Early Walleyes

Early Walleyes

By Ben Leal

As winter hangs on here in Iowa, anglers begin to think about what lies ahead for open-water fishing. While many of Iowa’s lakes are still covered in ice, I would consider most of those thoughts wishful thinking for now. However, a few sports shows occur in February, and those feed that open-water hunger. So why not take some time, prepare yourself and your gear for the coming season, and remember to pick up some new baits to use; you never know what the next best thing will be!

Gear Prep
I will be the first to admit that I could be better at keeping my rods and reels ready for a new season. I see a bunch of you raising your hands and nodding, “yep, me too”. As I write this article, it is a good reminder for you and me that we need to pull those rods out of the boat and start maintenance on them. First and foremost is getting new line on those reels. Research has shown that monofilament will have a shelf life of up to two to three years, while fluorocarbon keeps its integrity for up to seven years. However, once that line is loaded on your reel, the strength and resiliency will begin to deteriorate. Experts recommend changing the line at least once a year during the season, and if you’re more than an average angler with heavy usage, twice a year. Braided line can last for years on your reel, so there’s no need to change it as frequently.

Once you’ve stripped off the line, it’s an excellent opportunity to do reel maintenance. Clean and lubricate the reel based on the manufactures’ recommendations. Fin Grease is a popular lubricant for all types of reels. It sprays on like an oil and expands into a more generous grease once it’s settled. A very popular but definitely not recommended lubricant is WD-40. It’s a degreaser and should never be used on a reel. Use grease for the gears and oil on everything else. And use it sparingly; too much impedes the spool.

Have a good look at your rods as well. Once the reel is off, take a few minutes, grab a clean cloth and give it a wipe down. You can also check the reel seat to ensure there are no issues and all of the eyes in the rod. I’ve had some pop out and just hang on the line as I’m fishing. This causes casting problems and will undoubtedly become a concern if there’s a big ol’ fish on the other end. You can also check for burrs in the eyes and smooth those out. If they are a bit lose, a small dab of superglue to keep them in place will do the trick.

Tacklebox
I am one of those unfortunate souls that carries a tackle box that hasn’t changed in decades. The current version is newer but is the same model. I know where everything’s at and where every lure lies. It’s a great box apart from one thing, it’s not really rainproof, and one of my drawers always fills with water. Why do I digress with that tidbit of info? Well, water creates rust, and rust is terrible for lures and hooks. Now is a great time to dig through your tacklebox and toss hooks and lures affected by rust or wear. Swapping out the treble hooks on some of your favorite baits would also be good. There’s nothing worse than having that trophy on the end of your line only to have the hook fail you. Now is also the time to look at some of the newer stuff that’s hitting the market. Sure, there will be those gimmick lures, but for the most part, trusted manufacturers will release tried and tested baits that will do the trick. You can visit any sporting goods store, and they’re likely to have open-water products on display.

Boat Prep
Once you’ve gone through the rods and tackle, it’s a great time to organize and clean the boat. You can reseat your reels on your rods and slide them into the rod storage lockers. Check clasps and locks and make sure they keep your equipment secure. If you store your batteries inside, do a simple check to see if they’ve maintained the batteries rated voltage. It may be early to reinstall them but checking them before launch will save you valuable fishing time and unnecessary frustration. If you’re like me, you’ve got some electronics on your boat. Before the season begins, check for firmware updates or mapping updates you can install. Also, install new electronics if you’re giving that some consideration. There is no better time to do it than now; don’t wait until the eve of a fishing expedition!

Let’s Go Fishing
Okay, we’ve been through all our gear to ensure that when we hit the water chasing after walleyes, we are ready. For the most part, temperatures in February will linger as high as 39 degrees and lows hovering in the 15-degree range. Most of Iowa’s lakes will still be covered in ice. But as we draw closer to March, when temps can start rising to 50 degrees, we’ll begin to see the beginning of ice disappear.

In general, and depending on how Mother Nature treats us, the walleye bite will pick up in the rivers much sooner than it does in the lakes. “I would head towards larger rivers before I would the lakes in late March or early April,” noted Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist Ben Wallace. “Rivers in the Black Hawk district that have good walleye fishing early are the North Racoon, Little Sioux, and the Des Moines River.2”

“The spring walleye bite at Lake Rathbun in early spring is rather poor,” said Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist Mark Flammang. “Most of the angling in this area would be confined to the Rathbun tailrace in the Chariton River directly below Rathbun.” Much of the success in the Chariton River is accompanied by release from the lake. Fish don’t hang around long, so you should be fishing during or immediately after a high-flow event. “The Des Moines River at Ottumwa can be good right below the hydropower dam, but again is tied to high water events,” added Flammang.

In Central Iowa, rivers will produce early as anglers wait for ice out on a very popular fishery, Big Creek Lake. The Des Moines River produces quite a few early catches, as well as some of the tributary rivers within the area. At the end of March and the first part of April, once the water warms up in the lake, we’ll see male walleye beginning to stage in shallow water in preparation for the spawn.

“Clear Lake is one of the top walleye destinations in Iowa,” notes Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologist Scott Grummer. “The walleye angling starts shortly after ice out. Slow presentations with a jig or jig and minnow combination are best.” Male walleye will move to shallow rock or cobble shorelines and will also use sand starting in early April in this lake. “Clear Lake also has a special regulation for Walleye,” adds Grummer. “All walleye between 17 and 22-inches need to be immediately released. One walleye greater than 22 inches is allowed per day with a daily bag limit of three walleye”.

Get your gear and your equipment in top-shape so you can be ready prior to the season. Walleye are early spawners and will move shallow shortly after ice out and as water temps rise. This can be an opportune time to hook into a fish of a lifetime, given they will be on the feed early in preparation for the spawn. Be selective in your harvest, keep what you can consume, and release the rest for another day. Taking care of Iowa’s resources is every angler’s responsibility.