How to Catch Walleye + Walleye Fishing Tips

Walleye, the elusive game fish with toothy jaws, shimmering golden scales, and haunting eyes, has captured the hearts of anglers across the United States. Their widespread presence in cool waters, often yielding specimens over 25 inches and 10 pounds, makes walleye a prized catch for fishing enthusiasts.

These fish, known by various names like yellow pike or wall-eyed pike (though technically perch relatives), are celebrated not just for their tenacious fights but also for their delectable taste. In the world of freshwater fishing, walleye stand out.

This comprehensive guide on how to fish walleye will help you catch walleye at ease. The knowledge and techniques to conquer the challenges of walleye fishing. From understanding their behavior to mastering various techniques and adapting to different seasons and conditions, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive into the world of walleye fishing, where success awaits those who are well-prepared.

Understanding Walleye Behavior

To succeed in walleye fishing, one must first decipher the enigmatic behavior of these elusive creatures. Walleye, with their peculiar habits and ever-changing preferences, keep anglers on their toes.

Natural Diet and Feeding Habits

Walleye, like many predators, are opportunistic eaters. Their diet primarily consists of smaller fish, including shad, ciscoes, smelt, yellow perch, and various minnows. However, what’s on the menu can vary significantly depending on the available forage in a specific body of water.

This natural diversity in their diet makes walleye fishing intriguing and challenging. It’s not as simple as offering a single type of bait and expecting success. Instead, you need to be prepared to adapt your tactics and bait choices based on the local menu.

Unpredictability in Feeding Patterns

Here lies the first conundrum of walleye fishing: their unpredictability. Walleye can go from being voracious feeders, attacking fast, flashy, and brightly colored baits, to becoming sluggish and finicky, requiring a slow and subtle presentation.

The key takeaway is to never assume you know exactly what walleye want on a given day. Fishing lore often reminds us that one of the gravest mistakes is to overestimate our knowledge of these fish. They keep us guessing, and that’s part of the allure.

Gear and Tackle for Walleye Fishing

When it comes to walleye fishing, having the right gear and tackle can make all the difference between a frustrating day on the water and a successful outing. In this section, we’ll delve into the essential components of your walleye fishing arsenal.

Selecting the Perfect Walleye

Choosing the right walleye rod is crucial for precision and control in your fishing endeavors. Opt for a medium-weight, 6-foot, 6-inch spinning rod with a fast-action tip, allowing for sensitivity and quick response. This type of rod provides the versatility needed for various walleye techniques.

Selecting a rod for walleyes involves understanding the specific characteristics that cater to walleye fishing. Look for a rod with the right balance between power and flexibility, tailored to the needs of walleye angling. A medium-heavy power rating is often preferred, as it can handle the varied sizes of walleye you may encounter. Additionally, consider a rod with a moderate or fast action, which ensures you can detect even the subtlest bites from walleyes.

Picking the Ideal Walleye Reel

Reeling in the Right Choice Selecting the perfect walleye reel complements your rod choice. Look for a spinning reel with a smooth drag system, capable of handling the potential fighting spirit of walleye. A reel with a high line capacity is advantageous when these fish make their powerful runs.

If you want to choose the best reels for walleyes, prioritize a smooth and consistent drag system. Walleye are known for their strong runs, and having a reliable drag mechanism can prevent snapped lines and lost fish, particularly when dealing with larger walleyes. Consider a reel with a high-quality ball bearing system for smooth reeling, especially during extended battles with walleyes.

Mastering Walleye Lures

Effective walleye lures can be the key to a successful day on the water. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and blade baits are favorites among anglers. Crankbaits imitate minnows and work well, especially in deep waters. Jerkbaits offer versatility and can be retrieved slowly for optimal results. Blade baits sink quickly, making them the best lure for walleye.

When it comes to lures, understanding the preferences of walleye is crucial. Consider the water conditions, depth, and time of day to select the appropriate lure type and color. For clear water and bright conditions, opt for lures with natural colors and subtle finishes. In contrast, use more vibrant and flashy lures in stained or low-light conditions.

