Walleye Fishing

Walleye Fishing

By Ben Leal

Ask any freshwater angler what is a sought-after fish for table fare, and you’ll get a resounding response, “walleye.” Sure, crappie and bluegill will come up in that conversation as well, but walleye, by far, will always be on that list. The common name, “walleye,” comes from the fact that their eyes reflect white light like those of lions. This “eyeshine” results from a light-gathering layer in the eyes called the tapetum lucidum, which allows the fish to see well in low-light conditions. Just what you wanted, right? A lesson in fish biology…ahh, it gets better. This “eyeshine” allows walleye to see its prey in rather adverse water conditions and most times can be caught when other fish are not as willing to bite. Walleye anglers also know that seeing in low light means fishing can extend well into the night.

The Basics
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I have my confidence bait when it comes to walleye fishing. Why? Well, I’ve had a ton of success using it, but it’s also one of the basic baits and easiest presentations to use, and one that I’m sure is the first used by most walleye anglers…the jig. By far the most used and, as previously mentioned, the first used. It’s easy to employ, easy to learn, and you can fish it in various ways.

We can talk about many combinations here, but there are a few that I know work, work well, and can be used across the board. First off is jig size and color. I keep a variety of colors in my jig box and sizes. Load up on an arsenal of jig heads; 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 ounce jigs are usually what I carry in my tackle box. I keep a variety of colors but try to stay basic. I also do the same with the grubs; white, black, orange/brown, and chartreuse are colors that will work under most conditions. You can also tip these jigs with worms, leeches, and minnows.

The Worm Harness
Another excellent and readily utilized technique is the worm harness. Great for covering lots of water and they catch fish. All you need is a few dozen nice juicy nightcrawlers, and you’re all set. I’d recommend using a two-hook harness rather than a three hook. Sure, you’ll get some short strikes and miss fish because you don’t have the third hook, but honestly, those are likely smaller fish. There are a variety of colors, lengths, and sizes of harnesses, and you can quickly and easily get overwhelmed. As with jigs, keep it simple and basic.

Crank Baits
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t use crankbaits as often as I should. These are incredibly effective in catching fish and cover a lot of water. A three-way swivel system is one of the techniques with crankbaits that has become popular in both fishing lakes and rivers. The great thing about this system is that it allows you to get generally shallow baits, running down deep to feeding fish.

This rig is relatively easy to set up; grab yourself a three-way swivel, your favorite crankbait, and a bell weight in a 1/4 oz. 1/2 oz., or whatever you feel necessary to get the bait down to the depth you’re trying to reach. Here’s where good electronics will help you. Tie the crankbait to a 24 to 30-inch leader and to one of the eyes on the three-way swivel. Tie one to the mainline, and the other is left for your weight with about a 12-inch leader. You’ll find the fish on the electronics, and you’ll mark the depth they are holding; drop this down and start trolling. If you’re not getting bit at any time during your first couple passes, it could be one of two things. One could be the color and size of the bait you’re using; the other could be the depth. Once you’ve determined those two factors, you should be in the fish for quite some time.

Where to Fish
Let’s explore some of the areas in Iowa where walleye abide.

Rathbun Reservoir – Located eight miles northwest of Centerville, this lake covers 11,000 acres and has a maximum depth of 48 feet. Shore access is good to excellent, so chasing after walleye from the bank is definitely an option for those who don’t have a boat. This lake offers quite a few amenities and is a great place to take the family.

“The Rathbun Lake walleye population has improved the last couple of years dramatically and should continue to do so over the next 4 years or so”, noted Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Mark Flammang. “We have had excellent survival of fingerling and fry-stocked fish which has resulted in the highest adult abundance since the mid-2000’s.” Walleye fishing on Rathbun is typically best from mid-May through August. The early spring bite is usually, very slow and pre-spawn or post-spawn fish are generally tricky to target. “It’s the warmer weather that brings the most success, anglers seeking fish on shallow points and humps have the best success. In 2021 we had what is probably the best walleye angling in a decade”, added Flammang.

Storm Lake – This water body is located on the south edge of the town of Storm Lake and is in Buena Vista County. Covering a little over 3,000 acres with a maximum depth of 20 feet, this lake ranks high in walleye destinations.

“April is pretty early for the walleye bite to really turn on in the Black Hawk district, but we do see some action,” said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Ben Wallace. “Based on multiple years of creel surveys at Storm Lake and Black Hawk Lake, May is generally the best month for walleye fishing overall. However, if you’re a shore angler, April and May are your best months, whereas if you’re a boat angler, May and June tend to be your best months” Spawning at Storm Lake starts during the first week of April. Though not like that every year, the vast majority of the time, it’s that first week. Anglers will catch quite a few males and usually in shallow where most of the spawning action occurs.

“Storm Lake will be one in this area to target for early season walleye for several reasons,” continued Wallace. “First off, the slot limit was recently changed. This will open up a size class of fish that has gone unexploited and will give anglers more opportunity to harvest. Additionally, we did not detect any signs of a successful gizzard shad hatch in 2021. We did a lot of sampling and never found a single “Young of Year” (YOY) gizzard shad.” This is significant since there is usually a YOY class of gizzard shad. Night seining in 2021 did not yield a single YOY, so the regular full-on buffet for the YOY gizzard shad won’t be there. “So, I think there is going to be a lot less competition with the natural forage, and those walleye might be a little hungrier than normal.”

Storm Lake moved the protected slot limit from 17-22 inches to 19-25 inches. The bag limit is the same (three fish per day), and only one of the three can be above the slot. “We anticipate that this will significantly increase the harvest of walleye while having a near negligible impact on the female broodstock population. Male walleye rarely get over 22 or 23 inches. So, if a male walleye reaches the slot, then it stays protected for the rest of its life”, noted the biologist. “By moving the slot upward, it allows anglers to harvest more of the male population (in that 17 to 19-inch range). Yes, some females will get harvested along with males, but on the other end, the females will enjoy the protection of the slot for much longer.

This change will allow anglers to harvest more fish without negatively impacting the fishery. If needed, it can be changed again in the future. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources continues to monitor fish populations and the impact these and other changes have.
During the season, walleye fishing can be great for both shore anglers and boaters. Remember to be selective in your harvest regardless of the species you’re chasing. The Iowa DNR does a great job managing the state’s fisheries, but we’re all a part of the management system. Tight Lines All!