and rockpiles along the edges of holes.

Again, increasingly warm temperatures trigger snowmelt, runoff, and spring rains, which increase water levels and current velocity. As the flow starts to increase, walleyes tend to reposition along the new boundaries of calm water meeting current. Eventually, significant flow forces walleyes to abandon midstream spots and move toward shorelines and backwater bays.