Understanding Walleye Lines

In certain situations, using wire leaders is essential for protecting your fishing line. Walleye’s sharp teeth can easily cut through traditional lines, leading to lost catches. A strong wire leader acts as insurance, preventing these toothy critters from escaping and will help you to catch walleyes easier..

When using wire leaders, ensure they are of high quality and adequately sized for the fish you intend to catch. Test the leader’s strength and knot integrity before heading out to ensure it can withstand the power of a walleye strike.

Choosing the Right Walleye

When it comes to walleye hooks, size and type matter. Opt for sizes 4, 6, or 8 depending on your bait size. Choose hooks designed for walleye fishing, ensuring they have the right shape and sharpness to secure your catch effectively.

Hook selection goes beyond size; it involves understanding the presentation you want to achieve. Consider hooks with wide gaps for better hook-setting opportunities, especially when using soft plastics or live bait. Additionally, experiment with different hook shapes to determine what works best for your walleye fishing style.

Selecting Walleye Sinkers

Choosing the right sinkers for walleyes involves considering the depth and water conditions you’re fishing in. Having a variety of sinkers, ranging from 1/8 to 1/2 ounce, gives you the flexibility to adapt to changing situations when targeting walleyes. Adjusting your sinker weight can make a significant difference in your success when pursuing these elusive fish.

When selecting sinkers, think about the specific conditions you’ll encounter. Lighter sinkers are suitable for shallow waters and calm conditions, while heavier ones are necessary for deeper or fast-flowing waters. Be prepared to change sinker weights as you move to different spots to keep your bait in the strike zone.

With the right gear and tackle knowledge, you’ll be well-prepared to face the challenges to fish walleye presents. These insights into rods, reels, lures, lines, hooks, and sinkers will help you fine-tune your approach and increase your chances of landing these elusive and prized fish.

Walleye Fishing Techniques

Walleye fishing demands versatility, as these elusive fish can be as unpredictable as they are coveted. In this section, we’ll delve into various techniques that will help you adapt to different conditions and increase your chances to catch walleye.

Jig Fishing for Walleye

Jigs are arguably the most commonly used lures for catching walleye, and many anglers consider them the most effective. These lures consist of a hook with a weighted head molded onto it, allowing for various body styles to be attached.

While hair jigs are traditional and still effective in many areas, soft plastic jigs have become more popular and widely used. They offer a broad range of styles and colors to choose from. The curly-tail (or twister-tail) jig is a favorite, often paired with a 1/4-ounce jighead and a 4-inch curly-tail jig for versatility.

Experiment with jig colors, as brightly colored jigs like white, chartreuse, and hot pink tend to be more effective. However, darker black, brown, and neutral-colored jigs can perform better in low-light conditions. Consider adding a piece of nightcrawler to your jig to increase its appeal to walleye.

When casting and retrieving walleye jigs, maintain a slow, steady pace or add some jerks and twitches to mimic the movements of prey. One productive tactic is to let the jig bump off the bottom as you retrieve it, often triggering strikes from nearby walleye.

Trolling for Walleye

Trolling is a fishing style that involves pulling one or more baits or lures behind your boat. It’s a valuable method for locating walleye, as it allows you to cover a substantial amount of water in a short time with minimal effort.

Almost any bait or lure mentioned earlier, including walleye baits, can be useful for trolling. The key to successful trolling often lies in adding the right amount of weight to your line to keep your offering at the desired depth, typically near the bottom where walleye often lurk.

Trolling live bait on a worm harness rig is a tried-and-true method that seems to work for walleye anywhere in the country. Consider variations like the bottom walker rig, which includes a weighted wire arm that keeps your bait slightly elevated, reducing the risk of snagging while keeping it close to the walleye’s territory.

Adjusting Bait Depth and Presentation

While mastering various techniques for catching walleyes is essential, understanding the importance of adjusting bait depth and presentation cannot be overstated. Walleyes often respond differently based on factors like water temperature, light conditions, and forage availability.

