Walleye.

[Bill Babler]

Couple of guys at our church are walleye bank fishermen with creek chubs and crawfish.  They also use shiners  

They fish up the Kings  I was visiting with one yesterday and he says they are now catching some spawned out females, above the 86 bridge   

I had no idea they got done this quick. He said they never used to. Said if possible they release the heavy females but the last several years they have caught post spawn fish in early March. 

For you walleye guys does this seem early to have already spawned?

Just saw an article that said they start at 38 to 40 degree and are over  90% finished by 50 degree water. 

Simply had no idea. 


 

 

[Macsimus]

Up north on the Mississippi River the rule of thumb is mid 40s.

[bfishn]

Yeah, that's early. AGFC has historically started stripping eggs on March 10 in Greers, normally a week later for TR & BS.

[top_dollar]

Maybe the unusually warm February made them move a bit earlier than normal?  The weather lady said that, at least for st louis, it was the 5th warmest February on record.  

[walleye4butch]

Used to take a trip to the pothole about this every year, usually coincided with MDC doing the night shocking for brood stocking. I am not sure temp is the key to trigger spawn but suspect a combination of day length and temp play an important key plus not all of them spawn at the same time but over several weeks, just my 2 cents wished I lived closer and knew the area better because the walleye fishery on the rock is really picking up.

[Devan S.]

Have not spent a lot of time up the kings lately and none of it matters now. However I haven't been finding any more than one here or there up river(well past the bridge) all males....haven't seen a female. 

Last week, prior to the rain, fished well after dark without a bite. On my troll back used flashlight to look around....didn't see a single set of eyes like I normally would this time of year. 

I just don't think it has happened full on yet. 

 

[Bill Babler]

The guys I talk to at Church fish at nite. We have a guy working on our house right now that has been fishing up at the Romp hole. Said he has been catching them that high up since January. 

Like I said I don’t know but theses locals are catching them, up the Kings. 

[Quillback]

56 minutes ago, bfishn said:

Yeah, that's early. AGFC has historically started stripping eggs on March 10 in Greers, normally a week later for TR & BS.

Yep, they told me they targeted them around March 15.  

[Targa98]

Out of curiosity, what does the water look like right now that far up the river?

[Macsimus]

Drove over it on 86 this afternoon. Nice green color, no debris.