How to take advantage of the walleye migration on large western lakes
Many anglers believe walleye are always on the move and prone to long-distance migrations. Broadly speaking, this is an oversimplification. But on a select few waterbodies, including some of the West’s top walleye lakes and reservoirs, it’s true they are nomadic—and that’s a good thing. Let me explain.
The idea that walleye are migratory started with mark-and-recapture studies, such as the one carried out on Lake Champlain, a huge lake straddling the Quebec-U.S. border. That study revealed that more than 60 per cent of the walleye in the lake’s north end migrated 50 kilometres downriver to the St. Lawrence. Another study undertaken on Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago found that 21 per cent of tagged adult walleye were re-captured 40 to 140 kilometres away from their release point. Other studies have recorded extreme travelling distances of 200, 250 and almost 400 kilometres.
It’s important to note that most of this research was carried out on large lakes and reservoirs. It was also associated with the pre- and post-spawning movements of fish. These walleye were swimming long distances to reach suitable spawning grounds or returning to their open-water summer haunts after laying their eggs. Biologists suspect these big-water walleye migrate to the vicinity of their spawning grounds in the fall to take advantage of their peak physical conditioning. After all, it’s better for the fish to make the journey in autumn, after a summer of leisure, than in the spring when the winter-weary, egg-laden females would be stressed by the ordeal. Whatever the reason, thanks to these long-distance migrations prior to ice-up, we enjoy some of the best fishing in the fall.
While the walleye migration isn’t really a factor on small- to mid-size Shield lakes, it is significant on large western waterbodies, such as Lake Winnipeg, Tobin Lake, Reindeer Lake, Lake Diefenbaker and even Lake of the Woods. Every fall, large schools of walleye migrate great distances to the south ends of these lakes. They then settle down and bunch up for the winter, close to where they’ll spawn in the spring. As a result, the fall fishing season brings a period of stability and steadily building populations, when catching the biggest walleye of the year is the norm rather than the exception.
With so many fish often relating to a relatively small area, this is a great time for vertical jigging. Some excellent presentations include thumper-style jigs such as the ReelBait Flasher Jig (tipped with a large minnow), heavy spoons such as the Fergie Special and lipless crankbaits, including the Rippin’ Rap, Jigging Rap and Kamooki Smartfish. When you find the fish spread out, on the other hand, try trolling with bottom-hugging crankbaits such as the Reef Runner and Rapala Tail Dancer. And get ready to land your biggest walleye of the year.
Wanyama wengi wanaovua samaki wanaamini kwamba samaki hao husafiri mara nyingi na wana mwelekeo wa kusafiri umbali mrefu. Kwa ujumla, hii ni kurahisisha kupita kiasi. Lakini kwenye maji machache yaliyochaguliwa, kutia ndani baadhi ya maziwa na mabwawa ya juu ya magharibi, ni kweli kwamba wao ni wasafiri - na hilo ni jambo zuri. Hebu nieleze. Walisema kwamba walleye ni msafiri, lakini utafiti wa utafiti uliofanywa katika Ziwa Champlain, ziwa kubwa lililo karibu na mpaka wa Quebec na Marekani, ulionyesha kwamba walleye ni msafiri. Utafiti huo ulifunua kwamba zaidi ya asilimia 60 ya walleye katika mwisho wa kaskazini mwa ziwa hilo walihamia kilomita 50 chini ya mto hadi St. Lawrence. Uchunguzi mwingine uliofanywa kwenye Ziwa Winnebago la Wisconsin uligundua kuwa asilimia 21 ya walleye wazima waliochorwa alama walifungwa tena kilomita 40 hadi 140 mbali na mahali pa kutolewa kwao. Katika utafiti mwingine, watu walipima umbali wa kusafiri wa kilomita 200, 250 na 400 hivi. Ni muhimu kutambua kwamba utafiti huu ulifanywa kwenye maziwa makubwa na mabwawa. Pia ilihusianishwa na harakati za samaki kabla na baada ya kuzaa. Walleye hao walikuwa wakisafiri umbali mrefu kwa kuogelea ili kufika mahali panapofaa pa kuzaliana au kurudi kwenye maeneo yao ya majira ya kiangazi ya maji ya wazi baada ya kuweka mayai yao. Wataalamu wa viumbe wanafikiri kwamba ndege hao wa majini hukimbilia karibu na mahali pao pa kuzaliana wakati wa vuli ili kutumia wakati wao mzuri wa kimwili. Baada ya yote, ni bora kwa samaki kufanya safari katika vuli, baada ya majira ya joto ya burudani, kuliko katika spring wakati majira ya baridi-chovu, ya kiume ya mayai-laden ingekuwa alisisitiza na ordeal. Kwa sababu yoyote ile, shukrani kwa uhamiaji huu wa umbali mrefu kabla ya barafu, tunafurahia baadhi ya uvuvi bora katika vuli. Wakati uhamiaji wa walleye sio sababu halisi kwenye maziwa madogo hadi ya kati ya Shield, ni muhimu kwenye miili mikubwa ya maji ya magharibi, kama vile Ziwa Winnipeg, Ziwa Tobin, Ziwa Reindeer, Ziwa Diefenbaker na hata Ziwa la Woods. Kila vuli, makundi makubwa ya walleye huhama umbali mrefu hadi kwenye ncha za kusini za maziwa hayo. Kisha wanakaa na kukusanyika kwa ajili ya majira ya baridi kali, karibu na mahali ambapo watazaa katika majira ya kuchipua. Kwa sababu hiyo, msimu wa uvuvi wa vuli huleta kipindi cha utulivu na kuongezeka kwa idadi ya samaki, wakati wa kuvua samaki mkubwa zaidi wa mwaka ni kawaida badala ya ubaguzi. Kwa kuwa samaki wengi sana huishi katika eneo dogo, hii ni wakati mzuri wa kupiga mbizi. Baadhi ya maonyesho bora ni pamoja na thumper-style jigs kama vile ReelBait Flasher Jig (tip na minnow kubwa), spoons nzito kama vile Fergie maalum na crankbaits lipless, ikiwa ni pamoja na Rippin 'Rap, Jigging Rap na Kamooki Smartfish. Kwa upande mwingine, wakati unapoona samaki wametandazwa, jaribu kuvuta samaki wenye kuvutia kama vile Reef Runner na Rapala Tail Dancer. Na kuwa tayari kutua walleye yako kubwa ya mwaka.