If the walleye are spawning at Willard, does that mean they're spawning at UL? I would assume a little bit, but the peak probably doesn't happen until the water hits 46 degrees? I've seen some posts about slaying them at UL, but where's the pictures ha ha?
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[#0000FF][cool]Yes, the walleyes are doing their thing at Utah Lake too. Like many other walleye fans I have long believed that water temps in the mid forties were the signal for them to spawn. Recently I have read some reports that claim the spawn is influenced more by the length of daylight hours...and not so much by the actual temperatures.
Pictures? The guys who are really catching the walleyes do not take pictures and make reports on BFT.
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what a bunch of horny buggers, the ice hasn't even been off a full week
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Thanks Tubedude. I was making reference to someone on here who was making all kinds of claims on catching lots of them recently including females. I'm with you though, I think the post spawn is better walleye fishing than during the heat of their passions. Do you think about eating or defending when spawning?[:p]
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[#0000FF][cool]I think the posts you are referring to were by "Finny". No need to doubt any of his claims. He is one of the few folks in Utah I would never question. [/#0000FF][#0000FF][#0000FF][b]Nobody else I know on this board who has put in more time on the water...over many years. [/#0000FF] He knows his stuff...both from academic and experience levels. And he probably knows more "secret spots" than anybody else in Utah...because he invests the time and effort to search them out and fish them thoroughly.
In truth, I do not fish the "spawn" that much. I may launch and fish in the walleye areas...but usually only during morning hours. And I do catch some active male walleyes when I am lucky enough to find them during the day. But the die-hard wallie whackers are the ones who show up for the evening festivities. That is when the actual spawning takes place...and the sloppier the weather the better.
I do not care a whit about whether or not any walleyes I keep will grossly affect the population base. If I am lucky enough to hang a couple of nice mid-sized males, they go home with me. Plenty more where they came from. If the only walleye I catch is a pregnant female...it's a coin toss. If I already have enough fish to take home, she is likely to swim free. If it has been a slow day...and I got a hankerin' for walleye fillets...her days are over. And I do not subscribe to the oft-spouted philosophy that the big spawners have poor quality flesh. That is true of many salmonids...but not walleyes. I have eaten fillets from more than a few larger eyes...both during and after the spawn...and have never noticed any degradation of the toothsomeness (if that is a legal word).
Those sentiments are mostly for Utah Lake, where there has always been an overabundance of walleyes...and lots of big fat ones. Harvesting even a goodly number of them will not mess up the numbers or quality of the fish. But, like a lot of ecology-minded anglers I have a philosophical problem with those who deliberately target the big spawning females and use treble hooks to harvest them.
In short, I always like to catch walleyes. With the light tackle I typically use, I get a much better battle than the folks who troll with heavy gear and drag the fish to death on the way to the boat. And, of course they are always welcome on my table. But I much prefer to chase them when they are actively feeding and I can catch multiples during a day of aggressive pursuit...using specialized tackle and techniques.
Because walleyes are almost never EASY to catch, and are often downright difficult, every one you bring to net is a triumph over the odds. Kinda like playing piscatorial chess. Love to checkmate those toothy critters.
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[quote UVUbass]what a bunch of horny buggers, the ice hasn't even been off a full week
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But it is several weeks later than "normal". Whatever that is. There have been a few years in the past when the main lake did not ever really cap and there were water temps in the early 40's by mid February. That triggers a pre-spawn feeding period that lasts a couple of weeks until the actual spawn kicks in. Some of us have enjoyed some wide open walleye fishing before the end of February.
And, by the way, it ain't just a fishy lust situation. The walleyes are like teenagers. When their hormones kick in and their gonads are full and ripe they gotta have an outlet...or inlet.
The yellow perch...cousins to the walleye...are among the first species to spawn each year. And in years when the ice hangs on longer it is not unknown for them to spawn beneath the ice. I have never heard of walleyes doing that...because they usually like running water or wave-washed rocky shoreline. But they won't waste much time with a dating service once they can get with the program.
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Good stuff. I guess I just felt like when people get on here and puff their chest up the credibility goes down. Like you said, the guys who are walleye fanatics catch but don't tell.
