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From this Max Loesche write-up on his Strike and Catch site:
Walleye will spawn in water temps above 40 and up to 50°F.
As soon as the water temperature is nearing 40°F, which is usually just after the ice has disappeared in the northern regions of the North American continent, the fish will gather in big schools and start their migration toward their spawning grounds.
Spawning activity will commence at a water temperature of about 44-46°F and peak at around 50°F.
Walleye either spawn in smaller lake or river tributaries or shallow lake areas with depths of 1′ to 10′.
If they spawn directly in a lake, the shallows they tend to seek out are usually close to the shoreline and exposed to winds, as the moving water will cleanse the area from fine sediment that could harm the eggs.
…windswept shallows will hold more oxygen, which is needed for the eggs to survive.
The preferred bottom features for spawning walleye include rock and gravel, as the eggs will have an easier time attaching themselves to such bottom structures.
Furthermore, the shallow areas the walleye will use for spawning in lakes will almost always be closely located to considerably deeper water.
The smaller males arrive at the spawning ground much earlier than the bigger females, who prefer to remain in the deeper water adjacent to the shallows.
Walleye are broadcast spawners, which means that they will scatter their eggs across the bottom instead of building protective nests for them.
That is why they choose bottom features such as gravel or rocks so that the eggs can attach themselves to the structure or fall into crevices, where they will remain protected until they hatch.
On average, a female produces a staggering 27K eggs per pound. Egg production generally ranges from 12-55K eggs per pound. Amazingly, that means that a trophy-sized walleye of 10+ lbs has the capacity to produce and store over 500K eggs in her body.
Most of them have reported an additional weight of about 10-25% in pre-spawn fish, compared to egg-free post-spawn ones. …bigger females with more eggs will be closer to that 25% mark, while smaller fish will be closer to a 10% weight increase….
This would imply that a 5-lb walleye could gain roughly 0.5 lbs before the spawn. A 10-lb fish could gain 1 to 1.5 lbs, and a 15-lber could gain close to 4 lbs before it spawns.
And more info yet here, unless you’re ready to tap.
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