Walleye Fishing Techniques

Walleye (Sander vitreus) are one of North America's most sought-after gamefish, prized for their excellent table quality and sporting challenge. Their large, reflective eyes give them superior low-light vision, making them primarily crepuscular (dawn/dusk) feeders.

Native to Canada and the northern United States, walleye have been widely stocked and now inhabit waters across the continent. They typically range from 14-20 inches but can exceed 30 inches and 15 pounds in productive waters.

Walleye have a reflective layer (tapetum lucidum) behind their retinas that amplifies light, giving them exceptional vision in low-light conditions. This adaptation influences when and where they feed:

• Low-light feeding: Most active at dawn, dusk, and night
• Light sensitivity: Seek shade, depth, or turbid water during bright conditions
• Color perception: See orange, yellow, and green well; red appears as a dark color in deep water

Understanding this adaptation is crucial for timing your fishing and selecting lure colors.

Jigging is the most versatile and popular walleye technique:

Vertical Jigging:

• Position boat directly over structure using electronics
• Lower jig to bottom, lift 6-12", pause, let fall
• Most strikes occur on the fall or pause
• Effective year-round, especially cold water

Pitch Jigging:

• Cast jig to structure and hop it back
• Maintain bottom contact while swimming jig
• Cover more water than vertical approach

Jig Styles:

• Ball head jigs: General purpose
• Stand-up jigs: Keep bait off bottom
• Fireball-style jigs: Float plastic or live bait

Live bait rigs are deadly for pressured or finicky walleye:

Lindy Rig:

• Slip sinker ahead of swivel, 3-6' leader to hook
• Allows walleye to take bait without feeling weight
• Crawl slowly along bottom in 8-15' depth

Slip Bobber Rig:

• Bobber stop, bead, slip float, split shot, hook
• Suspends bait at precise depth
• Excellent for scattered fish or when anchored

Live Bait Selection:

• Minnows: Fathead, shiners, or chubs - most versatile
• Leeches: Excellent summer bait, hook through sucker end
• Nightcrawlers: Work year-round, inject air for flotation

Trolling covers water efficiently to locate active walleye:

Crankbait Trolling:

• Use diving depth charts to reach target zone
• Vary speed (1.5-3 mph) to find what fish want
• Shad, perch, and fire tiger patterns produce

Spinner Rigs:

• Slow-death rigs, worm harnesses, and crawler rigs
• Troll 0.8-1.5 mph with bottom bouncers
• Blade color and size affect attraction

Depth Control:

• Snap weights for precise depth
• Lead core line for reaching deep
• Planer boards for covering width

Night fishing can be extremely productive, especially in summer:

• Location: Walleye move shallow (2-10') at night to feed
• Structure: Sand flats, rock reefs, and weed edges
• Techniques: Slip bobbers, shallow crankbaits, and wading with jigs
• Colors: Dark or glow colors visible against moonlit surface

River Walleye:

• Relate to current breaks - eddies, wing dams, tailwaters
• Face upstream to ambush prey
• Vertical jigging in current seams is effective
• Three-way rigs bounce bait along bottom

Lake Walleye:

• Structure-oriented - points, humps, reefs, weed edges
• Trolling patterns cover water efficiently
• Slip bobbers over deep structure
• Electronics crucial for locating fish