French River Walleye Seasonal Patterns
Upper French River Walleye Patterns
French River Walleye Spring Patterns.
In the springtime once water temperatures reach between 44F – 48 F (6.7 – 8.9). Walleyes begin laying their eggs during the night in 2-3-ft of water shortly after ice out. Walleye breeding grounds are near creeks, streams, rivers that have rock shorelines that are exposed to wind, waves and current. Moving water aerate their eggs and the rocky shorelines protects their eggs as they settle down between the cracks and crevices. Protection from pesky perch, suckers and other panfish.
Upper French River Walleye Summer Patterns
Summertime walleyes, unfortunately, the possibilities are endless this time of year for both the fishermen and the walleyes. If you’re chasing smaller eatable walleyes stay close to the same areas walleyes used to lay their eggs. Here’s the reason why other baitfish use the same breeding grounds as walleyes. The next eating opportunity for walleyes after baitfish are done spawning is insects hatching in the mud basin. When the insect hatch is done, summer-pattern walleyes will be more spread out than any other time of the year.
To consistently catch walleyes on a daily basis you’ll need electronic help like 360 imaging, fishfinders, water Navionics maps, etc. This will help you find weedline points, offshore humps, shoreline breaks, turns pockets, rock bottoms, bars, and baitfish. In addition to sandy flats, outside weedlines, gravel, rockpiles, along with point and rock breaks. The largest points extending into the main basin are classic areas as well. Keep in mind, walleyes relate to the bottom-most of the time at least during the day.
They like hard-bottom areas and will feed on yellow perch, shiners, and other minnows along with crayfish and insects, depending on where the best feeding opportunities are located. Unlike big walleyes, their patterns are very consistent and no problem figuring it out. They’re located in deep water about 40-feet down following baitfish from spring to fall. You 100 percent need to depend upon your fish electronics during this time of year.
Upper French River Walleye Fall Patterns
As the cooler weather starts settling in and the leaves begin to change. Fall time is trophy time, female walleyes put on the feed bag and start bulking up for the winter months. Cold temperatures force walleyes out of their cozy summer environments into open water during the fall season and this is why you have a better chance at catching monster walleyes.
Fall walleye fishing is all about moving around in your boat trying to locate schools of baitfish in open water. Ninety percent of walleyes leave the main river, current areas, bays, etc and head for open deep water in the basin. Saying that walleyes do a full circle and end up back in 10-15-feet of water near creeks, streams, and river mouth areas. If you’re not going to fish deep open water stay near their breeding grounds in the fall. Before the weeds begin to die stay in 15 -25-feet of water on the windblown side that is holding bait fish.
Once the weeds began to die the walleye seem to move 25 feet or deeper. Once again find baitfish and stay on the same side as the wind. This time of year is a great time to troll walleyes to find active suspended fish and mark places that you see fish holding. Then go back later and vertically jig the marked areas on your fishfinder. As fishermen that fall season is always giving us new challenges to overcome especially when turnover happens. Cooling water disrupts the summer thermocline, leading to fall turnover. Fishing is terrible during this period fish are scattered and difficult to pattern during turnover.
I recommend moving out of deep open water and either start trolling or trying vertical jigging. Like before turnover but not in deep water troll in 10 -15 -feet range and use your fishfinders to try to find active fish near creeks and rivers until turnover is done. Once conditions stabilize definite patterns arise. The reoxygenation of deepwater allows fish to go back into deep open water for the rest of the year. Once again you need to use your fishfinders and find active fish in hopes all your hard work pays off and you catch a fall monster trophy walleye!!! Give 50 Mission Cast Head Guide Shayne Stevenson a call 905.806.1971 or email: Shayne@50missioncast.com
Whats the proper name Walleye or Pickerel?
What is the proper name for this fish? French River Walleye? French River Pickerel? There’s differences between Walleye and Pickerel there not the same fish at all. History books tell us it was the Americans who first named this fish “Walleye.” Canada’s name for this fish was Canadian Pickerel! Fish biologists say walleye and pickerel are actually two unrelated fish, they don’t even look similar and belong to two different fish families. Here’s some pictures below.