In the early spring, weather conditions can determine how successful your night fishing for walleye and pickerel can be especially during the spawn and post spawn time of year. During this time of year the walleyes and pickerel can be a multiple locations. They may still sit tight where they spawned, or they may be sitting tight in adjacent waters, or they may be located somewhere in between these two area. It is very important that you do some research on weather patterns that occur in the local areas that you intend to fish so you change your planning when needed. The weather will play a key part as to what the walleyes and pickerel activity level will be at. There are some simple planning tips you can use before you decide to fish a particular location.
1.Where did the walleyes or Pickerel Spawn at this location?
2.What kind of habitat is located close to the spawning grounds?
3.If the spawning grounds do not offer a good food source how far away have the walleyes and pickerel migrated?
The fish have to be located somewhere between the spawning grounds and the outer reaches of adjacent habitat. In natural lakes walleye and pickerel will spawn in rocky feeder creeks, along the wind ward side of rocky shorelines, or on top of shallow rocky areas that are located somewhere on the main lake.
Once you have zeroed in on where the fish are located you can determine how you want to go night fishing for walleye and pickerel at night. You can increase your chances of success if you can draw some natural bait fish close to where you are shoreline fishing or anchored from a boat, using a underwater fishing light sometimes called a submerged fishing light. The light will attract zoo-plankton which in turn draws 100's of bait fish close to you if the conditions are right. You need to pick a spot that already has a viable habitat to support the bait fish. After all that is why the walleye and pickerel are located near there in the first place.
A good old reliable live bait rig that I use is a slip bobber that is adapted with a small battery powered light that is attached at the top so it is easily seen bobbing in the water. You can also use small light sticks that will attach to the tip of your bobber. You can then use bait shop purchased walleye minnows as you bait selection. Night crawlers or leaches are not really a good choice in the early spring months they are better choices for late spring and summer.
Well that concludes my article about fishing for pickerel at night. Have a great day and the the best of luck to youon your next fishing trip