One of the best things that can be done to catch Walleye or any type of fish is to memorize their patterns, including when their feeding times reach their peak. This will allow fishermen, both expert and new, to prepare their bait and rods accordingly. Now, let’s jump right in and find out the Best Time to Fish for Walleye.
Best Time to Fish for Walleye
The experts at Fresh Water Fishing Advice recommend that fishing for walleye should be done before sunrise and after sunset. According to them, 30 minutes before the former and after the latter should suffice most of the year, since it is said that the best specimen and the highest quantities can be caught during these times. Summer is not an exception to this rule since the walleye bite tends to reach its peak at sunset and sunrise.
The main reason for this preference is their eyes. They tend to work pretty well in very low-light conditions, making them different from perch, bass, pike and bluegills, who also use their sight to get by. On the other hand, Walleye’s eyes absorb all the available light and, as a result, they can see their dangerously unaware prey. This advantage can prove to be very useful once they start hunting for their next meal.
Best Time to Fish for Walleye in Winter
Research suggests that, during winter, nighttime tends to be the best time to get one’s hands in these creatures, although the same results can be achieved in an early-late afternoon. In a similar manner to other seasons, finding deep channels is a must when it comes to fishing for Walleye. Their best bite can be found in the late afternoon and persist all night long, which is when they’re the most actively feeding. However, some Ice fishers have managed to catch the biggest specimen during the daytime, so this time frame shouldn’t be discarded either.
Best Time of Day to Catch Walleye in Summer
Chasing around deepwater Walleye during the day won’t be possible unless a boat is added to the equation. At this time and depth, they will be running after bait similarly to how children would look for candy under a broken piñata. This is perfect for people that have only room for fishing during the day, although they would need to do so in deeper waters, so it is important to choose wisely.
As it was mentioned at the beginning of this article, sunrise and sunset are the best time to catch them. However, a good bite can be found at nighttime as well, especially in summer. During this season, they start moving before sunset and they continue at night. The experts at Fresh Water Fishing Advice state that one of the reasons why fishing for Walleye in daylight can be difficult is that, by that time, they’re too full to eat, which means a waste of bait.
Best Time to Fish for Walleye in the Fall
When it comes to deepsea fishing for Walleye, midday can provide good results. However, sunrise and sunset continue to hold their title as the best time to catch them. Once the water temperatures start dropping, their feeding frenzy commences. These fellows need to stuff their faces with food for the upcoming winter, so they will spend their time chasing around their pray during daylight hours. Midday Walleyes are not always willing to bite, mainly because their feeding time reaches its peak during nighttime. One interesting thing about them is that many tend to digest their food before they start eating heavily. This can be a great opportunity to look for tantalizing bait that could send them into overdrive once their frenzy starts.
Conclusion
Fishing for Walleye must be done 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset since this is when they start moving. This is mostly due to their eyesight, which allows them to catch their prey while they’re blissfully unaware of their presence. Their advanced eyes make them unique among other fish that rely on them to hunt their meal, such as perch and bass. These two time frames tend to remain constant during the whole year, becoming more prominent in summer and fall, the latter being when they start feeding ferociously, as winter is drawing near and they need to be prepared.
If you are looking When is The Best Time of Day to go Fishing in a more general rule and some tips what effect if you will land a fish or not then check out our other guides.