Trolling is one of the most effective techniques for catching walleye in large open water lakes, sprawling Western reservoirs and North American rivers. No matter if spring comes early or stays late; spring pre- or post-spawn or winter; trolling covers more water while keeping lures within striking range of potential walleye.
Crankbaits
Trolling crankbaits is an effective technique for targeting walleye during open water season. A variety of lures can be trolled using this technique; most anglers opt for minnow-shaped crankbaits and stickbaits when trolling crankbaits.
Crankbaits are lures that are used to imitate the movement of prey fish that would normally swim around on their own, imitating its movements by pausing, darting and swimming in place to simulate lifelike movements like live bait fish would make. Their ability to do this makes these lures so effective at drawing walleye into striking.
Opting for the appropriate crankbait size when trolling for walleye is of equal importance. Each crankbait is built for specific speeds, and selecting an appropriate line size helps regulate how quickly or slowly its bait is pulled through the water column – for instance, lures designed for 3mph will run about 12 feet deeper than those rated 2mph.
Walleye anglers who use lead core line to troll for walleye often depend on it to get their crankbaits to their target depths. This type of line is composed of segments of lead core woven through monofilament backing and fluorocarbon leader; Precision Trolling Data LLC offers Android and iPhone apps which provide information about diving depths of popular crankbaits when fished using 18-pound test lead core.
Anglers looking to catch walleye in late summer and fall often find success by targeting areas near the thermocline. By targeting these specific spots, chances of catching fish increase significantly.
Mastering boat control is essential to success when bottom bouncing, dragging jigs or trolling crankbaits. A steady cruising speed, proper trim settings and positioning the vessel on the water surface are essential components of efficient trolling that extend your fishing time.
Planer boards are indispensable when trolling crankbaits. Used correctly, these devices enable anglers to spread lines out across the water column and increase their chances of drawing strikes from fish. Off Shore Tackle’s OR12 Side-Planer board is perfect for trolling crankbaits; its inline planer design enables it to be tripped when hooked by eliminating having to clear other lines from its board when fighting and landing a fish.
Jigs
Jigs are an excellent way to troll walleye using lures similar to those they would use open water, providing anglers with an easy way to mimic prey movement with minimal effort and variety of sizes to accommodate different prey species. Jigs can also be fished effectively using live or artificial baits; popular models for trolling walleye include Rapala Deep Husky Jerk, Bandit Deep Walleye and Reef Runner models; the Bill Lewis Precise Walleye Crank is another effective jig combination offering combined features from these models; making this fishery ideal.
Walleye jig fishing typically begins in late October and continues producing world-class action until ice covers up the waterway in late December or even January. Saginaw Bay stands out as an exceptional walleye fishery producing world-class action even into these late stages of its season.
For successful cold water walleye trolling in the fall, it’s key to adopt a different mindset and approach. Crankbaits that work best under these conditions tend to be quite specific – once these options have been exhausted they become ineffective quickly.
As this fishery involves trolling for walleye, traditional walleye trolling spreads typically include three boards for every angler; however, due to boat limitations the maximum number of rods that can be pulled is limited. A good solution would be running a six-rod spread with two anglers in Michigan waters and three in Ohio waters – this allows you to cover more of the lake while leaving enough space in your spread for potential hooked fish!
As the season advances and forage species change, it is wise to adapt your trolling lures accordingly. Doing this allows you to target new areas or groups of walleye that might be less aggressive.
Add scent to your presentation for even greater success, for instance by trolling with the Trophy Perch Super Gel which produces an effective stream of yellow perch scent – an often sought-after forage minnow in many Great Lakes fisheries.
Spinnerbaits
Trolling baits behind a moving boat to mimic live prey is one of the classic trolling tactics for walleye, and must be properly presented and rigged in order to be taken up by fish. Once done properly, this technique can produce world-class fishingeries. In order to use it effectively several factors must be present including understanding where walleye are staging on depth charts as well as having access to suitable lures and techniques as well as proper equipment.
Crankbaits used for trolling walleye are among the most effective lures available, including Smithwick Perfect 10, Rapala Deep Husky Jerk 12 and Bandit Deep Walleye as well as various Berkley Flicker Minnow and Reef Runner 800 series baits with subtle action at slower trolling speeds that more closely replicate natural, slow-striking baitfish.
Stickbaits, designed to be retrieved at a faster pace and create more of a “flicking” action to trigger walleye bites, can also be effective. The new TF Gear XL-Series stickbaits are among the best examples; their conical bait keeper makes setup quick and secure while their detailed heads add visual appeal while premium blades produce an irresistibly attractive vibration pattern that walleye simply cannot resist.
Utilizing a line-counter reel is key to optimizing spinnerbait trolling strategy and will ensure lures are presented at optimal depth for maximum effectiveness. A trolling boat equipped with a planer board provides the optimal way of doing this and will enable you to spread out lures, increasing chances of encountering walleye in their area.
Trolling for walleye in late season requires significant time and effort, including selecting appropriate lures and presentation methods. Anglers should also keep in mind that cold waters, big waves and windy conditions could quickly turn a simple outing into a life-threatening one if conditions deteriorate quickly; always bring along a small bag of dry sand for de-icing your launch ramp if it freezes up unexpectedly.
Bladed Jig Heads
As walleyes move into late season spawning mode on Michigan’s Great Lakes, trolling often becomes the go-to method. Crankbaits dragged behind the boat can mimic wounded minnow action of baitfish prey to trigger strikes from walleyes that have grown tired of cold conditions or just have an increased hunger level than usual. These conditions are perfect for soft paddle tail lures like Smithwick Jigging Rap or Rapala Husky Jerk 14. Tungsten bladed jig heads also work well, as their blades can add paddle tail action without altering action of crankbait.
Success when trolling for walleyes lies in diversity and consistency. Be ready to switch lures or adjust trolling speeds according to conditions, once you find an approach that is working it’s best to stick with it; but once the bite dies down it may be time for something new.
If the wind or chop becomes too strong to permit comfortable fishing, you might consider moving further out from shore. This will give your crankbaits room to work without being blown off course or caught by current. As soon as you move further from shore, being able to read the water becomes even more important.
Along with adapting lure selection and trolling speed to changing conditions, it’s also key to monitor conditions throughout the day and remain flexible. Wind, water clarity and temperature variations can significantly impact how lures work and produce strikes; having an accurate way of tracking temperature in your boat and carrying extra ice just in case prevents hypothermia from setting in.
Though open water trolling for walleyes is popular, many anglers also appreciate the advantages provided by an in-line planer board. Unlike traditional planer boards which hang from the bow, in-line models are situated directly beneath the boat and can quickly be tripped to change lures or adjust depth of crankbaits quickly and without interrupting any lines in your trolling pattern. Being able to trip it allows for unhooked fish battles and landing without interrupting other lines during trolling patterns.
