It is believed that the walleye have run up the Maumee River to spawn since early settlement days. Archaeological digs of Indian sites have turned up walleye bones on the Sandusky River and researchers are fairly confident that they would have migrated up the Maumee River at the same time. Every spring thousands of Walleye enter the Maumee river.

Some of them travel hundreds of miles from their home waters of Lake St. Claire and Lake Erie. They travel throughout the river and some even make it up to the dam at Grand Rapids. It's a definite myth that these spawning fish don't bite. The males, or "Jacks" as they are locally called, will eagerly take your jig in almost any situation. In fact, the run lasts more than two months and these fish spawn at different times during those months. The "hard" females, those females that are holding eggs, should be released to spawn out and fuel future runs. While the Walleye are leaving the river, thousands upon thousands of White Bass team the river towards the middle of May. Other fish species that migrate up the river to spawn include quillback, sturgeon, northern pike, and occasionally some steelhead trout.
This fantastic run of Walleye is an excellent time for the anglers that don't own boats and can't fish the big lake. Wading is generally the best way to get up close and personal with these fish.