How the patterns cgange through the summer

[matthewkolden]

So this last weekend we dialed in on the walleye pattern for the particular lake we were on. During the day they would slide out to deeper water and sit. At night they would come back up into 4-7 ft of water and feed. We found almost all of our fish on the top of a flat point on the lake, surrounded by very deep water. It was a fairly large area that held about 4 feet way off shore and came to a point.

So my question is, how does this pattern change as the summer rolls on? Will the fish still be found in those same areas or do they tend to move as the water gets warmer? Do they tend to stay deeper? Will they still remain aggressive and take crank baits, or do they slow and get lethargic and need something like a Lindy?

Finally, I just want to say thanks to all of you who have offered advice and encouragement. I’ve been damn determined to catch more walleye, and I’ve utililized many suggestions from members here and every one of them is greatly appreciated.

[matthewkolden]

I should add that I do recognize I could go on google and read articles about catching walleye, but I prefer the human element of direct interaction and discussion with fellow fisherman vs simply reading an article. I like connecting.

[fishnpole]

There has been many articles and books written on the subject of evolving walleye patterns, Matt. A lot depends on which body of water you’re talking about. For example, weedy shallower lakes are totally different for walleye behavior than deeper rockier ones.
For the most part, though, I’ve found that as the water temp climbs and the sun gets higher in the sky over the summer months, the trend is that walleye will find deeper structures that provide protection for their over-sensitive retinas during bright days and enjoy the cooler water temps of the deeper water.
Forage is also a major factor. Anybody can tell you if you’re looking for hungry walleyes, find what they’re eating and where that forage is abundant and you’ll find hungry walleyes.

Whenever you ‘google’ this subject, the information can get pretty overwhelming, buddy.

[Reinhard]

Fishingpole offers up some good advice. For me I prefer stained shallow lakes. These lakes are fished pretty much at the same depth all year long. Plus day fishing is better than night fishing. This is why I fish normally up north. Example, one [among a few] is a lake that is close to 4,000 acres. Max depth is 18 feet with plenty of structure. So much structure with stumps and rock reefs and boulders that running around top speed [there are few exeptions if you know the lake] is not done.

A nice walleye chop and your in buisness [again get to know the lake like any lade]. Of course even here in late July and into August things get tough, and I don’t care how good you are, it’s just a fact. They call it dog days of summer or you can put any lable on it. Then late afternoon seems the best, yet in the same depth, around 8 feet and yes on hard water, 8 feet. Now that’s for me, for it works for me and I have fished this lake and others like this [some smaller] for many years.

I fish a clear lake up north and it has a hell of a weed line all over. I go there in June and I found this bay where deeper water from the main lake gradually goes to about 11 feet at the entrance of this bay and then the water raises to 5 feet all across the bay and the bay itself stays at around 5 feet.

I go there at about 5 pm and stay there till around 8 pm. Anchor at about 10 feet and throw my bobber and leech toward the shallow shelf [6 foot]. the walleye’s will come in there every night to feed and the action is fast. During the day, nothing there, in the evening during the time span mentioed, seems like they are all there. So like Fishinpole said, find the food base and you will find the fish. good luck.

http://www.sausageheavenoutdoors.com

Die young as old as possible.

[Walleye-Student]

matthewkolden wrote:
So my question is, how does this pattern change as the summer rolls on? Will the fish still be found in those same areas or do they tend to move as the water gets warmer? Do they tend to stay deeper? Will they still remain aggressive and take crank baits, or do they slow and get lethargic and need something like a Lindy?

Being that I am still the “student”, I could just as well be asking questions as opposed to trying to answer anything. But I could always spread rumors I suppose. ” title=”” class=”bbcode_smiley” />
Supposedly as water temps rise, so do fish’s metabolism. The higher that is, the more aggressively and more frequently the fish eats to maintain that “amped up” metabolic rate. That’s the theory? But than we all have heard of or experienced those “dog days” of mid to late summer. So, yet another factor. In spring the baitfish population is at the lowest in spring because they have been nibbled upon over the previous year. One reason for good fishing in the spring! As the baitfish spawn, all the little ones just hatched are too tiny for larger fish to worry about much. Once these YOY baitfish finally get to good “eatin” size for all those walleyes it’s now mid summer and they have the highest amount of “pickins” and so comes the “dog days”!
For sure sun angle and many other factors affect fish behavior, shallower lakes… they can only go so deep and find other hiding places.
I have caught walleye or those in my boat have on the least likely spot, at the least likely time of day, on the least likely bait.
I guess that’s what makes it so fun and yet so frustrating.

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