Walleye migration?

[MeepDog]

I'm trying to better understand the yearly movement of walleye in the Columbia. I havent heard it layed out plainly what the walleye do at different times of the year so I figured I'd share what I know and hope anyone on here can help fill in some gaps.

Walleye are broadcast spawners and do not make beds, but will instead spread their eggs into the current over suitable areas. In my experience the suitable areas are shallow flats 20 feet or less deep immediately adjacent to deep water or channels. Not too much current in the shallow flat, but the deep water can have fast current. I'll attach a photo of an example of a ledge. They will sit along these ledges leading up to the spawn and throughout the spawn.

After the spawn, from what I've heard and seen walleye are readily caught beneath the dams in the fast moving waters around the tail race. It's possible these fish are present around the dam year round and the base of the dam has it's own system, but my theory is fish will migrate for miles to the base of these dams in order to feed and recover strength post spawn. Again it's possible the spawn is taking place at the base of the dam as well. In the rest of the river I've found not only does the bite turn off in these ledge spawning areas, the fish disappear off the sonar and are no longer present at all. (Further testing will be done this year with a water wolf camera)

In mid river areas where it's not practical to move to the tail race of a dam, I do not know where they go post spawn in June, July, August other than that they can be caught in the shallows at night. I believe the tail races can be fished nearly year round.

In the fall and especially winter I'm completely in the dark about what theyre doing. I've always assumed theyre down deep trying to save energy but I genuinely do not know.

[bearpaw]

I've often seen walleye in shallow water close to the bank in the upper end of Roosevelt during the winter. But I've never caught many in March or April in upper Roosevelt. At some point in late winter or early spring it seems like they might move downstream or perhaps they simply start biting more aggressively earlier in the lower end of Roosevelt, I'm not sure which it is?

[Jonathan_S]

Huge difference if we're talking Lower Columbia or Roosevelt. Spokane Arm and a few other inlets have 90% of the fish in spawning time

[MeepDog]

Huge difference if we're talking Lower Columbia or Roosevelt. Spokane Arm and a few other inlets have 90% of the fish in spawning time

Definitely talking lower and mid columbia. Is that spot on the spokane similar water turbulence and depth to the tail race of a dam? It seems like a predictable desire to be near the fast flowing water. I've wondered if during the daylight post spawn they head into the deep 40+ foot water or if they mill around in water so shallow you cant boat fish. We need a radio telemetry study done.

[Jonathan_S]

We always mark fish in deeper water during spawning but have cheap electronics and can't know if they're just small fish or wandering spawners.

I've pulled some big breeders out of deep channels during daylight but never good numbers. Seems like the only fish we can catch consistently are when they're on mud flats. All that said, our electronics are cheap and @BULLBLASTER and I are so amateur, it ain't even funny.

[dilleytech]

Walleye move closer to the damn pre spawn and hangout there during spawn and later. Walleye typically spawn in less then 2’ of water. As far as I know they basically mass spawn on the full moon. Either in February or march .

[Rob Allen]

I live near the celilo pool. Do the walleye  come  shallow at night to feed?  Thinking about a jerkbait bite at night. It worked well in Colorado  in the late  fall..

[MeepDog]

I live near the celilo pool. Do the walleye  come  shallow at night to feed?  Thinking about a jerkbait bite at night. It worked well in Colorado  in the late  fall..

I've spotted multiple walleye with a flashlight in 2 feet of water at night time. Their eyes glow from the light, but they dont like being blinded and will swim away once you shine them. I only ever spotted them that shallow at night. A jerk bait might be the ticket right near the shore drifting downstream.

[DWAT]

Watch spilt milt productions on YouTube.  I think he explains walleye pretty well.

[finnman]

I live near the celilo pool. Do the walleye  come  shallow at night to feed?  Thinking about a jerkbait bite at night. It worked well in Colorado  in the late  fall..

This is exactly how we used to catch them in force at a large reservoir in Grant Co. back in the 2000's. We would fish in early April to late April an hour before dark up to about 11pm casting anything perch color in a rapala, rattle trap, wiggle wart type lure. It was not unusual for us to catch 4-6 per night from shore at the south end of the reservoir. the largest was a 14 pounder by my brother in law. Most were around 5-8 pounds. they were cruising the shallows and hunting right up against the shore. Many were caught in 1-2 feet of water and had their noses up against the bank.
One evening we showed up and I took two casts with a gold 5" rapala and I caught two 8 pounders in two casts! Best night ever. Then the locals started netting the walleye there and it was never the same....

[dilleytech]

We always mark fish in deeper water during spawning but have cheap electronics and can't know if they're just small fish or wandering spawners.

I've pulled some big breeders out of deep channels during daylight but never good numbers. Seems like the only fish we can catch consistently are when they're on mud flats. All that said, our electronics are cheap and @BULLBLASTER and I are so amateur, it ain't even funny.

A lot of those “walleye” can be suckers squa fish or sturgeon also. But walleye are often caught in 60’+ during spawn.

[MeepDog]

We always mark fish in deeper water during spawning but have cheap electronics and can't know if they're just small fish or wandering spawners.

I've pulled some big breeders out of deep channels during daylight but never good numbers. Seems like the only fish we can catch consistently are when they're on mud flats. All that said, our electronics are cheap and @BULLBLASTER and I are so amateur, it ain't even funny.

A lot of those “walleye” can be suckers squa fish or sturgeon also. But walleye are often caught in 60’+ during spawn.

Funny you mention that! I took this go fish camera I bought used from a guy on this forum because the fish marks hugging the bottom on the depth finder were driving me nuts. I ran it through my critical walleye spot and lo and behold the vast majority of the marks are native sucker fish. Big ones too! I’m starting to think about targeting them instead.