7 Tips to Catching More Detroit River Trophy Walleye
By Lance Valentine
The first open water of spring brings the fishing masses to the Detroit River in Southeast Michigan. Connecting Lake St. Clair to the north and Lake Erie to the south, the 32 miles of the Detroit River is a virtual walleye fishing heaven. Each spring an armada of fishing boats, looking to get in on the first open water fishing of the year, head to Detroit to catch limits of fish and have dreams of connecting on the fish of a lifetime. Each season several dozens of walleyes over 12lbs are caught on the Detroit River, with some over 14 lbs. and countless thousands of fish in the 10 lb. range.
Even though the Detroit River is loaded with big fish, they can be hard to catch. Over my 20-year guiding career on the Detroit River and after talking with hundreds of anglers and keeping good records, I have come up with 7 tips to give you a better chance of connecting with the fish of a lifetime on the Detroit River this spring.
Tip #1:
Stay away for “non big” Fish – Trophy walleye very rarely mix with average sized fish. Trophy fish may be mixed in with average fish, but usually it is impossible to get your jig past the more aggressive smaller fish. If you are in an area and catching average fish and want a trophy, MOVE. The easiest and quickest move is to stay in the same area, but begin changing depths, shallower or deeper, in 5’ increments looking for trophies. Also, pay attention to the boats around you and make note of the size of fish they are catching.
Tip #2:
Concentrate on edges – Trophy walleye do not just randomly move up and down the river. Like most game animals they travel along edges for security. Look for steeper dropping areas of the river and concentrate on the top and the bottom of the depth edge. Trophy walleye also LOVE to use bottom composition edges, where different bottoms meet. If you can find a steep drop-off with a bottom composition change, you have found a great spot. When looking for the best spawning areas, look for quality spawning habitat VERY CLOSE to a steep drop-off.
Tip #3:
Do not get caught up on surface temperature – one of the big mistakes trophy walleye anglers make is worrying too much about surface temperature. When timing the spawn cycle regarding trophy walleye, remember that factors such as moon phase, length of daylight, and sunlight penetration will trigger spawning more than a specific water temperature will. I have caught trophy, pre-spawn walleye as late as the middle of May most seasons. But, if you want to get specific, my records indicate that without a doubt the best time for trophy walleye EVERY year is April 10-20th with a focus on April 13-16th….
Tip #4:
Do not worry about crowds – some of my biggest Detroit River walleye have come in some of the most congested fishing conditions I have been in. When trophy fish get active, whether in deep or shallow water, they will bite regardless of fishing pressure, especially at spawning time. While fishing away from crowds is also preferred, do not miss the fish of a lifetime by staying out of a good area because there are other boats there.
Tip #5:
Fish shallower than you think – Most of the fish over 30” caught on my boat the past 25 years have been caught in 12’ of water or less, while vertical jigging, often in crowds! When trophy walleyes get shallow in spring, they are either spawning or actively feeding, both situations that make for rather good fishing! Shallow water makes it easier for fish to find bait and feed. Using SideScan technology to investigate shallow water, can be a huge plus when looking for big spawning fish.
Tip #6:
Go right back – When you catch a trophy walleye, put it in your livewell and IMMEDIATELY make 5-6 short passes in the same spot you just caught your trophy. When shallow fish get active, there are often a LOT of them in the same place and you have a chance of catching multiple trophies in the same area, in a short amount of time. After you have made a few extra passes, you can take your photos and release your trophy…. or keep it, your choice!
Tip #7:
Pay attention to the little things – When looking for the fish of a lifetime, do not lose it by being lazy. Check your knots often. Keep hooks, especially stinger hooks, razor sharp. Most importantly, be ready for LIGHT bites! Big fish have big mouths, and they can suck in a jig without you knowing it. Watch your line for any sign of sideways movement or coiling on the surface, both signs a big fish has inhaled your jig.
The Detroit River is a world class fishery, loaded with world class walleye and with no closed season it is available every day! If you have not been here, be sure to get here soon. When you do visit, whether for the first time ever or seventh time in a week, try the 7 tips above to increase your odds of catching the fish of a lifetime.