Walleyes spawn with late ice out?

Wondering what you guys think about the walleyes spawning with the late ice out(thinking Winni in particular). Will or have they absorbed their eggs by now, or will the spawn happen in the next few weeks. Couple day spawn when the water temps jump fast with the warmer weather coming? thanks for the input!

Nut

I would say the spawn will occur as normal. It is based on water temp, not the calendar.

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I would say the spawn will occur as normal. It is based on water temp, not the calendar.

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Correct. I think the thing people are forgetting (or don’t know) is that the fish can and probably will spawn below the ice. One of the biggest things I learned when I bought my underwater camera was the temp down near the bottom on better than 90% of the lakes I fished was around 38 degrees. Despite the 32 degree (or lower) surface temps. Considering 40-45 degrees is spawning temps. I bet those shallow breeding grounds will be in the 40-42 degree range even though there is still ice on the lake.

Will and I were catching spawned out walleye AND walleyes dripping spawn on Mille Lacs while fishing panfish in the bays in 3′ of water in the reeds almost 2 weeks ago now. The spawn will be just fine.

Walleye/Northern don’t absorb eggs. Panfish however do. That is what I have read at least…RR

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I would say the spawn will occur as normal. It is based on water temp, not the calendar.

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Correct. I think the thing people are forgetting (or don’t know) is that the fish can and probably will spawn below the ice. One of the biggest things I learned when I bought my underwater camera was the temp down near the bottom on better than 90% of the lakes I fished was around 38 degrees. Despite the 32 degree (or lower) surface temps. Considering 40-45 degrees is spawning temps. I bet those shallow breeding grounds will be in the 40-42 degree range even though there is still ice on the lake.

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I’d like to say that the “walleyes will spawn while the ice is still on the lake, but not while the lake is completely ice covered”… Otherwise I completely agree!!!

Mark

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I would say the spawn will occur as normal. It is based on water temp, not the calendar.

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Latest science is that the spawn is predominately determined by the amount of daylight, not temp.
We caught several eyes that were releasing eggs and milking males back on the 14th of March in the Fox River… Water temp was 34

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Latest science is that the spawn is predominately determined by the amount of daylight, not temp.

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Ah, but that makes one wonder if dim light from the ice also affects them.

Don’t confuse walleye spawning with the deer rut where breeding happens at roughly the same week each year. Temperature makes a much bigger difference with fish. Yes they will spawn when temps aren’t ideal but it doesn’t happen on a certain date. Last year the DNR took eggs in early April. This year they are taking eggs right now even way up north with ice on the lakes. The difference in daylight between April 10th and May 10th is about an hour and a half. If that is a significant difference in daylight, then fish should be spawning at the same date no matter what.