I know there are too many factors for a exact answer, but what would be a good ballpark for what depth the walleyes would be at?

I like to start shallow when looking for fish. That might be 1 or 2 feet in a river or at night or something, or it might be 10 feet in a clear, cold lake. Shallow fish are typically active fish. If I had to say a number, I guess I've probably caught more walleyes in the BWCA in 8 foot or less. Remember I start shallow though, so I spend more time shallow as well. Key on weedlines and other edges over depth as depth varies from lake to lake.

Walleyes can be a weird fish. Common acceptance is that they relate strongly to the bottom but I have caught them suspended over very deep water. But that's the exception.

Endless factors determine a walleys depth. Current and wind generated waves can effect their movements as they are often drawn to current.

Lundojam has it right.....shallow fish are feeding fish. But here's the rub.....the time they spend feeding might be a short window indeed. But it's good to start shallow and move progressively deeper. Of course "deeper" is a relative term. Some folks might think 15 ft is deep where others would say that 15ft would be considered "shallow".

One of the most important factors is time of year. Generally speaking the warmer the water the more likely they are to pursue the cooler deaths. Water clarity is also significant.......clear water (as opposed to tannin stained or "dark" water) spells deep fish especially after spring.

Take for example August........my starting point during dawn to dusk hours would be 15ft. I have often caught them right at dark still in 20ft of water and had my best fishing ever trolling at 28ft over 70 ft of water the last 2 hours of dark in August. Go figure........

In a nutshell.......spring 3ft to 12ft..........early summer 8 ft to 20 ft.......late summer 20 to 40 ft. Good luck!

quote mastertangler: "In a nutshell.......spring 3ft to 12ft..........early summer 8 ft to 20 ft.......late summer 20 to 40 ft. Good luck! "

This has been my experience as well on lakes that get deeper than 50 ft or so. On most days anyhow.

quote mastertangler: "In a nutshell.......spring 3ft to 12ft..........early summer 8 ft to 20 ft.......late summer 20 to 40 ft. Good luck! "

Yep, that's about right.

We caught all of our walleyes last week in 8 feet or less of water. These came right at 8 feet.

Walleyes, like other fish, need: food, cover, and oxygen (more if you count spawning behaviors).
They don't need depth except in relation to oxygen and staying comfortable. If they can find food, cover, and O2 in 6 inches of water (see the other thread about nontraditional methods) they will be there.
The point is, depth is only one piece of the puzzle and shouldn't drive an angler's decisions. Put in some time and let the fish tell you where they are. Don't discount very shallow or very deep because the fish just go wherever they can find that other stuff.

This past weekend we found walleyes in 12' fow. It dropped off from 5' to 12'. A jig and a leech or a slip bobber and leech. Our best evening of fishing this summer. Structure can be as important as deapth. Buy leeches where you can find them, they are getting harder to find.

This might be difficult to express without coming across as a "fish snob" of sorts but I always take info about walleye depths with a huge grain of salt.

And here's why.......walleye can often be found in quite a variety of depths and situations. Although fish are individuals and can do what they want walleye are often a "group think" type of fish. Year classes are often together........all things being equal the larger fish generally relate to deeper water, particularly in late summer.

For example......right now you can go fish in Sunday Bay in 8ft of water and in the weed pockets you can catch 14" walleye. You can go to Bentpine and in 8ft of water (again near weeds) catch walleye after walleye......all about 14 to 16".

On the other hand I can troll at 28 ft the same time frame and have a hard time catching a fish under 26" (which I prefer not to filet).

So if someone passes info that X, Y, or Z depth is the ticket bear in mind that walleye can inhabit a rather broad spectrum of depth all at the same time......from 8ft to 40ft with the larger fish usually being deeper (at least during the summer months).

quote mastertangler: So if someone passes info that X, Y, or Z depth is the ticket bear in mind that walleye can inhabit a rather broad spectrum of depth all at the same time......from 8ft to 40ft with the larger fish usually being deeper (at least during the summer months). "

And the groups will change depth throughout the day as well. My experience is that the depth that is "the ticket" will change quickly.

quote mastertangler: "......from 8ft to 40ft with the larger fish usually being deeper (at least during the summer months). "

So says the textbook. I've experienced plenty of summer days where I was catching dinks at 14-22' and didn't find any bigger fish until I started fishing 8 or 9'.