Walleye Fishing in Canada - Mastering the Reef!

Ah, walleye fishing in Canada. There is nothing better. As mentioned elsewhere on this site, there are a lot of techniques to consider while fishing in Canada. One of the most exciting ways to catch walleye, and BIG WALLEYE is to learn how to work a reef in moving water.

A reef on a river or stream is a wonderful location for walleye fishing in Canada. The reef acts as an anchor in the food chain of the river system. By understanding how walleye move in and out of a reef as the season’s change will help you catch more of these delicious fish.

As the month of May unfolds, walleye move onto river reefs after they are done spawning. They remain on them through the summer and late fall. They then follow baitfish into bays as the water begins to cool in November.

The most productive walleye reefs can stretch for long distances and intersect with other reefs connecting islands and other structure. Walleye can typically be found anywhere along a reef, but they tend to migrate to common points where depth, structure and vegetation provide ideal conditions. The season and time of day will also impact where along the reef they will be.

Walleye are known to hunt anywhere along a reef. Under the cover of darkness, they seem to prefer areas that are close to good daytime cover. You will find the biggest walleye gathered under beds of underwater vegetation at the first deep drop. The upstream side of a reef, among the jagged structure of the gravel and weed clumps, often hold a good numbers of walleye.

To have the best success while walleye fishing in Canada, try to determine where the “corners” are when it comes to reef structure. This is where the reef ends or makes a sharp turn into deep water. They can be found by looking for swirling water and turbulence. These areas can be a very good source of walleye. These sharp corners make good ambush points for walleye, as they wait for prey to be swept down stream.

Fishing on fast moving water in Canada has been done with very good success for years. On rivers where clear fast moving water is present, it can drive the walleye deeper as they look for dim lighting conditions. These locations can be prime evening fishing locations.

Walleye fishing in Canada is best if you try a few different methods while working a reef. Finding the right method depends on the strength of the current and the depth of the water. It is also dependant upon you knowing if walleye are present or not.

Try trolling slowly to locate the fish. If you happen to nail a walleye, make note of the location, and drop anchor. Where there is one, there are usually more. You may be in for a fun night catching these great eating fish.

Using more sturdy equipment to locate the walleye is a common approach folks will use. The practice is then to switch to lighter gear once you have landed one. This is a pretty good approach, and tends to help save on tackle.

Try a 2-ounce or heavier walking sinker on a wire or other types of in-line snag-free sinkers. All can prove to be useful. At times straight metallic and colored sinkers work well, but can turn off spooked fish at times. Dull sinkers and non-reflecting tackle can improve your luck on days when walleye are slow.

Walleye fishing in Canada can be a rush with medium sized crankbaits while working a reef. A good selection of plugs ranging from 3 to 8.5 inches can land some very large fish. A variety of colors is recommended but make sure you have a variety of yellow, green and silver. A long billed plug is the key for diving in deep, fast moving water. Your crankbait needs to make it to the bottom or you won’t reach walleye. Experiment with a light bait on the rear hook of the plug – but make sure it isn’t big enough to impede the designed movement of the hook.

If you have found fish, and defined the width of the reef, make sure you work both sides of it with a jig and bait combination. Yellow, white, chartreuse, and black are popular jig colors. Make note of the current, and make sure your jig is “getting down there”. Jigs can be dynamite when worked along the holding areas on both sides of the reef. You might have to use 1 oz. jigs or more to get down there again depending how fast the water is moving. Don’t be shy.

If its big walleye you are after, try anchoring on a reef corner in the evening. The fish are most likely not there in the day, but at night they prowl these areas looking for perch and other prey. You may have heard about fish “switching on and switching off”. When fishing walleye on a reef in the evening, this often happens. It might be slow for a while and then out of the blue there is non-stop action for a few hours as they feed.

On your next trip north check and see if there is the opportunity to fish a reef on moving water. You can have a lot of success walleye fishing in Canada while doing it. There are many outfitters across the country that have locations on or near moving water. In many of these locations walleye can be aggressive through the spring deep into summer.

Learn how to work a reef while Walleye fishing in Canada . You'll be glad that you did!