Walleye spawning run energizing anglers

Walleye fishing in Missouri is heating up. Though you can catch a walleye just about any time of the year, many anglers really get excited when this popular fish starts their spawning run and the fish gather in larger numbers. Walleye spawn when the water temperature ranges between 42 to 54 degrees. Walleyes are perfectly adapted for capturing prey in very low light and even in total darkness. In most clear waters, they forage most effectively at dawn and dusk, when the prey fish have limited vision but remain active. For this reason, walleye are termed low light feeders, and fishing success is traditionally best during these periods. Some of the most avid walleye fishermen don’t fish during daylight hours but find catch success best in semi- or total darkness.

Reports of good catches of walleye have started to show up. Last week, Robert Miller, Blue Springs, caught a limit of walleye on the Osage River near Rich Hill, with the largest weighing just over six pounds. Miller said he discovered the good early fishing on the river when a friend from Clinton introduced him to how fishing in February can be. Miller said, “On my first trip I was using a yellow Roadrunner lure and caught a nice fish as well as several crappie; that hooked me on the early fishing before the word got out that you don’t necessarily have to wait until March or April to get in on the great fishing. It varies each year, but usually I get started in the middle of February."

The Missouri Department of Conservation has been stocking this popular game fish in lakes that can support them. Stockton, Bull Shoals Lake of the Ozarks as well as other lakes should have an impressive fishery. From now through April 14, walleye can be taken only between the hours of one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset. This regulation applies to all streams other than the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Lake fishing is open year around.

Daily limit is four with a 15-inch minimum length. Possession limit is four fish.

Southwest Missouri’s big impoundments are getting a reputation as good walleye fishing spots. Bull Shoals, Stockton, Pomme de Terre and the Lake of the Ozarks have produced good catches of this excellent eating fish.

More and more anglers are finding out that you don’t have to go north to catch walleyes because there is some great fishing to be had closer to home. A case in point is David Smith, who retired to Warsaw several years ago from Minnesota. He said, "When I moved to Missouri, I didn’t think I could catch walleye like I did in Minnesota, but on my first visit to Stockton Lake, I caught a nine-pound walleye, which was larger than any I had taken up north. Since then, I have fished Bull Shoals and caught some big walleye along with some white bass in the spring. Now many of my Minnesota friends come to visit Missouri for walleye fishing and are as impressed as I was.”

Spring fishing for walleye in lakes can be productive when the fish are usually concentrated near a structure, invariably over shallow shoals such as rock reefs, permanent land points and the face along a dam.

A popular spot for March walleye anglers is Bull Shoals just below Powersite Dam, known as the “pothole.” This stretch of water can be very good for catching walleye in March.

Another popular walleye spot is Turnback Creek off Highway 160 in Dade County. When the water is at a normal level, significant run of spawning walleye causes many anglers to catch walleye and white bass in early spring.

Recently, a crowd of walleye anglers gathered at the face of the Stockton Dam around dark. Fred Gardner, Springfield, said, "I drove over the dam just after sundown and saw a lot of fishermen lined up on the bank and several boats near the dam with anglers waiting to find spawning walleyes. At the time, I didn’t know what was the big attraction, but a neighbor told me that it must be time to go after the walleye because that is where many anglers start off the season around that dam.”

When you do catch one of these finny fighters, you have one of the best eating fish that swims in Missouri waters.

Ken White writes about hunting and fishing for the News-Leader. Contact him at kdwhite7@windstream.net.