Wall-Hanger Walleye: Expert Considerations for Springtime Detroit River Giants with Capt. Lance Valentine
At its peak, the mighty Detroit Rivers famed walleye migration can hit numbers between 10-12 million fish. The reputation this connecting waterway has as a fishery is a destination for not only the harvest potential, but also an opportunity for a record personal best. There is no better place and time to catch a true wall-hanger that to mention in conversation and bragging rights for ages to come.
With over 30 years in the walleye industry, Capt. Lance has a personal best walleye of 12+ pounds.
“Don’t think of it as a walleye ‘run’ going from Erie and up the Detroit River then back. Think of it as a migration where these fish can be passing through to eventually return years later or be caught in a different site far away.” .
Captain Lance Valentine has been a professional walleye angler for nearly three decades. Throughout the spring, he guides on the Detroit River twice daily for several weeks. His experience as a seasoned charter captain and from the tournament trail have taught him the ins and outs of the craft, especially when it comes to the fine details of landing a trophy-caliber fish.
Breaking down the migration,
A major point of consideration is timing. Length of daylight is more important than water temp when timing the spawn. Fish Hawk data collected from the bottom of the Detroit River in 35’ of water will display temperatures in the mid-30s until around the third week in April.
What Capt. Valentine refers to as Big fish Week generally happens sometime between the second and third week of April (often around the 10th and 17th). Diving deeper, the reason behind this is based on the moon. The best fishing will be taken place around lunar phases closest to the full or new moon. This year (2025), it will be a full moon on Sunday the 13th. It is believed what the moon does for spawning walleyes is triggers a biological calendar to initiate spawning.
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While the bright moon can influence the behavior of fish, including walleye, the relationship between moonlight and spawning is more complex and not entirely driven by moonlight alone. For walleye, spawning is primarily triggered by seasonal changes, especially the increasing photoperiod (day length), with the full moon often aligning with peak spawning times. The increased moonlight can help walleye navigate shallow waters during nighttime spawning, but it's not the primary trigger for the spawning instinct.
For further peer-reviewed fisheries research relating to this topic, please refer to the following citations:
Here are a few relevant sources on fish spawning behavior and environmental influences:
Zorn, T. G., et al. (2011). "Walleye (Sander vitreus) spawning behavior and habitat use in the Lake Michigan drainage." Journal of Great Lakes Research, 37(2), 336-342.
This study discusses the factors affecting walleye spawning, including water temperature and photoperiod, and the role of moon phases in spawning behavior.
Coble, D. W. (1975). "A review of the literature on the biology of walleye, Sander vitreus." Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 32(7), 1099-1105.
Coble's review provides an overview of the spawning habits of walleye, highlighting the importance of water temperature and seasonal cycles for initiating spawning.
Baker, M. L., et al. (2003). "Effects of moon phase and diel period on the spawning behavior of walleye (Sander vitreus) in the upper Mississippi River." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 132(2), 336-345.
This paper specifically investigates how moon phase and diel period (time of day) affect walleye spawning, confirming that walleye tend to spawn at night, with some influence from moonlight.
These sources indicate that while the bright moon can play a role in timing walleye spawning, it is mainly a contributing factor in the context of other cues like water temperature and photoperiod. The moonlight aids in nighttime spawning by providing increased visibility in shallow waters.
The pre-spawn and spawn is the best time of the year to focus on trophy fish. Post-spawn fish are quick to be on the move, so it is important to be up to date in river reports and timing. For the remainder of April, plenty of good fish still to be had with a chance at a big one at 30”. Through mid may, numbers of walleye are to be overindulged on.
Key areas will be active with many fish. Shallow gravel, especially when it is adjacent to deep water, need to be sought after as a priority for those chasing a wall-hanger. Shallow is defined as anything between 6-14 feet. If you can find gravel at this depth that is close to deeper water, you will be practicing a formula that might end up with a fish of a lifetime.
Do not be afraid to go bright and bulky!
Valentine recommends jigging minnow-profile baits due to them having a slower rate of fall compared to a worm-style bait. The bulkier presentations have more draw in the water. Think of it as a hangtime effect that taunts and entices big hungry walleye.
Color is not as relevant to matching the hatch as in other means of angling. For bigger walleyes, bold and sassy colors are commonly found in tackle bags. Orange, pink, chartreuse, etc.- the presentation gets the big fish fired up to strike. Sometimes it is not about looking natural- it’s about triggering an instinctive reaction. When walleyes are feeding aggressively, as they are known to be at this place and this time, brighter colors can trigger reaction strikes. Obnoxious colors- do not be afraid to give them a try.
Once the big moment takes place, after a big fish is caught, immediately go back and make multiple passes. Big fish are known to travel in small groups.
After a lifetime on the water and thirty plus years under his belt in professionally walleye fishing, Captain Lance is one of the most respected in the industry. For those interested in learning more in-depth tactics in fine-tuning your walleye fishing, please go over to The Walleye Zone, available online or on the Circle app. He does a marvelous job within fishing education and building an engaged community with daily evening Detroit River reports through the springtime.
Foresight fishing media would like to recognize a word of appreciation for Captain Lance speaking on his ideas and experiences going into this piece, along with all credits for photo rights. If you are intested in learning more about walleye fishing, buy some tackle, or even book a charter, please visit the links below.
Be safe on the water and be ready for what may be a hookset into a fish of a lifetime.