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Very good info as always. I got my first walleye at powell last week and I am now in the groove to add to the tally. Thanks
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Do you know if the shoreline festivities start about the same time as at the inlets? I probably should check your book, but it is at home and I forget things before the work day ends [
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[#0000FF]By "inlets" I am assuming you mean the main tributaries...like the Provo River. The generalized answer is that spawning in any given large body of water and its tributaries are usually at about the same time. There will be variables based upon weather, water temp fluctuations, water flow and depth, etc. But all of the fish start out in the main lake...under the same basic triggers to spawn. Beginning and end of the respective spawns should be pretty close.
Back in the pre-closure days it was not unusual to see a few walleyes coming up into the lower Provo before the end of February...even if there was still ice on the lake. Almost always a bunch of fish in the river before the end of March...and usually in full spawn. That is the reason for the timing on the closures.
Out in the open lake the fish are sometimes unpredictable. They may show up at one spot two nights in a row and then nothing for the rest of the spawn. But generally if a spot has good conditions (for the walleyes) they are likely to use it repeatedly on any night when conditions are to their liking.
The faster the temperatures rise, the faster the spawn is completed. On cold springs when it just won't warm up the spawn may stretch out over a longer period.
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Oh I got plenty pics, but why bother to post? Mostly all you will get is bashing from the various fish hugger contingent whom think harvesting any fish is akin to killing a child. This forum started out cool but people get more nasty by the day. Check out the violence from opening up that willard inlet. Some are almost getting to a groupthink lynch mob mentality. Social hegemony at it's best. It's a mentality of ... I think one way, every must agree or they are inferior beings. There's nothing wrong with catching walleyes legally, and the inlet is legally open for god's sake. Most people don't snag, a conservation officer undercover even told me that just today. They had an undercover operation out at willard today and I chatted with them to see if they found any substance to the heated topic on this forum. They said it's all exaggerated by "purists" and that is a direct quoted word from the horse's mouth. Mostly this forum is full of such folk. Anybody other than the venerable TD who posts a fish basket pic is gonna hear it and it's usually quite a slew of negative posts. It took me waaay too long and waaay too many days on the water to figure out patterns times, places, etc to disclose a whole lot these days. I wouldn't have even let on the walleye were even biting but unfortunately happened to be in a good mood. lol I will only take one person fishing lol and that's the fishing gal cuz she's not just cute but trustworthy.....she won't even spew locations to her dad! Here's a pic for you since you so desperately need to see one lol.
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Thanks for sticking up for me TD. See what I get for giving out a little info? This is exactly why I don't exactly fill up the board with a constant flow of reports. Every spot I fish is basically "top secret" with some being more actually "public known" than others. lol. Why should I direct all the haters as well as the innocent to all my productive spots? That is exactly why I'm not a guide. Sharing is sooo rewarding! But sharing with the wrong person....... is like neglecting to get a prenup with someone you're not 100% sure about.
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"Sharing is sooo rewarding! But sharing with the wrong person....... is like neglecting to get a prenup with someone you're not 100% sure about."
[cool][#0000FF]Good analogy. There is an old saying about "You don't really know someone until you are married to them." I have expanded that to 1. until you have gone on an extended camping trip with them, and 2. until you have gone fishing with them for at least a full day. And now we can add 3. until you have shared a secret fishing spot with them.
No apologies necessary. When someone invests the time and research into finding a special spot there is no obligation to "download" unto others. Always nice if someone does, but they usually are not happy with the results. Been there, done that.
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Well put Fin-S-Fish!
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Thanks for posting. I didn't have intentions of calling out any one individual, I didn't even remember who had last posted about slaying the walleye. Sometimes I feel people embelish just to feed their ego. And besides, for someone to have a killer day for walleye is a feat not many people have had, so in a way it sounded far fetched, but maybe reasonable given it's the spawn. Believe me, I'm not one on here to intentionally offend people, so don't take it as a personal attack.
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Pat, you are so right about length of day being the final factor for the spawn. the temp is the first trigger but the fish know they can't drop there eggs in Feb. just because the temp is right. there will be a big cold front come in and kill off the fry.
another thing I learned is when the ice stays on for a long time like this year the fry will be healthier. also the spawn will be a fast one, the fish have set and stewed for a couple of extra weeks under ice.
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