How Far Do Large Walleye Move

[Dutch]

The reason I'm asking is I had the largest walleye that I have ever seen on and to the top just before the last snow storm. It came unbuttoned right at the boat. I said a few choice words and marked a wpt. 3 or so weeks later, is it likely to be close to the same spot or will I be wasting my time going back there?

[Quillback]

Can't help you on the how far they move question, but how big do you think it was? Just curious.

[Dutch]

I wouldn't even want to fathom a guess. I have caught them to 8# and this would beat that. It looked like a gator when it came to the surface. If I could catch it again and get it in the boat, I'd measure length and girth, weigh on my Bogas, release then have a replica built.

[Quillback]

Wow, sounds like it was a good one for sure. Sorry to heat it got off.

[countryred]

If he was there. might be more big ones around.

[powerdive]

Glad for your good fortune, Dutch, and sorry for your misfortune.

Odds are not good that the same fish would be around, unless there's an exceptional supply of easy food (large shad? small walleyes?) and great stable conditions (such as a spring holding everything right there). I think the walleyes are pretty nomadic. But as countryred said, there could be others around. Big fish spots tend to re-supply.

Note: a friend caught a 23 incher out of 55 feet last week that puked up an 8 inch shad. That fish was mixed in with quite a few smaller eyes under a shad school.

[bfishn]

There are quite a few tracking studies available online, Google Scholar Search "walleye movement" will get you several.

Here's a summary from an flatland Indiana lake much different from Stockton, but correlates well with results from similar highland reservoirs;

Ignoring spawning movements (a whole 'nother story), stability seems to govern movement. As long as temperature, clarity, and prey abundance are stable, the fish seem content to remain in an area till something changes. On the other hand, there are individuals that roam great distances, particularly if the forage is nomadic (like shad).

[9LB]

Why don't you send me the GPS co ordinates and I will keep checking to see if he is there. I am here to help! Last year about this time I had a real Monster Walleye roll up over the line at the boat and swim away. They get bigger swimming away.

[rps]

Except for spawn periods, I use the rule of thumb that if you put your boat over where you have caught them before, you will be able to see a boat over where they are now. Find the forage/current/break line key for the day. Good luck.

[Haulin Bass]

LOL, Give me those gps numbers, I'll tell you if he's still there!

Good One! What little I do know is that if you have a spot that has produced fish in a certain spot, you can go back there when the conditions are similar, and you "should' find fish there again the following year!

It's more to do with that area (if stable) should create a spot those fish want to hang out! Although Walleye are fairly rogue, they all look for favorable conditions,,,, and they will frequent the same places!

But i have rarely found big schools of big fish! *Actually never have! Now, i have caught multiple walleye in an area,,,, when it comes to BIG WALLEYE? you'll usually only find ONE in an area!

It's because they eat their own! We caught a 7lbs Wally a few years ago,,,, and there was a 10" wally inside of it!