Focus on key characteristics, in order of importance. So, for those of you not on the troll, pro angler Eric Olson shared three non-trolling techniques to help you score a few ‘eyes this summer.. Dragging Jigs for Walleye Made of metal and with a single razor-sharp treble hook, the spoon weighs 3/4 ounces. ", Best Crankbait: Rapala Super Shad Rap at Bass Pro Shops, "This is a great all-around lure that can be used for saltwater species as well. Jigs allow for more control over the lure’s movement in the water, which is important to hone in on the way walleye feed. Trolling spinners is very successful this time of year. Troll at a rate of 1.8 to 2.1 mph in the spring to early summer. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. The Northland Tackle Bionic Bucktail Fishing Jig is ideal for trolling along drop-offs and weedlines in search of lurking pike, or for targeting trophy fish in deep water. Walleyes will still react, regardless of the speed, but you’ll put more walleyes in the boat around that 0.8 to 1.3 mph range. Spinnerbaits are a popular choice when fishing in the heavy vegetation that pike tend to favor. All lures have a textured, translucent body with an internal holographic foil, a 3D holographic eye, prominent scales, and a lateral line that catches and reflects light underwater. At 4 inches, it’s ideally sized for pike and comes in a range of iridescent colors that imitate their natural prey. Reel it in smoothly, or with a tantalizing pull/pause action. Both jigs and trolling techniques can be used in … The lure's heavier materials also work well in heavy vegetation and won't snag on weeds. 8. Its realistic fins, 3D eyes, and painted gill plate and scales all add to the overall lifelike effect. All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Another bait with a long history of putting walleyes in the boat, the Original Hot 'N Tot — produced from the original molds, sporting a metal lip — offers a wild and erratic, side-to-side action. But the Threadfin raises the bar with an extra-tight wiggle. The spoon can be cast or trolled, depending on your preference and the conditions on any given day. For this reason, the Johnson Silver Moon Spoon is found in most anglers' tackle boxes. The 8 Best Walleye Lures of 2020 The 8 Best Bass Fishing Rods of 2020 The 8 Best Bass Lures The 8 Best Bass Fishing Lines of 2020 The Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk is the deep-diving version of the Husky Jerk, designed to reach depths approaching 20′ on the troll and more than 10′ on the cast. Summer trolling isn’t just for still waters. Such designs excel at imitating shad, bluegills, and other stout-profiled prey, but also trigger strikes from 'eyes focused on perch, bullheads, and more svelte baitfish. One of the main reasons is the bill's sweeping action, which more times than not bounces the bait out of harm's way. “If that engine starts without my kill switch on, I ain't the one driving it,” Blake Broussard says after ejection video goes viral. You need to pick the right tool for the job. A joy to cast or troll, it holds its tight-wiggling action at speeds well above the typical walleye pace of 1 to 3 mph, and hits depths to about 13 feet unaided. Looking for a giant early-season walleye? Available in #5 and #7 sizes (2 7/16 and 2 7/8 inches, respectively) and 21 finishes, at last count. It comes in classic colors like red and white, to more natural-looking patterns like chrome trout. I am talking a large tackle bag with 6 trays plus a side bag full of plastics, bottom bouncers and bait rigging gear. We have encountered many different nuances to these weed flat walleye patterns over the years. The lure is made out of incredibly flexible soft plastic, giving it a realistic swimming action. The Bandit Deep Diver is a classic trolling lure you can use for catching a lot of different fish. The deepest-running non-jointed Wallys dive up to 20 feet on the troll and 15 on the cast, making it a great diver for a wide range of applications, from weededges to breaks and the tops of sunken islands. Along with these recommendations, keep in mind In-Fisherman's golden rule of crankbait selection as you choose baits for your own personal walleye fishing adventures. In 2010, Johnnie Candle and Dave Noble won the Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship casting Flicker Shads into current breaks on the flood-swollen Mississippi River. With cheaper trolling reels, you’ll notice the drag is kind of touchy and weak. As for the summer outlook, Burns notes that Spirit Lake’s walleye fishery is in excellent shape, with “a bunch of fish in the 23- to 27-inch range, plus good year-classes between 14 and 18 inches.” Big River Walleyes. |   Tackle- Simple trolling for walleye Tackle used for trolling for these fish can be as simple as 7 foot medium action spinning rod, 10 lb. It also has a high-pitched rattle, which is a plus in and around cover, and when fishing mudlines or other low-vis environments. Bay Rat Lures are designed for walleye anglers, by walleye anglers. All options are built with a flexible internal harness for added durability. It's designed with added weight in the tail section which forces the lure to sit tail down. Patriots will like the fact that these quality lures are made right here in the USA. test mono line or a 10/4 braid line, crosslock snaps for connecting the crankbait to your line and some splitshot weights if you need to get the baits running deeper. But also credit the amount of commotion it creates — due to water displacement and its medium-pitched but nonetheless raucous rattle. While literally dozens of cranks are worthy of scrutiny for the Top 10 list, we wanted to include baits that shine in a variety of applications, so you can match top picks for various presentations. For many angling experts, the yellow/red diamond pattern linked here is the ultimate addition to your tackle box for targeting pike. One last tip, don't limit them to trolling. Savvy smallmouth fans catch tons of 'eyes on Rip Shads while hunting bronzebacks. The diving lip on the XR10 model gives the lure a running depth of 4 to 6 feet. The Cabela`s Deep Hot Metal Walleye Runner is one of the best lures for walleye because of its strong metal lips, the equally strong flash, high capacity searching action, rigged hooks and overall design which makes it float at rest in deep and shallow waters. Metal fishing spoons