Saturday, July 11, 2015

How To Choose The Best Walleye Trolling Lures

By Olive Pate


The walleye is native to North America and is found in freshwater in the northern states and most of Canada. The eyes point out to the sides, which how the species gets its name. This characteristic gives anglers an advantage when fishing at night because the eyes shine in the dark, making them easy to spot in shallow water. Knowing how to select the best walleye trolling lures is a sure way for anglers to enjoy success.

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.

The fish are aggressive this time of year, so casting with a light colored jig near shore will generally attract smaller males. To catch the bigger females, anglers will have to head for deeper water during daylight hours. Try fishing near the spawning bed at a depth of around 10 feet for the most success.

When trolling in shallow waters, many anglers choose a brightly colored Rapala original floater or a thunderstick. Chartreuse, blue, red, or any other bright color works well in the spring. Keep the boat at a slow speed when fishing close to shore. As soon as the fish begin biting, kill the engine and switch to casting. Continuing to troll will only spook the fish and they will stop feeding.

Large female walleyes escape becoming prey to muskie and pike by swimming to deeper waters. This is when trolling toward the middle of a river or lake is most successful. Many anglers prefer the deep husky jerk because it runs true at any speed and emits a loud rattle.

During the summer, anglers will have to follow the walleyes to deeper waters. At this time of year, they tend to hang around off rocky points or at the river mouth. If the land surrounding the lake is flat, they will swim in thick weeds to escape the sun. Anglers should choose lures with natural colors. Brown, white, black, and silver are the colors that work best. Troll using a thunderstick or original floater for success. Avoid the bright colors at this time of year to keep from reeling in pike instead of walleye.

Females stay at a depth of 15 to 35 feet when the temperature rises and only come toward shore after dark. Trolling slowly following the contour of the shoreline with a junior thunderstick or small floating Rapala will usually pay off. Anglers with a large boat can try trolling in open water with down deep husky jerks or J-13 down deep jointed Rapalas.

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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