By author John Olsen
As spring approaches, I look forward to getting the boat out and hitting the water. Spring can bring some great fishing; one of the most challenging spring fish is the Walleye. Walleye are one of my favorites to fish to catch. Utah has some great Walleye fishing, and I'll talk about tactics I use in Utah and Idaho; however, these tactics will work wherever Walleye are found.
Spring Walleye was one of the hardest for me here in Northern Utah for quite a while. My problem was my stubbornness about what I thought I knew about Walkeye. In summer and fall, I find Walleye in deep water on the bottom. It took me a while to understand why that same water didn't produce in spring.
Walleye will spawn early in the spring when water temps are right around 42-48 deg, which is relatively cold for many fish. Walleye spawn in 1-6 feet of water and next to rock piles or in gravel, sometimes near inlets to the reservoir. These conditions make 6-8 foot water the perfect depth for pre-spawn and post Spawn Walleye. Often fisherman fish way too deep for spring Walleye.
You will want to target 6-8 feet near river inlets or transition points between gravel, rock, and sand beds in the 6-8 feet range.
You'll want a shallow diver when trolling in these 6-8 foot areas. Some of my favorites are the Rapala Husky Jerk size 4", Rapala shallow Shad Rap 3.5", and the X-Rap 4"; however, any shallow hard bait will work as long as you are about 1 foot off the bottom. As for color, it all depends on watercolor and the weather. Walleye are called Walleye because of their large eyes, which are very sensitive to light and help them hunt in low light. Most of the year,
darker colors have worked for me, but lighter colors will work in spring too. You may need to change colors to find what color is producing. The speed for trolling in spring is slower than in summer and fall. I like 1.5 mph in spring and jump up later on in the year to 2 mph. In spring, with cooler temps, Walleye are lethargic and are more likely to hit a slower bait.
With Walleye bunched up near spawning areas in the 6-8 foot range, jigging or pitching can keep you closer to the schools where trolling may help you find them.
The jigs I like in spring are Shad soft bait 3" (there are many kinds) with a 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig head or any Blade bait between 2"-3" . Also, your standard curly tail 2-3" grub jig works well—brighter colors in spring produce, but you may need to try many colors to get the right one.
Pitching would be very similar bait as trolling, Husky Jerk, Shad Rap 4” or comparable. Choose a crankbait that will get you about a foot off the bottom. You will want to very on your return with a pause In your retrieve. A pause in your retrieve can get lethargic Walleye to strike. With Walleye in shallower waters in spring, walking the bank and pitching can also be effective for those without a boat.
Some Utah bodies of water with Great Walleye fishing include Willard Bay, Starvation Res, Deer Creek, Utah Lake, and Lake Powell. In Southern Idaho, you can find Walleye in Oneida Res and a few others.
Walleye are excellent eating fish. I'm partial to white fish, and Walleye are some of the best. After filleting your Walleye, if you knock the fillet and pull the dark vein in the middle of the fillet right above the ribs, this will help eliminate the strong fishy taste.
Recipe
Best Walleye Fish and Chips
Ingredients
-Vegetable oil,
-1 1/2 to 2 pounds Walleye
-Salt
-1 /2 cup all-purpose flour
-2 large eggs
-2 cups plain bread crumbs
-1/2 teaspoon dried mustard powder
-2 tablespoons whole milk
-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, a few pinches
-Wedged lemons and malt vinegar for topping
Directions:
1- Pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a large skillet—place skillet over a large burner and heat the oil over medium-high heat.
2-Cut Walleye into four servings and season with salt. Place a couple of scoops of flour in a bowl. Combine egg and milk in a second bowl. Season bread crumbs, mustard, and cayenne in a third bowl. Coat fish in flour, then egg, and then bread crumbs. Gently set coated fish into hot oil and fry for 5 minutes on each side until medium golden brown.
3- Place fish on a plate covered in a paper towel and blot extra oil.
4-serve with your favorite oven or air-fried french fries and sprinkle on Malt vinegar to taste!
Enjoy!
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