Pre-spawn C&R

[WAeyes]

I know the walleye season closes in alot of the midwest waters this time of year. Is it legal to catch and release in your lake or river? If it is, what are your favorite methods for getting them egg heavy piggies to bite? How close are they too their eventual spawning grounds?

[Weyes1]

Here in Kansas the season is open year round. When the spawn is on the guys on the face of the dam pull cranks and walk the face. Unfortunately they take a lot of the prime spawners home and eat them. Another unfortunate is that the Wildlife and Parks say that this doesn't affect the reproduction because they "don't reproduce very well if at all". My answer is if they don't reproduce there wouldn't be walleye due to the simple fact that there are more walleye in our lakes than what has been stocked over the years. If I catch any pre spawn or spawn egg layers I take care to let them go and lay their eggs. I will how ever take a few smaller males to eat. My release rate is higher than my take home rate by a margin of at least 10 to 1 if not higher. I beleive that this is a fair rate and should be a good standard to follow. Let the egg layers go and capture a Kodak moment. You can always have a replica made for the same cost or cheaper.
Weyes1
Kevin Clark
weyes1@wamego.net

[stewart]

If I remember correctly I think that I once heard the host of 'Adventures North' say that catching and handling big egg filled females close to spawn is not good for their eggs. Blood could mix with the eggs and render them infertile. Is there any truth to this?

[Backwater Eddy]

Pre-spawn walleye migrations on small to medium size rivers begin to show a pattern just after the ice has broke and the main ice flow pass's.

Walleye do begin to stage much earlier than ice out but large mass's of ice and high water levels with strong current make it a free for all tell some sort of stability has been established.

As soon as some degree of stability has been established I look to backwaters, feeder creeks, or oxbows that offer shelter and warm more quickly than the main river. Off current shallow mud flats are great mid day gathering points for schools of male walleye that more often than not are first to show interest in feeding. Shallow is more of the rule then the exception as this water warms faster.

Water temperature is approaching 35-38 by now and the second wave of walleye start to show, the females begin to feed. They tend to be more cover oriented with rock and flooded grass or timber high on there areas to ram and feed. They feed very well if conditions remain stable and warm slowly but steadily, piggy time.

Jigs are my main stay in spring starting small that increasing in bulk as water temps warm and piggy females bellies begin to rumble. Depending on the particular situation 1/4-3/8 jigs are sufficient to present large minnow's and plactics. Northlands Whistler Jigs are highly productive as they offer a hover and hold presentation that sluggish walleye seem to triger well on. I am a big believer in scent options in water temperatures below 50. Flipping a scented jig into a backwater and allowing it to rest often triggers a pokey piggy into slurping up a jig.

As spawn begins waves of cacheable fish will diminish in numbers tell fishing becomes extremely spotty. Not all walleye spawn in the same areas and age groups tend to vary there spawning runs as it takes longer to warm up the larger females and ripen the egg mass.

Got a bit windy here but I am a bit antsy and eager for ice out, hope this is helpful.

Please CPR spring walleye that are high probability spawners, a few small males are choice eating.

Good luck.

Backwater Eddy......><ND>

“February is the month designed to teach people who don’t drink what a hangover is like.” Garrison Keilor

[WAeyes]

Great info Eddy. Is it legal to intentionally fish for them as long as you are releasing?

[Bret N]

WAeyes,

If the season closes in your state, it's closed. That means you can't fish for walleyes, not even catch and release. That's how it works here in MN. Fortunately we are blessed w/ the Mississippi river that is open in certain parts year round. I keep telling myself that the ramps will be open soon, but the way this winter is going I'm starting to wonder. I was on the water by this time last year! Bret

[Backwater Eddy]

The Red River is open for game fish but a conservation season is in effect from March 1 to the first Saturday in May.

Residents of North Dakota and Minnesota holding a valid resident fishing license from their respective state and persons of other states who either have nonresident North Dakota or Minnesota fishing licenses may fish in either of the boundary waters described above and may transport such fish with them by the most convenient route to the state in which they are licensed.

If the laws of the states differ, anglers must comply with the laws and rules of the state in which they are licensed.

(NOTE: This includes children who are not required to have a license.)

From the Bois de Sioux and Red Rivers up to the first vehicular bridge or crossing it shall be illegal to possess more than two walleye less than 18 inches in total length and more than one walleye, sauger, or saugeye greater than 28 inches in total length from March 1 to the first Saturday in May.

From the Bois de Sioux and Red Rivers up to the first vehicular bridge or crossing it shall be illegal to possess northern pike greater than 27 inches in total length from March 1 to the first Saturday in May.

From the Bois de Sioux and Red Rivers and all of their tributary streams the daily and possession limits on catfish shall be 5 regardless of the number of state or provincial licenses purchased by the angler. Only one catfish may exceed 24 inches in total length.

For a complete set of regulations concerning ND waters and seasons try this site.

http://www.state.nd.us/gnf/docs/fishguide.html

Backwater Eddy

“February is the month designed to teach people who don’t drink what a hangover is like.” Garrison Keilor

[WAeyes]

So it sounds like you have some form of a reduced bag limit but the season continues on the Red eh? Good for you and happy piggy nites Eddy!

[Backwater Eddy]

2000 was the first season of the new regulations and I observed approximately 80% of all fish being released even the fish in the slot. I never witnessed a single 28" + walleye kept, but I witnessed many released, some 31" in the central section of the Red.

More 28" and up fish were kept by shore anglers and many of them from tributary rivers and dams on the central to lower Red.

I applaud the foresight of the joint NDG&F & MNDNR's structuring of this season as it allows for a wallhanger but does not encourage over harvest or waist.

I see this system being beneficial to everyone. Continued study is needed to insure the quality of the fishing is maintained and improved upon for future anglers. The fishery is a outstanding resource and a great recreational asset for everyone if we all do our best to respect it.

BE....><ND>