Experiment with different depths until you find where the walleye are actively feeding. This may require changing the weight of your sinker, the length of your leader, or the depth at which you’re trolling.

Additionally, pay attention to your presentation. Sometimes, a fast, flashy lure may trigger a reaction strike, while other times, a slow, subtle approach is necessary to entice bites from less active walleye. Incorporating these techniques and fine-tuning your approach will help you adapt to changing conditions and increase your chances of a successful walleye fishing adventure.

Ice Fishing for Walleye

Ice fishing for walleye is a beloved winter pastime in regions where these prized fish thrive. While many anglers hang up their gear when the mercury drops, those who embrace the chill discover a unique and rewarding angling experience.

Walleye fishing through the ice has gained popularity in colder regions where walleye are a common catch. When winter blankets the landscape, anglers venture onto frozen lakes and rivers in pursuit of these elusive walleyes.

Effective Baits and Lures Winter Enticements

Winter walleye are known for their reduced activity levels, making slow and subtle presentations essential. Silver jigs and jigging spoons are often favored baits when the bite is slow. In clear water, silver jigs mimic small baitfish, making them a go-to choice.

Consider adding a minnow on a jig head to your arsenal. This combination presents a tantalizing offering for lethargic walleye.

Adapting Strategies for Success

Ice fishing for walleye demands patience and adaptability. As the fish are less active during winter, adopting the right strategies can make all the difference.

In slow-motion underwater, the slightest movements can attract walleye. A slow, subtle jigging motion or even keeping your bait motionless can entice bites. Remember that more active fish might respond to a slightly more aggressive approach.

Understanding the structure of the underwater world beneath the ice is crucial. Focus on drop-offs, steep slopes, or areas near the dam where water movement can attract walleye.

Don’t underestimate the importance of timing. Walleye are more likely to be active during low-light periods, such as dawn and dusk, so plan your ice fishing excursions accordingly, you should also use a specific rod for walleye ice fishing.

Where to Find Walleye

Understanding where to find walleye is essential for a successful angling adventure. These elusive fish have specific preferences when it comes to their habitats, and knowing where they thrive can significantly improve your chances of a rewarding catch.

Walleye in Lakes and Reservoirs

Walleye flourish in large lakes and reservoirs with deep, cool, and preferably clear water. These fish are not suited for small farm ponds or backwaters; they require expansive habitats that provide a diverse range of conditions and abundant forage.

The Great Lakes and natural lakes found in places like Minnesota are ideal walleye territories. Man-made impoundments, such as large reservoirs, often mimic the conditions of their natural habitats, making them suitable for walleye. These reservoirs offer rocky habitats, cool water temperatures, plentiful forage, and varying depths, including steep drop-offs.

The challenge in fishing these extensive water bodies is the abundance of potential walleye habitat. Trolling along drop-offs using crankbaits, worm harnesses, or bottom-bouncer rigs is an effective way to cover a lot of water and locate fish. Once you’ve pinpointed a school of walleye, explore the area more thoroughly by casting jigs and crankbaits.

Casting along rocky shorelines and the edges of weed beds during low-light hours can also yield success. In shallower waters, walleye and walleyes are more active, especially around dawn and dusk when they actively feed.

Walleye in Rivers

Walleye are also well-suited for river habitats, especially large, slow-moving rivers. From the St. Lawrence River in the East to the Columbia River in the West, major rivers with deep water and ample rocky structures provide prime walleye living spaces.

In rivers, walleye often inhabit deep pools or holes. The definition of “deep” varies depending on the river’s size, but in smaller waterways, it can be as shallow as 8 to 10 feet.

One particularly productive spot in rivers is the tailrace area below dams and spillways. During spring, when dam outflows are high, walleye tend to congregate in these areas. The turbulent waters create a suitable environment for their feeding habits.

Rocky riverbanks, gravel bars, and flats are other areas where walleye can be found, especially during low-light hours. These locations provide ample cover and opportunities for ambush feeding.

Understanding where walleye and walleyes prefer to reside in different bodies of water, whether lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, is the key to a successful fishing trip. By knowing their favored conditions and locations, anglers can increase their chances of hooking into these prized fish.

