How to Fish Whiteface Reservoir

Whiteface Reservoir fishing FAQ

How do you catch Walleye on Whiteface Reservoir in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 42-48°F. Pre-spawn walleyes are staging near spawning areas and becoming more active with warming water temperatures, particularly during dawn and dusk periods Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning locations, following distinct migration routes along breaks and channels Key locations: Rock and gravel areas in 6-12 feet of water near spawning tributaries or inlets; Main lake points and adjacent breaks leading to spawning areas; Channel edges and deeper holes that serve as staging areas. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along transition areas between shallow and deep water, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, deliberate presentations, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily along breaks. Primary forage: Small baitfish congregating near spawning areas, Emerging crayfish becoming more active with warming water, Juvenile perch in shallow feeding areas. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Walleye on Whiteface Reservoir in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 42-50°F. Walleye moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly focusing on hard-bottom areas with gravel or rock in 2-6 feet of water Most active during low-light periods, but stained water (1.5m Secchi) allows for extended feeding periods Males arrive first and stay longer on spawning grounds, while females move in and out quickly Key locations: Rocky points and gravel shorelines in 2-6 feet of water; Secondary points leading into spawning bays; Channel edges adjacent to spawning flats. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along bottom, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with slow, subtle movements, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily near bottom. Primary forage: Small perch gathering near spawning areas, Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows, Minnows moving shallow with warming water. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Walleye on Whiteface Reservoir in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 48-58°F. Post-spawn walleyes recovering in transitional areas between spawning grounds and summer habitat, actively feeding to regain energy Fish become more active during low-light periods in stained water (1.5m secchi), but maintain feeding activity throughout day due to reduced light penetration Weather fronts trigger increased feeding activity, particularly around structure and depth changes Key locations: Secondary points and inside turns adjacent to spawning areas in 8-15 foot depths; Submerged wood and dock pilings, especially in areas with depth changes; Emerging weed edges in 6-12 foot depths where baitfish concentrate. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs worked slowly along depth transitions, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with minnow-tipped jigs near structure, Trolling Shallow (0-9') with shallow-running crankbaits parallel to emerging weed edges. Primary forage: Young-of-year perch gathering near emerging vegetation, Minnows concentrated around warming shallows, Insects, particularly emerging mayflies in shallow bays. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Walleye on Whiteface Reservoir in Summer?

Water temp 68-78°F. Actively feeding near structure during post-frontal conditions, particularly around pilings and shallow feeding zones Taking advantage of low light penetration in stained water (1.5m Secchi) to feed throughout daylight hours Utilizing shallow to mid-depth zones more heavily due to insect activity and favorable water conditions Key locations: Pilings and man-made structures, especially those adjacent to deeper water; Weed edges in shallow to mid-depth zones where insects are active; Deeper holes and channels (given 11.96ft average depth). Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs worked near structure, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around pilings, Wacky Rigs (proven successful in recent reports). Primary forage: Insects (confirmed in recent reports), Small baitfish utilizing structure. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Walleye on Whiteface Reservoir in Fall?

Water temp 45-65°F. Walleye are actively feeding to build energy reserves for winter, following baitfish schools and concentrating near structural elements Fish are becoming more aggressive in the cooling water, with peak activity during dawn and dusk periods In stained water conditions (1.5m Secchi), walleye remain active during daylight hours, especially around structure Key locations: Deep holes and channels adjacent to shallow flats where baitfish congregate; Points and irregular shoreline features with quick access to deeper water; Man-made structures like dock pilings, especially those near depth changes. Best techniques: Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19'), Trolling Mid Depth (10-19'), Live Bait Rigs. Primary forage: Young-of-year baitfish schools, Remaining insect populations, Small perch and shiners. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Walleye on Whiteface Reservoir in Winter?

Water temp 34-42°F. Walleye concentrating in deep holes and channels during open water winter period, particularly active during low-light conditions Fish holding close to structure and transitions, moving up to feed during prime periods Key locations: Deep holes and channels adjacent to structural elements; Areas near pilings with depth transitions; Protected bays with deeper water access. Best techniques: Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19'), Blade Baits, Live Bait Rigs. Primary forage: Small baitfish schools in deeper water, Insects near structure, Juvenile perch near vegetation edges. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Walleye on Whiteface Reservoir in Ice?

Water temp 33-39°F. Walleye concentrate in deeper basins and channels during ice season, moving between feeding areas and resting spots based on light conditions Most active during dawn and dusk periods, with secondary feeding windows on overcast days due to stained water conditions Schooling behavior becomes more pronounced, with fish often grouped by size in specific depth ranges Key locations: Deep holes and channels near shallow flats, especially where average depth drops below 15 feet; Areas where irregular shoreline creates underwater points leading to deeper water; Submerged vegetation edges in 8-12 foot range where remaining green weeds provide oxygen and attract baitfish. Best techniques: Ice Fishing Jigs worked with subtle movements, especially effective with live bait, Ice Fishing Spoons aggressively jigged to trigger reaction strikes, Ice Fishing Tip-Ups set at varying depths to locate active fish. Primary forage: Small perch and other juvenile fish concentrated in deeper areas, Larger minnows seeking shelter near remaining vegetation, Bottom-dwelling insects and larvae in areas with soft bottom composition. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals.