| Virginia offers several top-quality lakes and rivers to | | | | walleye, the Ohio River drainage walleye. Fishing |
| fish for walleye. Spawning season occurs in early | | | | officials are working to stock rivers with this new |
| springtime. Walleye leave the comforts of deep water | | | | breed of walleye. |
| and head towards the shallower depths often found in | | | | Currently, the Kanawha, Ohio and New Rivers are |
| feeder streams. Bottom surface conditions are clear | | | | greatly benefiting from this new program. The |
| and clean. Deeper waters are never far away. | | | | Kanawha River in West Virginia is the notable place to |
| Spawning females require a few days of rest | | | | seek out large sized walleye. Each year, walleye pulled |
| following a spawning period. After this, they are looking | | | | from these waters weigh in between eight and |
| for that first meal and the bite will be fierce. Spawn | | | | fourteen pounds. Even the best walleye anglers rarely |
| and immediate post-spawn periods are ideal for | | | | see a walleye of this size. The Virginia record weighing |
| anglers to fish walleye. Outside of spawning season, | | | | walleye at 17.85 pounds back in 2003 came from this |
| walleye are particular about where they hang out. | | | | very river. The key to finding these big boys begins |
| Water temperatures normally fall between 38 and 60 | | | | with where to start. |
| degrees. Water conditions are slightly murky with little | | | | Look to the inlets. As spawning season draws near, |
| or no current movement. Bottom surface conditions | | | | walleye start seeking out shallower water levels. To |
| are comprised of gravel, sand or rocks. Menu choices | | | | do this, they virtually pass by any available inlet along |
| cover small fish, crustaceans, worms and insects. Ideal | | | | the way. The area below dams, commonly referred to |
| fishing time is during warm weather months from | | | | as the tailrace, is another walleye hotspot location. |
| sundown to midnight. | | | | When spawning seasons begins to end, turn attention |
| Virginia lakes cover a solid portion of the state and | | | | towards deeper water. Pools and channels along the |
| each is good size in nature. The largest lake in the | | | | river course is where walleye lurk. Ideal times are |
| state is Smith Mountain Lake. This massive lake stands | | | | between late evening and dark once water |
| at 20,000-acres in size and makes home in the | | | | temperatures are on the rise. |
| south-central portion of the state in Penhook, Virginia. | | | | The recent walleye stocking program has done |
| Next is the 10,000-acre South Holston Lake creating | | | | wonders for the Ohio River. This program is steadily |
| the southern border of Virginia in Abingdon. Traveling | | | | increasing the quantities and sizes of walleyes. The |
| north, there is Lake Anna, which is a bit smaller at | | | | walleye reside in fast-paced water conditions of dams |
| 9,600-acres. This lake makes a home in Bumpass, | | | | and upper pool areas. The best fishing technique for |
| Virginia. The remaining four Virginia lakes suited for | | | | the Ohio River is jigs containing minnows or live bait. |
| walleye fishing are by no means small. | | | | Pair these selections with slip bobber rigs. These two |
| Claytor Lake stands 4,500-acres in the south-west | | | | will function together to keep bait in contact with |
| area of the state at Radford, Virginia. Following this is | | | | bottom surfaces. |
| Leesville Reservoir. This 3,400-acre lake falls in | | | | In the Monongahela River, walleye frequent slack |
| south-central Pittsville, Virginia. Philpott Lake, | | | | water pools and channels. Anywhere along the river |
| 2,900-acres, also resides in this area at Bassett, | | | | course is relatively decent place to fish for walleye. |
| Virginia. | | | | Other key areas in this river are weed beds. Pay |
| Finally, there is Lake Chesdin, at 3,100-acres in | | | | specific attention to bottom structures such as tree |
| Petersburg, Virginia. The record walleye caught in | | | | stumps or rocks. Navigate these structures in as many |
| Virginia is 15 lbs. 15 ozs. Virginia lakes and reservoirs | | | | ways as possible. There is no way to tell which |
| maintain a healthy level of pre-stocked walleye fish. | | | | direction walleye are facing on any given day. Key |
| Rivers are a different matter. In West Virginia, | | | | times to seek out walleye are during low light, warm |
| biologists have recently identified a new breed of | | | | water conditions. |