Timing Your Walleye Fishing

Timing is everything when it comes to walleye fishing. These elusive fish are not only influenced by seasonal changes but also by the time of day. To enhance your chances of a fruitful angling experience, it’s vital to understand how timing plays a pivotal role in your pursuit of walleye.

Best Time of Day

Walleye possess incredibly light-sensitive eyes, which grant them a unique advantage—exceptional night vision. Many seasoned walleye anglers swear by the notion that the best time to target these fish is during the darkest hours of the night.

Traditionally, walleye fishing excels during low-light periods, which encompass the early evening as the sun sets and the late hours from midnight until the break of dawn. During these times, walleye become more active, leaving their hiding spots to feed.

Conversely, the worst time to chase walleye is during a bright, sunny afternoon. The intense sunlight drives these fish to seek refuge in deeper waters and shaded areas. During such conditions, they tend to be less active and less inclined to bite.

Seasonal Movements

Walleye, like many other fish species, follow distinct seasonal patterns influenced by changing environmental conditions. Understanding these movements is essential for successful walleye fishing.

Spring

Spring is the “busy season” for walleye, as they emerge from the depths when waters begin to warm. Their primary objectives during this period are to feed voraciously and reproduce.

During the pre-spawn period, walleye congregate in deep areas adjacent to their spawning sites. As water temperatures reach around 45 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit, they migrate towards shallow waters. Spawning takes place in locations like shallow rock beds and gravelly reefs.

After spawning, walleye return to deeper areas, replenishing their energy by actively feeding. Spring is also when they might target yellow perch as a food source in many lakes and reservoirs.

Tips for Walleye Spring Fishing

• Pre-Spawn Strategy: Before spawning, walleye gather in deeper areas near their eventual spawning grounds. Focus on locating these concentrations.
• Shallow Water Migration: Once water temperatures reach 45 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit, walleye move into shallower waters for spawning. Look for them near rocky reefs, gravel beds, and tributaries.
• Jigging Success: Use jigs tipped with live bait or soft plastics, such as twister-tail jigs, for effective spring fishing.

Summer

In late spring and early summer, walleye establish a predictable pattern of feeding in emerging weed beds, rocky reefs, and other shallow to mid-depth structures. They typically stay in deeper waters during the sunny parts of the day, becoming more active at dusk as they move towards shallower feeding grounds.

As summer progresses, walleye may slow down their feeding activity but still adhere to the late spring/early summer patterns. They become more selective in their feeding, preferring slow, natural presentations.

Tips for Walleye Summer Fishing

• Weed Beds and Rocky Reefs: Target emerging weed beds, rocky reefs, and other mid-depth structures where walleye actively hunt. Focus your efforts during dusk and dawn.
• Natural Presentations: In summer, walleye may become more selective. Opt for slow, natural bait presentations to entice bites.

Fall

Fall signals a season of change and transition for walleye. They become more active as they prepare for winter, stocking up on food reserves.

Several factors work in favor of walleye during this season. The death of summer weed beds exposes prey fish, and decreasing water temperatures extend the hours during which walleye can comfortably hunt in shallower waters.

In the fall, walleye actively seek food in deeper edges of weed beds, rocky ledges, drop-offs, and transitional zones between deep and shallow water haunts.

Tips for Walleye Fall Fishing

• Stocking Up for Winter: Walleye intensify their feeding in fall to store energy for the upcoming winter. Look for them near rocky ledges, drop-offs, and transitional zones.
• Leverage Dying Weed Beds: As summer weed beds die off, prey fish become exposed, attracting hungry walleye.

Winter

While walleye and walleyes may seem inactive in winter, they still require nourishment, albeit with less energy expenditure. Early in winter, when the first ice forms, walleye typically hold in deep waters near drop-offs and other major structural elements.

They often suspend themselves just off the deep end of a drop-off, positioning themselves below schools of forage fish whenever possible. In late winter, they begin to move towards staging areas near spring spawning grounds, even before the ice fully melts.

