Walleye in the heat

Warmer temperatures don’t mean the end of fishing season. Days filled with boat traffic don’t mean you have to find new lakes or days to enjoy a day on your own boat. Some of my best days fishing for walleye have been right in the thick of it. Though numbers of fish are down, the size usually is larger. But patience is a virtue and timing can be everything.

Boat traffic mid-day causes wave action, which in turns decreases the light entering into the water. For light sensitive walleye this is a benefit, not a burden. Most people do not realize how much turbulence a prop actually creates. If you have side scan sonar, and it is tuned correctly, you can see turbulent water. Many times I have seen that turbulent vortex reach depths of 25 foot or more. Usually this occurs more so when boats take off at full power. A boat traveling at speed across the lake generally produces turbulence down 12 to 18 feet. So why the science lesson of prop turbulence?

Prop turbulence stirs up bottom sediment. It also disorients bait fish and other food sources for walleye. If you can manage boat control and take advantage of this affects, with proper bait presentation, like using blade and spoon type lures, you will find yourself with a live well full of fish. But if you are lucky, or time events correctly, you will find yourself out as everyone else runs for cover in a rain storm.

Now I will tell you if there is lightning with in ten miles, run for cover yourself. Don’t take any chances with lighting for any reason. But pleasure boaters, whom spent the entire day playing in the water, will run with the first rain drops. (I have never understood why) But if you are on the lake during that rain as everyone else leaves, you will find peace, relaxation and fish to be caught. But even easier to time then the weather is darkness.

I like to put on a few hours before dark. Take a nice joy ride around the lake and set up my gear. About an hour before I will begin to set up for trolling and troll up until a few hours after sunset. Granite you will get less time fishing. But this can be a very productive tactic. I have actually caught some of my largest Indiana walleye trolling during this time frame. Temperatures are more pleasant, usually I go along time without seeing another boat, and them big hungry fish come up from the depths to feed. Many nights I will troll till almost midnight, then I will anchor up and nap until just before sunrise. At which time I will go back to trolling until temperatures rise and boat traffic returns.