Where’s Bubba?
Catching Post Spawn Walleyes on Lake Francis Case
By Matt Walsh
“There is an invisible line between when walleyes relate to warmer water temperatures (spring) or the wind (summer),
find out which side of that line the walleyes are on, and your odds for bigger walleyes will greatly increased.”
Most fishermen from South Dakota and surrounding states are aware of the phenomenal walleye fishing on Lake Francis
Case (Missouri River) at Chamberlain, SD during the walleye spawn in April. After the spawn, similar to the walleyes who
make their way down river towards their summer haunts near Platte, SD many anglers migrate back to their home waters
and stop taking advantage of the extraordinary post spawn walleye fishing Lake Francis Case has to offer. Lake Francis
Case is known for great numbers of 15 – 19 inch walleyes the issue in some fisherman’s eyes is the size or lack there of.
In May, the right post spawn conditions can put the odds of catching a brute in your favor if the angler understands the
walleye migration, location patterns, and how conditions affect these areas.
What Conditions? Water Temperature and Wind
From Chamberlain to the Platte/Winner Bridge there are hundreds of points, miles of shoreline, channels, and quite a few
flats. Before beginning pay close attention to the water temperature and wind direction. Try to get an average water
temperature reading and compare it to the water temperature of the area your scouting. This time of year just because the
wind is blowing into a shoreline does not mean the walleyes will be there or be active. Some times the wind blows cooler
pods of water into an area and cools the fishing off too! On the other hand the waves may crash into the warm sand or
mud on shore creating a mud line warming the water. Pay close attention to water temperature and understand how the
wind is affects the area. Use your electronics. Time is precious, don’t start fishing until walleyes or baitfish (white bass)
are located. Eliminate nonproductive areas and keep moving!
Points and Flats
Lake Francis Case is no different than most reservoirs
where immediately following the spawn (at Chamberlain) the
females vacate the spawning grounds and head down river
stopping to rest and feed at key locations the most obvious
are points and flats. Cover the entire flat with electronics
check different depths, the edge of the flat preferably dumping
into the channel. Always check the beginning and end of the
flat. Many times the walleyes will be schooled at a particular
depth or edge.
Key on the presence of suspended white bass up on the
flat. The walleyes should be beneath the white bass or at a s
lightly deeper depth. Trolling crankbaits to cover these large
flats is most efficient unless the walleyes are tightly schooled
then jigs and rigs come into play. The perfect situation to
catch a post spawn brute on these flats is warmer/average
water temperature with white bass present and the wind
blowing in a nice “walleye chop.” HOLD ON!
Points are dicey propositions a risk reward situation.
The bigger post spawn females will use points as a “pit stop”
there one minute gone the next. Again, use your electronics
to cover the entire point. Some days the walleyes prefer
points at the mouth of a bay or the longest point dumping into
the old river channel. At times points adjacent to flats hold
bigger walleyes. Take note of the shoreline or bottom
composition this may be key. Don’t overlook the “cups” or
inside turns. If there are “marks” on the break the walleyes
are moving up or down the point. It is well worth the time to pitch a jig into shallow water – the mother lode may be
waiting!
Once a pattern emerges locate similar points and conditions and you’re off! From Chamberlain to the Platte/Winner
Bridge to locate points just look for bluffs. In recent low water years points and flats from the Boyer Area south to the
Platte/Winner Bridge including Elm Creek, Turgeon Wells, and Red Rock have all produced. When post spawn walleyes
go on “the chew” and conditions are right flats and points are a good bet for bigger fish.
The Only Thing For Certain is Uncertainty
Similar to post spawn walleye behavior on other western reservoirs once the water temperature reaches +50 degrees on
Lake Francis Case all bets are off. Sometimes the larger walleyes don’t cooperate and are found in places and patterns that
defy traditional flats/points logic. Multiple patterns can emerge simultaneously. For example in high water years the back
of bays and flooded timber in water less than three feet can produce numbers of big walleyes. However, with low water
levels the past couple of years this pattern has fizzled. Where are these shallow water brutes? Again, water temperature
seems to come back into play. Walleyes in the 20”-28” range can be caught in the middle of the day in less than 2 feet of
water in areas protected from the wind with rock or shale bottoms. Are the walleyes there to feed or does the warmer
water speed their metabolism to help digest the white bass they just picked off the flat? The same day pulling crankbaits in
the mud at the mouth of the White River may produce some post spawn female “stragglers” making their way down river.
Trolling crankbaits on leadcore out on the old river channel for bottom hugging or suspended walleyes may be the ticket on
any given day. Stay versatile and keep your options open.
Keep an Open Mind
The key to locating the bigger post spawn walleyes in May on Lake Francis Case is to keep an open mind and stay
versatile. Start by playing the odds of traditional patterns and conditions. If the traditional reservoir patterns of points and
flats and playing the wind don’t produce the size of walleyes you are looking for shake up the game plan. Sometimes the
bigger walleyes will be in places and depths you least likely expect!
Author Matt Walsh guides on Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River and Lake Thompson, South Dakota. He is
owner/operator of The Walleye Wrangler Guide Service (www.walleyewrangler.com)
PH. 605.359.8699
Catching Post Spawn Walleyes on Lake Francis Case
By Matt Walsh
“There is an invisible line between when walleyes relate to warmer water temperatures (spring) or the wind (summer),
find out which side of that line the walleyes are on, and your odds for bigger walleyes will greatly increased.”
