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2017 walleye run

54K views 362 replies 80 participants last post by  ngski 
#1 ·
Really considering giving the walleye run a try this year. This would be my first time up there for this and by the looks of pictures online and the crowds seem to be nothing I have ever experienced before. I fish the white bass run on Sandusky river but the spot I go to is nothing close to this. Anyone have any do's and dont's before I head up and piss some people off.
 
#122 · (Edited)
Now come on you can admit with 43 degree water flowing into a 36 degree lake there are certainly fish coming up from the lake. No it will not be shoulder to shoulder with every other guy having a limit on the stringer but people will catch limits by later this week. I'll be heading to the Sandusky and imo the very start of the run is an excellent chance at the fish of a lifetime. Also something interesting occurred to me. On the inland lakes many of us are throwing stick baits and out on erie everyone is dragging p10s. Hook restrictions come in march 1. Hmmmm
 
#127 ·
IF I were to try this week, it would be in the Sandusky river. You'll probably only need a 1/8 oz. jig because it is so low. There is more that plays into the walleye coming up the rivers than water temperature, but to each his or her own.

70 degrees and thunderstorms Friday is going to raise the temp of the river water significantly. Perhaps a push of fish will come up, but I still maintain that in 2012 when we had no winter, there were very few fish that were caught before March 10th. I fished 5 times from February 20th-March 6th. I caught one legal walleye (17" fish) and a bunch of suckers. The water was 40 degrees on the first trip, and 49 degrees on the 5th trip. Aren't those ideal conditions? There should have been fish there, right? The water temperature was perfect! But they weren't there, and quite honestly that year sucked, because after the purging deluge in March, they all came (and went) at once. Five days of heavy stringers and then POOF! Gone...with 82 degree days by the end of the month and algae on the bottom (and white bass) by April 15th.

I would much prefer the fish show up like they do about 95% of the time, and that is around March 10th or thereabouts, with limits coming by St. Patrick's Day, and the run peaking about two weeks after that, but still good enough numbers to keep me interested until around May 10th.

I'm not saying it can't, or won't happen. What I am saying is that I don't want it to happen right now because the conditions are not right for a successful spawn. Why? We will undoubtedly have the annual "flushing" of the river that occurs whereby Fort Wayne and everywhere West gets 3-6" of rain in a very short time, sending the river up to 587' and beyond. In most years, this is a GREAT thing as it purges the river of trash, logs, debris, etc. etc. Once it starts to recede, the fish come up en masse. As the water continues to drop (and warm) the spawning conditions improve, and we get a good spawn in the river.

IMO, the number of fish in the rivers pales in comparison to what it was prior to 2012. It's not the same, and honestly speaking it's not even close. We fished ideal conditions last year on many occasions and were unsuccessful for the most part. Sure, there were guys who did well when the water got high for a week, but other than that...I saw a heck of a lot of empty stringers coming off the island last year.

And yes, I know there are fisherman that are better at this than I am, and I tip my cap to them and their outside-in fish catching abilities. Good luck to you all, and be careful when you go down there because no matter what 40 degree water is still damn cold.

And Redhunter.....don't lose a nut finding that leak, and if Buttonwood ain't broke, stay over there. :)
 
#128 ·
BFG, thanks for all the good info it will really be helpful. I live over near Butler, Pa and will go to Sandusky come spring. My problem is I fish on my 19ft Larson by my self and don't like the mad crowed at the Launch and don't know any that wouldn't be nuts that time of year. When I go out over this way in Erie at Walnut I usually go out in late afternoon go the morning rush to get out is over.
 
#131 ·
In my experience, regardless of the weather the run picks up at the same time every year. This includes years with no winter and years we ice fish into March. The temps. are going to drop again. Fish if you want now, always a good time to test out your gear and knock the cobwebs off the casting arm. Ive just sworn off letting cabin fever dictate when I make my first try for the year.
 
