03-25-2014, 12:31 PM
"I don't know if they are guarding nests or just mad they won't be getting any for another year."
[#0000ff]Walleyes do not build nests. They "broadcast" spawn, with several males swimming around an egg laying female...spewing out their "contributions". If the eggs are properly aerated by running water...or wave splashed water along the rocks...they hatch in a few days and never see either parent...hopefully. Because the parents cannot recognize their own young and will eat them once they get big enough.
The cycle goes something like this. First, the walleyes have a brief prespawn feedup...between iceout and spawn. That is usually when the water temps are between about 42 to 45 degrees. When water temps stay above 45 the spawn begins and continues until they reach over 50 degrees.
During the spawn the females do not feed much but the aggressive males are competitive and will actively bite lures and some baits. They do not have the huge mass of eggs in their bellies that the females do so they stay hungry. However, some females do still smack a lure out of instinct. Walleyes are feeding machines and they do bite stuff.
The best fishing of the year is the post spawn period, which may be from sometime in April until summer water temps get much above 75 degrees. Then they do not hit as well during the day but often feed for brief periods at night. However, in Willard Bay...where the main food source is shad...walleyes are caught even during the daytime as they are cruising around and competing with wipers for food.
Every year seems to be different on Willard. There are up and down cycles of water levels and the weather is always changing. This year saw an extended period of complete ice coverage. Then we have had a slow, cold spring transition. That has slowed things down a bit. But April should be a good month for folks chasing spawners and after that it will be good for everybody else...if there are any fish left by the snaggers.
[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff]Walleyes do not build nests. They "broadcast" spawn, with several males swimming around an egg laying female...spewing out their "contributions". If the eggs are properly aerated by running water...or wave splashed water along the rocks...they hatch in a few days and never see either parent...hopefully. Because the parents cannot recognize their own young and will eat them once they get big enough.
The cycle goes something like this. First, the walleyes have a brief prespawn feedup...between iceout and spawn. That is usually when the water temps are between about 42 to 45 degrees. When water temps stay above 45 the spawn begins and continues until they reach over 50 degrees.
During the spawn the females do not feed much but the aggressive males are competitive and will actively bite lures and some baits. They do not have the huge mass of eggs in their bellies that the females do so they stay hungry. However, some females do still smack a lure out of instinct. Walleyes are feeding machines and they do bite stuff.
The best fishing of the year is the post spawn period, which may be from sometime in April until summer water temps get much above 75 degrees. Then they do not hit as well during the day but often feed for brief periods at night. However, in Willard Bay...where the main food source is shad...walleyes are caught even during the daytime as they are cruising around and competing with wipers for food.
Every year seems to be different on Willard. There are up and down cycles of water levels and the weather is always changing. This year saw an extended period of complete ice coverage. Then we have had a slow, cold spring transition. That has slowed things down a bit. But April should be a good month for folks chasing spawners and after that it will be good for everybody else...if there are any fish left by the snaggers.
[/#0000ff]
[signature]