Most fishermen from South Dakota and surrounding states are aware of the phenomenal walleye fishing on Lake Francis
Case (Missouri River) at Chamberlain, SD during the walleye spawn in April. After the spawn, similar to the walleyes who
make their way down river towards their summer haunts near Platte, SD many anglers migrate back to their home waters
and stop taking advantage of the extraordinary post spawn walleye fishing Lake Francis Case has to offer. Lake Francis
Case is known for great numbers of 15 – 19 inch walleyes the issue in some fisherman’s eyes is the size or lack there of.
In May, the right post spawn conditions can put the odds of catching a brute in your favor if the angler understands the
walleye migration, location patterns, and how conditions affect these areas.
What Conditions? Water Temperature and Wind
From Chamberlain to the Platte/Winner Bridge there are hundreds of points, miles of shoreline, channels, and quite a few
flats. Before beginning pay close attention to the water temperature and wind direction. Try to get an average water
temperature reading and compare it to the water temperature of the area your scouting. This time of year just because the
wind is blowing into a shoreline does not mean the walleyes will be there or be active. Some times the wind blows cooler
pods of water into an area and cools the fishing off too! On the other hand the waves may crash into the warm sand or
mud on shore creating a mud line warming the water. Pay close attention to water temperature and understand how the
wind is affects the area. Use your electronics. Time is precious, don’t start fishing until walleyes or baitfish (white bass)
are located. Eliminate nonproductive areas and keep moving!
Points and Flats
Lake Francis Case is no different than most reservoirs
where immediately following the spawn (at Chamberlain) the
females vacate the spawning grounds and head down river
stopping to rest and feed at key locations the most obvious
are points and flats. Cover the entire flat with electronics
check different depths, the edge of the flat preferably dumping
into the channel. Always check the beginning and end of the
flat. Many times the walleyes will be schooled at a particular
depth or edge.
Key on the presence of suspended white bass up on the
flat. The walleyes should be beneath the white bass or at a s
lightly deeper depth. Trolling crankbaits to cover these large
flats is most efficient unless the walleyes are tightly schooled
then jigs and rigs come into play. The perfect situation to
catch a post spawn brute on these flats is warmer/average
water temperature with white bass present and the wind
blowing in a nice “walleye chop.” HOLD ON!
Points are dicey propositions a risk reward situation.
The bigger post spawn females will use points as a “pit stop”
there one minute gone the next. Again, use your electronics
to cover the entire point. Some days the walleyes prefer
points at the mouth of a bay or the longest point dumping into
the old river channel. At times points adjacent to flats hold
bigger walleyes. Take note of the shoreline or bottom
composition this may be key. Don’t overlook the “cups” or
inside turns. If there are “marks” on the break the walleyes
are moving up or down the point. It is well worth the time to pitch a jig into shallow water – the mother lode may be
waiting!
Once a pattern emerges locate similar points and conditions and you’re off! From Chamberlain to the Platte/Winner
Bridge to locate points just look for bluffs. In recent low water years points and flats from the Boyer Area south to the
Platte/Winner Bridge including Elm Creek, Turgeon Wells, and Red Rock have all produced. When post spawn walleyes
go on “the chew” and conditions are right flats and points are a good bet for bigger fish.
The Only Thing For Certain is Uncertainty
Similar to post spawn walleye behavior on other western reservoirs once the water temperature reaches +50 degrees on
Lake Francis Case all bets are off. Sometimes the larger walleyes don’t cooperate and are found in places and patterns that
defy traditional flats/points logic. Multiple patterns can emerge simultaneously. For example in high water years the back
of bays and flooded timber in water less than three feet can produce numbers of big walleyes. However, with low water
levels the past couple of years this pattern has fizzled. Where are these shallow water brutes? Again, water temperature
seems to come back into play. Walleyes in the 20”-28” range can be caught in the middle of the day in less than 2 feet of
water in areas protected from the wind with rock or shale bottoms. Are the walleyes there to feed or does the warmer
water speed their metabolism to help digest the white bass they just picked off the flat? The same day pulling crankbaits in
the mud at the mouth of the White River may produce some post spawn female “stragglers” making their way down river.
Trolling crankbaits on leadcore out on the old river channel for bottom hugging or suspended walleyes may be the ticket on
any given day. Stay versatile and keep your options open.
Keep an Open Mind
The key to locating the bigger post spawn walleyes in May on Lake Francis Case is to keep an open mind and stay
versatile. Start by playing the odds of traditional patterns and conditions. If the traditional reservoir patterns of points and
flats and playing the wind don’t produce the size of walleyes you are looking for shake up the game plan. Sometimes the
bigger walleyes will be in places and depths you least likely expect!
Author Matt Walsh guides on Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River and Lake Thompson, South Dakota. He is
owner/operator of The Walleye Wrangler Guide Service (www.walleyewrangler.com)
PH. 605.359.8699
Here's Bubba - This big post spawn brute was in 3
feet of water in the middle of the day! Photo
courtesy of The Walleye Wrangler Guide Service.
feet of water in the middle of the day! Photo
courtesy of The Walleye Wrangler Guide Service.
