Walleye
Follow the old river. The North Thames inflow and the drowned river channel running through the reservoir are the walleye's highway — current, structure, and the stained water a low-light hunter is built for. Down toward the dam the basin deepens and holds fish through the bright hours. Anglers report walleye stacking on these spots, so when you find one, work it hard before you move.
← Back to Fanshawe Lake conditionsHow it fishes
Walleye run on low light here. The lake's stained, nutrient-rich water lets them feed comfortably in daylight, but the pattern still tips toward dawn, dusk, and the murk — daytime fish hold the deeper basin toward the dam and the old river channel, then slide shallower to hunt as the light drops.
Perch and shiners are the forage. Spring is an inflow story: current and gravel at the North Thames inflow draw spawners before the May opener, and the season is closed mid-March to the second Saturday of May to cover that window.
A separate winter season runs January 1 to March 15, but with the park gate closed for the season and no documented ice access, confirm before planning a hard-water trip. As a flood-control reservoir, levels move after rain — let the channel and the inflow, not last week's spot, put you on fish.
Structure
The river entering at the north end and the drowned channel winding through the reservoir supply current, structure, and spawning gravel — the spring staging water and a year-round travel route.
The reservoir's deepest water, down by the dam, holds walleye through bright daylight hours before they move shallower to feed in low light.
Regulations
This is a summary, not the legal regulation — confirm current rules with the official source before fishing.