Once the ice melts, areas near rocky shorelines, gravel bars, and tributaries become vital for winter walleye fishing.

Timing plays a critical role in walleye fishing success. By considering both the time of day and seasonal movements, anglers can optimize their chances of landing these remarkable fish.

Tips for Walleye Winter Fishing

• Deep Water Strategy: Early in winter, walleye typically inhabit deep waters near drop-offs. Look for them suspended just off the deep end of these structures.
• Staging Areas: In late winter, they move towards staging areas near spring spawning grounds, often positioning themselves near rocky shorelines, gravel bars, and tributaries.

Expert Opinions

Experienced walleye anglers have honed their skills through years of trial and error on the water. Their knowledge and insights can prove invaluable to those looking to up their game. Here, we share some expert opinions and tips for successful walleye fishing.

#1 Versatility is Key

Experienced anglers often emphasize the need to be adaptable. Walleye can be unpredictable, and what works one day might not work the next. Mark, a seasoned angler from Minnesota, advises, “Don’t get stuck in a rut with one technique or bait. Be ready to switch things up if the fish aren’t biting.”

#2 Time it Right

Timing your fishing trips can make a significant difference. Sarah, a walleye enthusiast from Wisconsin, explains, “I’ve found that the magic hours are usually early morning and late evening. That’s when walleye are most active and more likely to strike.” #

#3 Stay Patient

Jim, a walleye angler with decades of experience, stresses the importance of patience. “Walleye can be finicky,” he says. “Sometimes, you’ll wait for a bite for what seems like forever. But when it comes, it’s worth it.”. You will also be able to catch the biggest walleyes out there!

#4 Learn from Others

“Experienced anglers, including passionate walleye enthusiasts like Steve, often learn valuable insights from their peers. Steve shares, “I’ve picked up some of my best tips from fellow anglers I’ve met on the water, especially when it comes to strategies for catching walleyes. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation and learn from others.”

#5 Respect the Environment

These insights from seasoned walleye anglers offer valuable guidance for those looking to enhance their fishing skills. Remember that every day on the water is an opportunity to learn and improve, and the wisdom of experienced anglers can be a priceless resource in your journey to master walleyes fishing.

#6 The Right Gear Matters

Having the appropriate gear is crucial. Chris, an angler from Ohio, recommends, “Invest in quality rods, reels, and lines. Cheap equipment can cost you a trophy fish.”

#7 Keep Records

Many experienced anglers, including Mike, a dedicated walleye fisherman, keep fishing journals to track their successes and failures. Mike notes, ‘Recording details like weather, water temperature, and bait used can help you identify patterns and improve your success rate in walleyes fishing.

#8 Learn from Mistakes

Making mistakes is part of the learning process. Tom, an angler from Iowa, reflects, “Every lost fish or missed opportunity is a chance to learn. Don’t beat yourself up over a slip-up; use it as motivation to become a better angler.”

These insights from seasoned walleye anglers offer valuable guidance for those looking to enhance their fishing skills. Remember that every day on the water is an opportunity to learn and improve, and the wisdom of experienced anglers can be a priceless resource in your journey to master walleye fishing.

Conclusion

Throughout this comprehensive guide, we’ve delved into the world of walleye fishing, from understanding their behavior to mastering various techniques. It’s clear that walleye, with their toothy jaws and elusive nature, have a unique allure for anglers.

To succeed in walleye and walleyes fishing, versatility is key. These fish can be unpredictable, so it’s essential to be open to trying different techniques, baits, and gear. Remember to time your fishing trips strategically, with early mornings and late evenings often yielding the best results.

Each season offers its own set of challenges and opportunities. Spring and fall are prime times for walleye as they move to shallow waters to feed and spawn. Summer calls for a slower, more natural presentation, while winter’s ice fishing requires patience and subtlety.

Respecting the environment and adhering to local regulations is paramount to ensure the conservation of walleye populations for future generations. Invest in quality gear, keep records of your outings, and, most importantly, learn from your experiences and those of fellow anglers.