Male walleye move into spawning areas in early spring when the water temperature may be only a few degrees above freezing. The larger females arrive later. Spawning reaches its peak when water temperature ranges from 42 to 50 degrees. I see walleyes out front of our lake home here on Picard Point as soon as the ice breaks up. If the ice seperates just a few feet say 10-20 feet from shore....they will be there!
I heard from a very unscientific source that spawning did indeed occur under the ice. As much as I'd like to have a banner year class, and have more than a few escape the nets, I'm afraid the spawning under the ice and in such cold water is not a good thing at all.
