The walleye typically start showing up in the Maumee River when the water temperature is just above freezing (34°-35°). There are several populations that contribute to this spawn. There is a small amount of resident walleye that move to the spawning areas early in the year. These fish will hold in the area until females appear to start the spawning ritual. The next group of fish is from Lake Erie. The Ohio DOW states that only 10% of the actual walleye population of Lake Erie spawns in the rivers.

The largest spawning run happens in the Maumee River, however walleye can probably be caught in any tributary of Lake Erie at this time, just not in the large numbers that appear in the Maumee River. The Sandusky River still does have a fishable run, however it is not what it once was. The Ballville dam has increased the current on this river and subsequently washed away a lot of the gravel over the years that is required for successful spawning. It is not known whether walleye imprint, such as salmonoids, but with the loss of spawning habitat and the run declining in the Sandusky River it makes us wonder. Representatives of other walleye populations that show up to spawn include fish from Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. Conditions usually dictate the fish activity at this time. It is a combination of water temperature, water clarity, and barometric conditions. After the ice melts and the spring rains start flooding the river with their warm water the action starts. The rising water temperatures of 35-37 degrees signal pods of fish that have staged in different areas such as the lower reaches of the river and the bay to move to the spawning areas. Typically there are several spawning runs that occur within the spring, starting when the water temperature is between 42-45 degrees. When conditions are favorable all of the populations mix and spawn close to the same time, however with the varying weather conditions that plague Ohio, the spawn is usually stretched out to some degree. The fish in a typical spawning run are all in different stages of spawn depending upon their arrival to the river system. The males typically show up quickly and linger afterwards, however the females come into to the river somewhat hard and must ripen before they broadcast their eggs. However the females seem to vacate the area pretty quickly after spawning. It would not be uncommon to catch several fish in different stages of spawn during the same day. Typically sometime in April for approximately two weeks the spawn will peak when the water is 46- 48 degrees and slowly start its decline. You will notice far fewer females in the river and a lot more spawned out males. These males sometimes called "jacks" will provide the angler with very fast fishing as they aggressively strike the lure. As the water temperatures breach the 50 degree mark the abundant white bass will take their turn in the river. The arrival of the white bass usually signals the end of the spawning run, however there are usually numbers of walleye in the river for a period of two to three weeks as the "late bloomers" finish spawning.