Walleye Behavior in Natural Lakes

Walleyes likely originated as a fish of flowing water, inhabiting a vast waterscape of rivers that once fed thousands of natural lakes throughout the North Country of the upper US and southern Canada. As glacial run-off receded and walleyes adapted to lifestyles in various types of natural lakes, classic behavior emerged.

Today, anglers often have preconceived notions regarding walleye location, based upon fish behavior in deep, clear, rocky waters where natural reproduction sustains the fishery. Yet either through stocking or natural reproduction, walleyes today inhabit less-than-classic natural lakes as well. This creates fishing opportunity and confusion. Let’s sort out fact from fiction and perception from misconception, for locating and catching walleyes in natural lakes.

Rockin’ to the Classics—Clear, deep water, rock and sand substrate, a band or fringe of deep weeds along the first drop-off, and self-sustaining populations of walleyes, many of which grow large, are indicators of classic northern walleye waters. Moderately fertile and relatively cool, their 60- to 100-foot-plus basins often support suspended cisco forage, along with mixed fisheries of pike, muskies, bass, panfish, and assorted forage like perch and minnows. They offer a little bit of everything to many species, especially walleyes.

Spawning typically occurs in rocky feeder creeks, along rock shorelines, atop shallow rock reefs, or in some combination thereof. Many walleye populations are self-sustaining, though some are bolstered by stocking if fishing pressure and harvest take an excessive toll. Walleyes that aren’t caught and kept typically live long and prosper, with excellent prospects for reaching or topping 10 pounds.

These are diverse habitats with many options and oftentimes simultaneous patterns, particularly in summer. In general, the largest walleyes use deep structure above the summer thermocline, where livebait rigging and jigging classic points and humps excel. Yet many of the largest fish also suspend and feed on ciscoes, making open-water trolling tactics a viable but seldom-used option. Many anglers are too brainwashed by traditional methods to put much faith in modern basin strategies, preferring to trust their luck to rigs and jigs.

These waters also host substantial weedline fisheries, particularly in late spring, and then again in late summer when oxygen depletion in the depths sends fish scurrying back into the cool shade of the weeds. Ply weedlines with jigs or crankbaits during the day, and fish above them with cranks at night. Windswept shallow rockpiles and reefs may draw feeding forays, day and night. In summer, many of the largest fish become active only at night, during twilight, or in periods of wind-triggered feeding.

In fall, fish drop deep, using classic structure in the 30- to 60-foot levels. Vertically rig and jig points, twists, and turns along steep breaklines meeting the main basin. (Some of the same areas offer some of the best trophy walleye ice fishing.) In late fall, walleyes may move at night to shallow creek mouths to feed on shiners, or to rock-sand shorelines adjoining deep water to feed on fall-spawning ciscoes. Cast or troll minnow-imitators in the shallows at night.