He's also discovered that some fish move into headwater streams to spawn while others stay at home to lay their eggs. He believes, however, that more females move into upper portions of the lake during this period, and, along with some males, enter the Little Paint arm of the lake. Actual spawning sites of riprap and shallow stream bottoms are used at night and abandoned during daylight hours. Wilson hasn't been able to track the winter movement of walleyes at Paintsville due to extensive ice cover in the winter of 1993-94. He does know that autumn may be one of the most challenging of all seasons to fish for the species.
Walleyes scatter to all areas of the lake during fall.
Overall, Wilson believes walleyes will definitely give the Paintsville Lake scene a boost in angling popularity in Eastern Kentucky. Because of standing timber sanctuaries, walleyes will continue to grow and perhaps offer anglers one of the commonwealth's better opportunities for taking a quality sport fish from a lake setting that is exceptionally picturesque. For permission to reprint this article you must contact the Author.