Many states have closed seasons or special regulations during the walleye spawn to protect the run. Check state regulations before fishing. Spawn calendar pages cover walleye timing.
Spawn Timing & Fishing
When do walleye spawn and how do I fish the spawn run?
Walleye spawn at 42-50°F, typically March-April in the Upper Midwest, with the run starting just after ice-out. Fish stage at the mouths of tributaries and below dams, then move upstream to spawn over rocky/gravel substrate. The spawn run produces the year's most concentrated walleye fishing — limits come fast on jigs or live bait below dams during the peak.
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