Long Island Walleye, Part II

Six-pack skipper and licensed NYS freshwater fishing guide Chris Albronda caught and released this massive 12-pound walleye at Fort Pond in Montauk during the 2018 Arctic Bomb Cyclone weather event. Chris Albronda photo.

Picking up where we left off in Part 1, we had mentioned previously that the walleye populations seem to be thriving in both Lake Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond. They are also growing to superior sizes. The largest one we know about so far is a 12-pound brute decked by Capt. Chris Albronda at Fort Pond. Amazingly, that fish was caught and released during the Arctic Bomb Cyclone in early January of 2018! Albronda, by the way, splits his time between running charters for Two Conchs Sportfishing in the Florida Keys and hiring himself out to skipper customer’s boats out of Montauk. He is also a NYS licensed freshwater fishing guide. A potential second double-digit walleye, estimated at over 10 pounds, was also caught and released at Fort Pond last summer.

Over on Lake Ronkonkoma, the top walleye we discovered so far was hooked and released from shore on the north side of the lake a week before Christmas several years ago. Estimated at over 8 pounds by a reliable source, it struck a Sebile Koolie Minnow. 

Slow Down For Summer

As spring transitions to summer, the walleye can be more difficult to corner because they tend to hold along the deepest weedy edges they can find and act more like largemouth bass than the freewheeling open-water predators you've read about in national magazines. At this point, you are probably best off working a jumbo leech or Mr. Twister curly tail grub on a one-eighth to one-quarter-ounce jig tipped with a garden worm or small piece of night crawler. This offering is especially productive over the harder, sandy bottom in Fort Pond. Tossing small green, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits is also fun since it allows anglers to target summer walleye and largemouth bass at the same time by working first the inside edges of weed beds and then the deeper, outside edges.

Nighttime walleye fishing can also be quite rewarding during the summer and, surprisingly, very deep into the fall. As water temperatures soar in late July and early August, large walleye show a strong preference for feeding after dark. After hanging along the outside weed edges all day long, they'll slide into the shallows just like largemouth bass and sometimes even kiss the shore. Anglers working the midnight shift can score even during the hottest streaks by tossing floating Rapalas, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, Rapala X-Raps, or Sebile Koolie Minnows and retrieving them at a steady, medium speed pace. By contrast, the same presentation will work through the fall with the prime locations being over open bottom positioned not far off the beach.

This early winter Lake Ronkonkoma walleye fell to Sebile Sinking Minnow cast from shore just days before a Christmas past. OutdoorTom.com photo.

The Fall Edge

As a soft rule, the better Long Island walleye scores are made from boats during the spring and summer, but waders and bank fishermen may actually have the edge during the fall months. As waters cool down in mid- to late September, the walleye tend to slide over the dying weeds and position themselves a long cast off the bank. Now the action shifts to water depths of six- to eight-feet during the day, and three- to six-foot depths after dark. 

Rather than staying in one place, fan cast your way along any accessible beachfront that will allow your lures to work without being swallowed by weeds. Look specifically for slope areas that will allow you to work both deep and shallow water on the same cast. 

Waders should ease out until waist-deep and then make several casts parallel to the shore before fan-casting out toward greater depths. Rapala Husky Jerks can be an especially hot lure this time of year.

Ice fishing for walleye here on Long Island doesn’t happen much, but the thought seems to offer a lot of potential. St. Croix Rods photo.

Ice-Time Can Be The Right Time

In addition to being tasty and generally agreeable, walleye also have a national reputation as a premier target for ice fishing fans but since Lake Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond rarely provide safe ice these days, the jury is still out – even after all these years – as to how reliable the hard water fishery might be. We imagine it would be rather good if we could get a decent crack at it and try a little ice trolling with a good set of electronics. Only time will tell on this front but, if conditions allow, live shiners or serious ice-fishing jigs like the Northland Forage minnow and Rapala’s Jigging Shad Rap should produce on a consistent basis.

Getting Started

Reliable spring, summer and fall walleye spots for those just getting started on Lake Ronkonkoma include the northwest corner of the lake, the waters directly in front of the DEC Victory Drive Launch Ramp, and six- to 12-foot depths directly in front of the Islip and Brookhaven Town beaches. For ice-fishing, sample eight-foot depths along the northern side of the lake, and straight out or slightly north from the Victory Drive launch ramp.

At Fort Pond, you are likely to score well by fishing the deeper water contour lines at mid-lake, or concentrating efforts a long cast out from the rocky eastern shore. During the spring and fall, some big walleye are taken after dark on the expansive flats at both the north and south ends of the lake. Ice fishing hot spots can be found along the contour line pinch-points in the central basin area of the lake. Set up in 8- to 12-foot depths and fan out from there.

Keep in mind that Long Island walleyes are subject to a three fish bag limit and an 18-inch minimum size, with a season running from May 1 through March 15. Most local anglers release all that they catch but there are no specific health advisories against eating them when caught on Long Island. "Bon appétit" if you feel so inclined.

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