work very well with pike because they are easy to cast and bite onto. While it yields a rather tight wiggle overall, the top of the back tilts wildly, and the tail also produces a lot of action. Spring trolling for walleye is much slower than the summer and fall months. It features a 35-degree angle in the body, that's thicker in the middle, which makes it easy to rock the lure back and forth when you retrieve it. Bouncers in the two to three ounce range work well and allow you to keep the bait close to the boat. Both are guaranteed to trigger bites, especially as the lure suspends and comes to a roll at rest, providing a vulnerable target that’s impossible for pike to ignore. I especially like the suspending version when spicing things up with twitches, pauses, and pulls. It can be confusing and overwhelming to those without years of experience. A fat, conditioned crawler is key! Serve these walleye fish cakes with homemade blue cheese aioli or blue cheese salad dressing. The spoon can also be jigged, trolled, or twitched to accommodate different preferences and weather conditions. As well as walleye, this lure is highly effective when used on bass, pike, and zander.A range of colors and sizes are available, including eye-catching chartreuse. The lineup offers several sizes from 2½ to 3¾ inches, plus a jointed model. Yes, these baits are notoriously needy of tuning, both when new and while on the job. This is because their framed design helps to keep weeds away from the hook, therefore reducing your chances of getting stuck. Expanding the lineup, the Hot 'N Tot MadFlash version brings external scale patterns, 3-D eyes, and flashier finishes to the table — including four UV Bright options. When the weather’s overcast or you’re fishing in dirty water, opt for highly visible color patterns like Redhead or Firetiger instead. Available in 2- and 2½-inch sizes and 23 colors. Trolling tackle doesn't need to be expensive to be functional and last for ages. This, coupled with a bit slimmer profile than many shad baits, makes it a great addition to the arsenal. review process here. This is a great big-bite bait, thanks partly to its size and profile. Either way, the bait's near-bulletproof, high-density foam body stands up to plenty of hard hits from hungry 'eyes. 10 Walleye Trolling Baits to Try This Year. The lure is equipped with a single jig hook and a trailing treble hook that’s cleverly hidden in the bucktail for hooking short-striking pike. Pike Movement and Habitat: Summer vs. Winter, Walleye Fish Cakes with Blue Cheese Aioli Recipe, Selecting a Bumping Rod and Reel for Catfish, Bottom Bouncers: Going Retro for Walleyes, Walleye Rod-and-Reel Combos That Won't Break the Bank, 10 Best Crankbaits For Walleye Fishing of All Time, Hobie MirageDrive 360 Kayak Propulsion: Amazing Control and Power, The True Story of the Bass Boat Hero Who Broke the Internet. For the purposes of this piece, we'll focus on deep-bodied, lipped baits (as opposed to slender minnowbaits, a story we'll save for another day). ", Best Spinnerbait: Booyah Pikee Spinnerbait at Amazon, "This half ounce spinnerbait is almost guaranteed to generate a frenzy. Jessica Macdonald lives in South Africa's Eastern Cape province and has been TripSavvy's Africa Expert since 2016. by Pros4- 1Source's Dave Landahl. The best walleye lures in the spring are bright colors like:-red-chartreuse-white-or yellow You can find walleyes in the spring by trolling slowly along the shoreline, but be careful not to go back and forth too much or you will risk spooking the fish. Little is known about the effects of softbait ingestion on bass. The body is made of premium Balsa wood. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products and services; you can learn more about our The next most important factor in a walleye trolling reel is the drag. ", Best Bucktail Jig: Northland Tackle Bionic Bucktail Fishing Jig at Amazon, "Ideal for trolling along drop-offs and weedlines in search of lurking pike. Four sizes are available, with the 2-inch #5 and 2¾-inch #7 staples of the walleye trade. Patterns include clown, glass ghost, and olive green. ", Best Jerkbait: Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait XR10 Fishing Lure at Bass Pro Shops, "Guaranteed to trigger bites, especially as the lure suspends and comes to a roll at rest", Best Swimbait: Strike King Shadalicious Swimbait at Amazon, "Its soft plastic body allows it to accurately mimic the natural swimming action of smaller fish. Do pike under ice cover choose the same types of habitats they use in summer? Of the four sizes, the 1¾-inch #4 is a favorite. It is available in a wide range of colors but you can choose brighter colors depending on the day. Six sizes and 15 stock colors offer plenty of options, but the 6A and 7A, which are 2 1/8 and 2 5/8 inches long, and dive 6 to 10 feet, collectively, can handle almost anything. Often, I dare say that speed and depth is often even more important than the lure. A rattle adds to the attraction, but holographic, baitfish-inspired finishes such as Natural Perch and Purple Smelt are a real score, especially in clear conditions. I still like to troll in slight S-curves. First, get the depth right or everything else is moot. This highly-reviewed soon is designed for long casts. A slow retrieve or trolling speed brings out the life in these lures and makes them absolutely deadly on fall walleye. Made in the USA, this is a classic lure that has proven irresistible to pike (and other freshwater gamefish) for over 100 years. The Northland Tackle Bionic Bucktail Fishing Jig is ideal for trolling along drop-offs and weedlines in search of lurking pike, or for targeting trophy fish in deep water. Late Summer Trolling for Walleye 0. Trolling speed is a huge factor to experiment with as trolling speed combined with lure running depth is usually more important than lure color. The best walleye lures for trolling will be crankbaits, spinners, small flatfish lures and Rapala's. All Rights Reserved. Balance is the goal when tipping jigs with trailers. Made of durable plastic material, this lure comes in 6 inch or 7-inch sizes, so it's big enough for northern pike to grab onto. If the walleye are sitting deep in the water, add a bottom bouncer in order to get the bait down to the fish's level. At 11” and 7 ounces, the Musky Innovations Magnum Swimmin’ Dawg is made with serious pike and muskies in mind.