What is the best technique for catching walleye during the spawn?

The best technique you can use to catch a walleye during spawning is slow moving bait. The walleye are not moving real fast at this time and something that is moving slowly is going to attract the attention of the walleye more so than something fast moving. Keep in mind that when spawning is in full motion, you are not going to catch the females very easy no matter what you do. Pre spawning or post spawning is the best time to use the slow moving technique.

When you are using the slow moving technique, you want to use smaller bait because the walleye are just coming out of the winter waters, are slow moving, and eat small amounts during and after spawning. As the waters warm up, you would then change your technique to a faster moving bait and larger bait. If you were in the river for spawning season, you would want to throw your line upstream and let it move with the water right into the walleye heading upstream against the current.

Your bait will be coming down, the fish are going up, meeting, and striking is the result. If you use this technique, you will have a better chance of catching the walleye. Find a spot where there is a rock formation under the river waters and you can just guide your bait right into the area where the walleye stop and rest before fighting the current again. You should never use the drop and sink technique here because the current is strong. It will pull you out of the strike zone.