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Selecting The Best Walleye Trolling Lures

By Olive Pate


Walleyes are schooling fish native to the northern United States and large portions of Canada. The name stems from the fact that their eyes point to both sides. These fish are visible underwater after dark because the eyes reflect moonlight, a phenomenon known as eyeshine. Using the right walleye trolling lures can ensure any angler will have a successful fishing trip.

Selecting the right equipment to catch walleyes depends on the season as much as other factors. Spawning season is in the spring, right before fishing season opens. The walleye spawns in rapid river currents or in sandy regions close to shore. Even after the season opens, these fish will stick nearby their spawning grounds to protect them from predators.

Smaller males are simple to catch using a light jig close to shore because they are particularly aggressive. Finding a bigger female requires heading to deeper water while the sun is up. Many anglers have success when trolling 10 feet deep just outside the spawning bed.

The trick to trolling close to shore is to go slowly and stop as soon as the fish start biting. Continuing to move back and forth can scare them away. Most anglers will use a thunderstick or an original floating Rapala when trolling in shallow water. Attracting walleye at this time of year is easiest when using red, fire tiger, chartreuse, blue, or other bright colors.

Later in the day, the big females swim deeper to escape detection by feeding pike and muskie. This is when anglers should try trolling farther away from shore. Down deep husky jerks are the best lures to use for picking up large female walleye.

During the mid summer months, walleye swim in deep waters. They prefer places close to shore with rocky points or the open water of a river mouth. If the terrain on shore is flat, look for the fish to be hiding in thick weeds to avoid the sun. The thunderstick and original floating Rapala are good options for these conditions. When it gets to be summer, anglers should select black, brown, silver, white, or other natural colors. Bright colors will bring in the pike at this time of year but the walleyes prefer the natural colors.

Boat speed is important when going after walleye. Anglers with a small boat can try hugging the coastline and following the contour while using a small floating Rapala or the junior thunderstick. Trolling through open water in a larger boat using a J-13 jointed Rapala or deep husky jerk between 15 and 35 feet is optimal for catching females during the day. After dark, the females move closer to shore.

Fishing for walleye in the fall is always more challenging because the fish move into open water. Thunderstick and free floating lures cast into deep pools or along the edge of river rapids are often effective this late in the season. Anglers can achieve the best success by studying walleye habits and selecting the right lure based on the season, water depth, and boat speed.




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