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Walleye Fishing Tips, Tackle, Tactics
When walleye fishing the #1 rule to remember is that walleye are bottom feeders. Walleyes prefer shallow water areas from April to June. They cruise over sand, gravel or rocky bars during daylight and can be cast to or trolled over according to the whims of the angler. Spinning gear with either an open- or closed-face reel is a natural for both casting and trolling. Bait-casting outfits capable of presenting the smaller plugs, lures and bait are also easy to handle. The fish are easy to reach at this depth and there are several items that can help you take a high share of them. A spinner followed by a neatly baited minnow is excellent across the country. Small eels and pollywogs, both plastic and rubber, are also excellent; they are best in 3- to 5-inch lengths when after a good-sized fish.
In large lakes trolling, drift-fishing, or casting - each method has its time and place with these battlers. I use a spool loaded with 6- or 8-pound mono just to be sure, both during day and at night.
Later in the season, when inshore water becomes too warm, walleyes will leave these shallow areas during daylight and move to the deepest part of the water. Deep trolling is the best answer in big waters, while deeper casts are a necessity in the eddies and pools of the rivers frequented by these fish.
Walleye Fishing Tips and Tackle
The fishing rig used by many fishermen is a spinning rod and a jig tipped with a minnow or piece of nightcrawler. Where fish are plentiful all one needs is a simple lure of good quality made fast to a flexible wire leader of from 4 to 6 in. in length. Never under any circumstances use a monofilament leader for walleyes since their sharp teeth will cut the line quickly. Always use a flexible wire leader or else no leader at all - a good strong line will stand considerable abuse as long as one does not connect with the trophy walleye that we're always hoping for but never seem to hook. If the fish are a bit off feed or are scarce and need to be attracted, use a spoon that flutters when sinking and darts when pulled up.
A fairly heavy sinker is best for this work and it should be attached some 6 or 8 in. above the hook and leader. It will be necessary to get down quickly and a light lead will not do the work. In hooks every angler has his preference on walleyes. In size it should be from a No.8 to a No.2, depending on the size of the fish you expect to encounter and what your using for bait. On any rod a smaller hook may always be used.
Fishing Walleye with Live Bait
The best bait for walleyes is the minnow. To our way of thinking a golden shiner comes first, then the chub, sucker, and others as they may be procured. Since the walleye is a great lover of large minnows these may well run up to 5 and even 6 in. in length if the fisherman is after large fish. Ordinarily the 3- to 4-in. shiner will be about right. Hook the minnow through the back on a slant so that the point of the hook will come out toward the head, and the shank is running straight up from the center of the back. This puts the point where it will "do the most good." Be very careful to pass the hook high enough up to miss the backbone; the more life in the minnow the more walleye.
Fishing Tackle
January 3, 2009
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