Shallow water is usually
defined as any water that you can’t sit on top
of with a boat, walleyes can and do inhabit this type
of water.Tradition would say that this is the area
that you will find fish in early spring summer or
fall. But, actually it is where you will find fish
all year round. Some fish could be in 2 feet of water
and others in 20 feet of water on the same body of
water at the same time of year. All in all I have
found many walleyes that are aggressive in shallow
water and I’ll fish it more times than deep
water. In Minnesota, my home state, the movement of
walleyes toward shallower water is always constant.
In early spring the walleyes are attracted to the
aquatic life that is starting in the warm shallows.
As zoo plankton attracts small fish and minnows the
walleye is attracted to these areas to feed. In summer
or early fall, during the period when days are warm
but nights are cool, bait fish begin breaking the
surface in schools
just offshore, particularly during calm periods. These
subtle clue means walleyes are biting like crazy.
By the time late summer
turns into fall and the water temperature starts to
drop off; the fish start to migrate to shore. In big
shallow lakes like Mille Lacs; for example, walleyes
traditionally begin leaving the flats and their deeper
environs by this time. By mid-September they’re
prowling in less than 10 feet of water much of the
time. Most fishermen would fish the obvious structural
elements. The key to catching fish here consistently,
however, is effectively identifying spots that gather
and hold most fish.
When I am running and
gunning for those active walleyes I will look at three
types of structure to help me locate fish. First of
all I look for the "typical walleye structure",
this is comprised of drop-offs, rock formations, points,
or inside turns that could hold walleyes. The second
type of structure is the shallow structure that is
usually found out in the middle of the lake. These
types of structures might be classified as mid-lake
humps, rock piles, reefs, sunken islands, etc.
These areas are dynamite
during the mid summer months and often times over
looked by most weekend anglers. The third type of
structure that I love to fish is weeds and wood. Again
this type of structure might be classified as more
bass or northern pike structure, but a lot of walleyes
hang out in heavy weeds and wood throughout the year.
If you understand the "predator prey relationship"
weeds become an automatic structure that I key in
on. Simply put if the walleye is put in the lake as
a fry it becomes a prey and naturally will find a
place to hide. When the walleye grows up it becomes
a predator and instinctively knows that the weeds
are a place to look for prey. I try weeds in the summer
time, because I am almost assured of catching some
really active
fish.
On snag-free bottoms
a Roach rig is effective. On mud, weeds, submerged
timber and rocks or boulders, bobber rigs do just
as well. During the midday, a slower presentation
gets most of the action. Early, late and at night
faster-moving lures such as a #5 or #7 Shad Rap really
perk things up. That’s when I particularly like
to cast a minnow and Rainbow Spinner combination in
the shallows. Over one rock pile I regularly fish,
the bait must be retrieved very rapidly near the surface
to avoid snags. When a walleye hits during such a
retrieve, my rod is nearly torn from my grasp. That
will get your blood pumping. What most walleye fisherman
fail to realize is that walleyes can cruise