#138 ·
I fished for a couple hours today. Caught a handful of suckers and lost an eye about 15 feet short of my buddy netting him. There were more being caught from Jerome road. Heard of a few being caught at the island. I will wait til we get the next rains to head up. Was nice to get out and check the gear.

I am skeptical of 6 fish limits being caught. While possible, someone must have them tied up in a small hole to get 6, IMO
 
#142 ·
Hey guys! Got on OGF last year, did not really contribute much, but want to change that this year! I figured I would share some of my insights with you guys and I think they could help. I come from a lake in northeast Indiana that has a lot of walleyes, and have fished the walleye run there for 8 years now since I have been 11. I have found it absolutely amazing what I have learned. We keep track of the water temperature and number of fish caught every day we fish every spring. In summary, what I have learned is that water temperature creates only about 30-40% of the pull to get walleyes to spawn, the other 60-70% comes from day length. It's funny you mention 2012, that year is the year that showed a lot to us. As you all know, it got warm very early, however, in spotlighting every night on our gravel beach when the water was 40-49 degrees and fishing also, from the first week of February when the water got to 40 degrees, until the end of the month when it was 49, we rarely saw or caught fish and when we did, they were not milting. There was virtually no action until the late first-second weeks of march, when the water was above 55 degrees. Literally when the peak walleye spawn occurred, there were bass on beds when we would spotlight the beach at night. The inverse was also true in 2015, when we had very late ice, as soon as the ice came off on march 18th, fish started moving up, and to our data, our most productive time where we saw the most spawning activity was during a period where the surface water temp never topped 43 degrees. And there was no more activity when the water reached 45 degrees. I would argue that water temperature plays a role in their desire to spawn, but something about that time frame and length of day gets them going. Kind of similar to the rut, no matter the weather, they are always going to peak breed the end of that first week of November.
 
#144 ·
Those are some interesting observations Nick! I know guys who fish the river almost daily once the run starts, and they keep a daily journal of where they fish, the water temp, barometer, weather, etc. It is no surprise that they are very successful. They know exactly where the fish SHOULD be at every water level. Once I hear from these people that they are catching fish, that's when I know it's time to head down. For the people that are saying then run is on, yes, there are some fish in the river. If you want to go down and fish for 4-5 hours to bring home 1 walleye, have at it. I will continue to work on my "honey do" list, so I am free once the fishing heat up... :)
 
#146 ·
I am going down now to knock the webs off the gear. Maybe get lucky and floss one with this storm front.
I believe the date is set,when the eyes is going to spawn in first 10 month of developing ther eggs,it could shift in weeks,last 2 moth off developing the eggs can shift there spawning only few days.why they spawn 2 month?
it depend on age of fish ,health,food and condition off water fist 10 month.
the first fish spawn march 1. and the last fish spawn may 1.
the first fish is developing eggs 2 month ahead of last fish spawning.
that doe's not mean the bouth fish can not spawn next year at same day,
the first fish spawning can have ruff condition,with food water quality,than she develop the eggs slower then the last fish spawning,and when she had perfect food,water condition she develop her eggs faster and they ca spawn at same day.
I believe the fish is programed to develop the eggs in 12 month and spawn.
if she did not developed her eggs in time,she is not spawning,she absorb the egg's.
the nature block her option to develop the eggs ,extention for next 3 month,if the option was there the eye cycle would shift by 3 month for next year.
nature ptogram the eyes and there spawning is from march 1. to may 1.
 
#147 ·
I'm a fan of this colder weather. We really don't need the water warming too quick. For a terrific run, ideally we would like to see cooler temps with a couple cold snaps, and timely rains that keep the river between 581' and 585'. In that scenario, the runs of fish will stretch out over a 6 week period and keep a healthy number of fish in the river from say, March 10th through the first week of May. While this warmer weather is nice for us, not the most ideal for a prolonged, solid run
 
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