Walleye Question

[Icedauber]

At what surface temp do walleyes stop hitting spinner & worm rigs?

[Mac Attack]

Walleyes are not typically surface dwelling fish, so surface temps are usually meaningless.
Also, I've fished worm harnesses with a crawler in rivers and lakes right after ice out, when the water was as close to freezing as you can get.
I caught fish.
Here's a good rule of thumb, with any fish.
Lower temps typically mean a slower presentation is required.
Usually.

Good luck.
Mac

[RIVERRAT2]

real great info,thanks
 
RAT

[bigredfishing]

well on rivers, surface temp IS meaningful and on non-great lakes its a good guideline to follow.   I've caught them on worm harnesses down into the low 40's but once it drops below 50 I do better fishing aggressively; trolling and casting stick baits and crankbaits if its windy...although I still prefer to jig them though at any temp if its calm enough.     They can and will bite aggressively and chase stick baits and big plastics some days right up until ice up.

Get out right now, the walleye fishing has been incredible everywhere I've tried in the last two weeks.
Here's a bigger one of many from the other night; slammed a big soft plastic.

[Mac Attack]

Nice fish Lance.

[bigredfishing]

Nice fish Lance.

thank you, its been an amazing walleye year at my end of the state, been calm enough to get out on Erie?   My uncles been getting them good around the harbor at night.

[Mac Attack]

thank you, its been an amazing walleye year at my end of the state, been calm enough to get out on Erie?   My uncles been getting them good around the harbor at night.

We did pretty good this year out on Erie.
Not record breaking but we got steady fish most each time out.
But the silver bass were a PITA.  Fun to catch at times, but the ratio was like 4:1, silvers being caught more than the eyes.
Funny thing was I only caught one sheapshead this year while trolling.
Normally it's the sheapshead outnumbering the eyes.

The calm water thing you speak about is the key though.
Guys that are retired can go when they want.
I'm stuck doing it when I can - generally weekends.
So it's a dice roll as you know.

The boat is in storage for the winter.
So fishing the harbor here in buffalo won't happen for me.
These days my energy levels aren't what they were 20-30 years ago.
Going out fishing on a weeknight after work and dinner, followed by heading to be late for work the next day is rough to say the least.
That's why the boat get's winterized and into storage earlier every year.
Ha!

I'm a fair weather fisherguy Lance.
What can I say.
 

[Bartman44]

well on rivers, surface temp IS meaningful and on non-great lakes its a good guideline to follow.   I've caught them on worm harnesses down into the low 40's but once it drops below 50 I do better fishing aggressively; trolling and casting stick baits and crankbaits if its windy...although I still prefer to jig them though at any temp if its calm enough.     They can and will bite aggressively and chase stick baits and big plastics some days right up until ice up.

Get out right now, the walleye fishing has been incredible everywhere I've tried in the last two weeks.
Here's a bigger one of many from the other night; slammed a big soft plastic.

That's a real nice eye Lance. I tend to use worms/rigs more in spring @ summer and use jigs, swim baits and stick baits in the fall, and as I  get closer to ice up I use bigger sizes. No worms necessary. This season has been warm so it's just getting started and will only get better.  I've been getting out a few times each week with the results below. Eyes for dinner tonight.

[filetandrelease]

Nice fish guys

[Icedauber]

We will make one last worm run next week. 4 & 5 " swim baits have been doing well on my shore fishing. Thanks for the responses. PS nice pics.

[Icedauber]

54 degrees = no hits

[Bartman44]

I got 6 in a row to 22" tonight just after dark off a wind blown point using a large shallow running stick bait.

Boom, Boom, Boom and as the moon came up a little higher in the sky, it was over.

This weather is crazy, fished in a T-shirt.     

[Captain1978]

I've been getting Walleye but most are in the 12-14" range.... I got a few in the lower 20's. But most are 13".... I swear I have caught the same fish 2-3 times in a matter of a couple hours...... I haven't had the best year for Walleye.... Not for size anyways.