Reservoirs Out West & Walleyes - Part 1

Reservoirs Conditions and Presentations

Reservoir walleye fishing does provide a worthy challenge with all of the different types of conditions that this type of water has to offer. Structural changes, water clarity, an increase or decrease in forage populations and above all, changes in water levels are all conditions an angler has to learn to adapt to. By viewing the weigh-in photo (A) below, at a professional walleye tournament last year, one can actually see how far points extend out into the water.

It is highly advisable to take photos or make notes as to what these points looked like during low water conditions.

The western walleye is a different fish in a different environment. By nature walleyes out west are more aggressive than their counterparts found in "walleye country" up north. Western walleyes require different tactics. There is no "spot on the spot" out west. Let's look at some of the differences between these two fish. Up north and in the Midwest, walleye pressure is extremely heavy. Aggressive fish are taken early in the season. Heavy pressure thins a system down to the point that larger, older fish absolutely must be fairly nonaggressive to survive. Out west the situation is reversed. Pressure is generally light, even in world class trophy waters. Aggressive fish stay in the system longer and the end result is more and bigger walleyes. There are several reasons for this "less pressure" out west. One of the main reasons is population. Most of the reservoirs are located out in the middle of nowhere.

Now let's explore the differences in the systems reservoirs versus natural lakes and rivers. Our forage is different. We have lots of large chub and sculpin species unheard of in the Midwest. Our reservoirs tend to average well over 100 feet deep. Many parts of the west never experience "ice up". We fish huge expanses of water containing several different types of structure. Many of the systems literally contain hundreds of points. Underwater islands can be up to 5 miles long. Every system contains many underwater humps, rock piles, slide areas ( areas where falling rocks are piled up after breaking apart from surrounding cliffs, called spalls), flats, saddles, weed lines, flooded timber and the list is never-ending.

All reservoirs out west ( of the Mississippi River) such as Fort Peck, Oahe, Sakakawea, Pueble, Pathfinder, Hawk Springs, Key Note, Horse Tooth and Francis Case are all unique in their own right. All of these reservoirs will produce walleyes with different types of presentations: jigging (vertical or pitching), dead sticking, bottom bouncers ( spinners, plain hooks and crank baits) and trolling ( planer boards and crank baits). The first three types are used when slipping the current with your boat, and the last type, used with your kicker motor will produce the best results. Walleyes are constantly on the move in reservoirs, very much unlike Great Lakes walleye fishing. This is why adaptive types of fishing techniques are necessary, in order to catch walleyes in western reservoirs.

Questions and Answers

1. What type of conditions must an angler learn to adapt to? Walleye anglers must learn how to adapt their presentations to structural changes, water clarity, the increase or decrease in forage populations and above all, changes in water levels.

2. During low water conditions on a reservoir, what is it highly advisable to do? It is highly advisable to take photos or make notes as to what these points looked like during low water conditions.

3. What four presentations should a walleye angler use when fishing reservoirs out west? The four presentations which will produce are: jigging, dead sticking, bottom bouncing and trolling.

4. Of the presentations mentioned, which three are most effective when slipping the current? The presentations which are most effective when slipping the current are: jigging, dead sticking and bottom bouncing.