Most anglers associate the St. Joe River season with salmon in the fall and steelhead through the winter. But Captain Ted Penrod, the experienced guide behind that season, knows there is another opportunity that often goes unnoticed. Around Thanksgiving, he typically begins to see the winter walleye fishery take shape, creating the possibility of catching both walleye and steelhead on the same trip.

A Winter Fishery That Often Gets Overlooked

As the fall salmon season winds down and steelhead continue moving through the river, walleye become another important part of the winter fishery. Captain Ted usually begins seeing more consistent walleye action around Thanksgiving as the water cools and the fish gather in productive sections of the river, though water temperature, flow, and clarity can shift that timing from year to year.

The fishery is easy to overlook because anglers tend to focus on steelhead once late fall arrives. Walleye do not have the same reputation for long runs and acrobatic fights, but they give winter anglers another reason to watch every bite closely on a St. Joe River winter charter.

When the Winter Walleye Fishing Begins

Penrod & Reel’s walleye fishing begins in the fall and generally improves as winter progresses, with fish holding in deeper sections of the river as cold conditions slow them down. The Thanksgiving period is best understood as the start of that winter pattern rather than the spawn itself. Walleye spawn in spring, which is why Michigan closes the walleye season on March 16 to protect them. December through February is a holding-and-feeding period, with fish staging in the river ahead of that spring spawn.

That still leaves a wide winter opportunity. Walleye and steelhead can both be available during December, January, and February, though the two species may respond differently from one day to the next, and anglers should note that Michigan’s walleye season on this stretch closes March 15, even though the broader charter season runs through the end of March.

Why Walleye and Steelhead Share the Same Water

Walleye and steelhead sometimes occupy the same general stretches of river during winter, both using deeper holes, current breaks, and seams to conserve energy while staying close to food. That overlap does not guarantee that both species will hold together on any given day; a hole that produces both fish on one trip may fish differently after a temperature change or a shift in flow.

Even with that variability, the overlap creates a real possibility of a mixed-species day. You might feel the speed and hard runs of a steelhead alongside the heavier, more deliberate pull of a winter walleye, sometimes without moving far between spots.

What to Expect on a Winter Walleye Trip

Winter trips run out of Penrod & Reel’s enclosed, heated river boat, based in Berrien Springs, making the season more comfortable than most first-time guests expect. Tackle and bait are supplied, and Captain Ted adjusts the presentation through the day depending on water conditions and which species is showing more activity, a rhythm covered in more detail in what to expect when chartering a fishing boat.

Conditions can change quickly in winter, and cold snaps, high water, or ice can affect where or whether the boat can safely fish that day; those calls are made and communicated the same way as weather changes are handled on a charter. All legal fish you choose to keep are cleaned and bagged at the end of the trip.

Book Your Trip Today!

Ready to explore a part of the winter season most anglers overlook? Book a St. Joe River winter charter out of Berrien Springs and ask Captain Ted about targeting walleye and steelhead on the same trip.

FAQ

When does winter walleye fishing begin on the St. Joe River?

Captain Ted typically begins seeing the winter fishery build around Thanksgiving. Exact timing can vary with water temperature, flow, and weather.

Can I catch walleye and steelhead on the same trip?

The two species sometimes use the same general winter sections of the river, though a mixed catch is never guaranteed.

Do I need different gear for walleye and steelhead?

Tackle and bait are supplied, and presentations are adjusted based on conditions and which species is more active that day.

When does the walleye season close?

Michigan’s walleye season on this stretch closes March 15, even though the broader St. Joe River charter season runs through the end of March.