Walleye Fishing Tips

If you are planning a walleye fishing excursion there certain things you might want to keep in mind before you cast that line into the water.

Walleyes have been known to be cautious eaters, but oftentimes, when the fish tries to bite, it’s the angler that gets excited and loses the plot. This is a common problem, the solution to which lies in a two pronged approach. For one, you have to understand the eating habits of Walleye. In some cases, a walleye will slash the bait like a muskie or pike would do. But generally, walleyes tend to swim up to the bait with flared gills, inhaling it along with the surrounding water and if they sense anything untoward at this point, you will get a short strike or no bite at all.

The second part of the solution is for you to change your presentation in the best possible way so as to minimize resistance in the lure cum line combo. Here are a few tips to help you achieve the same:

When Walleye fishing, go light with the Line: One of the best ways to minimize drag or resistance on a lure is to use a light, smaller diameter line. Preferably something that is good enough for a 4 to 6 pound test. A light line is critical because it lets the walleye suck the lure in without much effort.

Use a Bottom Bait Bouncer: If you plan on using live bait, experts recommend doing so with a bottom-bouncer rig. A bouncer is basically an L-shaped wire with a lead weight attached to the shaft. When you use a bouncer, the weight bounces off the bottom as you retrieve the line. The bouncing motion creates a slack in the line which enables the fish to inhale the bait without much trouble.

Use Short Strokes: A common mistake that many fishermen make is to pump the rod using long vertical strokes that can tug the bait out of the walleye’s mouth. This is why it’s recommended that you use shorter gentler strokes in order to hook the fish effectively.

Try to offer larger bait to the fish so that there’s a greater surface area which will be acted upon by the sucking force of the walleye. The same effect can also be derived by adding a plastic body to the jig. The greater the surface area of the bait, the easier it is for the fish to draw it in.

Go with the Flow: While fishing, if you find that the surface of the water is choppy, then you should try and roll with the waves as it provides that critical bit of slack to the line. The more relaxed your line, the greater your chances of landing walleyes in your boat.

Walleye fishing can be extremely rewarding if done right. So remember the abovementioned tips, and outfit yourself with the right fishing gear the next time you go walleye hunting and reap or should I say reel in the benefits. Happy fishing!