Walleye are most active in the morning and evening it’s obvious this is the best time to fish for them. They usually feed on small yellow perch, trout, small mouth bass, northern pike or sunfish so you can often find them around schools of these fish. Walleye eat a lot and they a very aggressive fish and are not very picky, which is good news for fisherman targeting these species.
Fish for Walleyes around submerged rocks, weedy flats and other underwater structure, Walleye have great eyesight and they use it. They often retreat to darker shadowed areas or deeper darker areas where they can lay in wait and ambush prey. So the use of brightly colored lures is a must.
Walleyes like to suspend in water at temperatures between 55 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit so in the cooler months you will find them in shallow waters, while in the warmer months you will find them in deeper water though usually not deeper than 50 feet.
Freshwater Lures for Fishing Walleye
Jigs
Jigs would have to be the number one choice walleye lures as there a simple bait to fish and jigs provide a presentation that is close to the bottom where Walleye spend most of their time foraging.
A good all round Jig for Walleye would be a leaded head jig which can be tipped with a number of different options. Some of the most popular are twister tails, plastic grubs and shad bodies. Also you will want to find a happy medium between a small enough jig for the walleye to inhale and a jig which has enough weight to stay near the bottom.
For shallow water less than 10 feet a 1/8 oz jig should be fine, though if the conditions are windy or the water is a bit deeper you may want to use a ¼ oz jig. Maintaining contact with the bottom is the key to catching walleye, and experimenting with different lifts, and drags of the bait, will upgrade your catch significantly.
If the fish are inactive; this is common in colder weather, you are better off tipping with live bait like live minnows, worms or leeches, though if the fish are in an aggressive mood a plastic body will do the trick. For water between 10 – 25 feet it’s better to use a ½ oz jig.
Crankbaits
Choosing a Crankbait can be difficult, but there are a few points to keep in mind when specifically targeting walleye. Pick thin-profile bait that averages between three and five-inches in length. Stay away from the short stubby baits that are generally used for bass, as the walleyes natural forage species is typically thin and long.
Choosing Walleye Lures with built-in rattles can help a walleye hone in on your lure, and will produce sound that can be beneficial in murky water. Color combination's can be endless, but the rule of thumb is to present a natural colored bait when faced with clear water, and turn to brighter colors when fishing stained or deep water. My best success has come on the natural perch and baby bass finishes, as well as chartreuse, red and green. Experimentation is the key in deciding what the resident walleye prefer.
Spinnerbaits
Spinners are the old favourites for Walleye Lures and they continue to still catch fish. They are a versatile lure in that they can be cast or trolled, and exhibit flash and sound characteristics that walleye seem to love.
The standard size spinner to throw for walleye is the # 3, although upgrading to a # 4 can be beneficial if the water is very fast moving or murky. Tipping the treble hook with a piece of worm will produce a scent trail that can garner strikes from inactive or skittery fish.
Some of the better-known brands of spinners are manufactured by Mepps and Blue Fox and are available in a multitude of colors. Black, silver and chartreuse are my top three producers and have become my "go to" baits when faced with tough conditions.
