Presummer on rivers begins once walleyes have dispersed from spawning areas, recuperated from the postspawn doldrums, and begun setting up in main river habitat, generally well downstream from spawning sites. How far and fast they’ve traveled depends on river habitat and water level. In some environments, presummer walleyes may have already moved dozens of miles toward stretches that provide good summer habitat. In others, the journey may be significantly shorter.

In both cases, fish formerly concentrated in limited spawning grounds disperse to areas that offer sufficient food and favorable current conditions. There’s simply no way so many fish can remain in a limited area without starving. Instead, they typically spread throughout vast sections of river, either breaking into small groups, or functioning as individuals loosely collected in general areas. Vast megaschools of river walleyes are the exception in summer.

Presummer typically begins with semi-high water levels left over from spring rains and snowmelt, although normally the water has already begun to drop. Falling water acts like a vacuum, sucking walleyes out of slower flowing backwaters and connected lakes where they may have escaped strong main river current during postspawn. Now they must vacate these in favor of better feeding conditions in the main river.

Even so, there’s still plenty of flooded shoreline cover in the form of flooded brush and fallen trees, plus current-deflecting points, islands, bends, and manmade structure like wing dams, bridge pilings, and riprap. Casting to shoreline cover or current breaks produces loads of fish. Pitching weedless jigs into wood tangles, probing flooded brush with slipbobbers and livebait, casting crankbaits atop rock point and wing dams, and fishing the edges of emerging weedbeds may produce walleyes, along with good numbers of smallmouth bass, northern pike, and perhaps even a rogue muskie.

Funny thing is, it’s still not considered prime time on the river. Even semi-high water tends to frighten folks off; they’re afraid walleyes are all hiding way back in flooded wood, and everyone “knows” that river walleyes are only catchable in midriver eddies and holes, using traditional vertical river methods like jigs and three-way rigs.

As water levels recede toward normal summer levels, the river shrinks a bit, becoming shallower and clearer, except during the temporary muddying effects of summer thunderstorms. Now flooded shoreline cover is at a premium; much of the formerly inundated woodcover is only inches deep or high and dry. Shoreline habitat disappears as the warmth of summer arrives.

Perhaps the true hallmark, the official signaling of the arrival of summer, is the appearance of many walleyes in midriver. Conditions have stabilized and begun setting up a rhythm. Shallow shorelines become much less productive for walleyes, except perhaps at night. Now, prominent structures extending out into the deeper water of the river, like wing dams, points, inside river bends, and islands become the focal points of walleye activity. Fishing tends to be best in morning and evening, although walleyes may feed throughout the day, snatching targets of opportunity as they drift past in the current. Artificials or artificial-livebait combos predominate; in summer, finesse livebait presentations often are unnecessary.