Live in Central/Eastern Pa. Fish Delaware river near Easton, Pa a lot, especially for smallies. LAst year tied into some nice walleye @ nov-dec. Water temp @38-42. Used smoke grubs with 1/8 colored jig head. Is there a time in the winter when they shut down and what is ideal water temp in fall or spring??

In the winter you are going to find that the water temperature will run anywhere from 32 to 40 degrees if you are going below the ice to fish, which most likely is the case for you in Easton. Remember walleye are creatures that love to keep their habits though, and you will still need to look for the usual places that the walleye love to hang out. Those are in the deeper water in rocky formations, because they hide in the rocks to wait for their food to come by; or, in the areas where there are weed beds. Again, they use the weeds to hide in to set up a nice catch of food for them. You will find that in the Delaware River the best time that you should fish for walleye is in the fall, but you can still fish year round. You will need to be patient and not get frustrated easily. Fishing is not a sport of speed, but one where patience is needed. Use jigs and try a 3″ twister, or some nice live bait would be a good idea. Don’t forget that the walleye can be a very picky fish, so that means you may need to change around the choices of your bait. Hopefully you will find what mood the fish is in, meaning you pick the correct bait for them! You need to remember that it’s in deep water where the walleye love to reside. As far as temps in the spring go, if it’s spawning time they love to be in the water that is in the 40’s to 50’s. You can find the temperature out at your local bait shops or listen to the fishing report. Good luck, and hope you catch your limit!