how to catch walleye in small lakes

All work. Typically, he uses -ounce jigs and 4-inch tails, but he'll sometimes go larger or smaller, depending on the situation. Fish at a depth of about 3-8 feet (0.9-2 m), depending on the depth of the body of water. The best lures for walleye dive quickly, have faster action, and maintain their depth well when paused. "Peak times to catch walleye, throw early morning out the window because water temperatures rising is what gets fish moving," he said. The best seem to be in 15 feet to 25 feet, but it varies. Most anglers will use either some live bait or artificial lures in order to catch walleye, and sometimes even a combination of both. These include shiners, fathead minnows, and chubs. Here are a few of the best rigs for shore fishing for walleye: 1. For shallow, dirty water (3 to 6 feet), I like to use a bigger blade with no weight and pull it at speeds of 1.2 mph to 1.4 mph." Big spinner blades get the nod when fishing walleyes in dirty water. Three to five-inch minnow plugs are very effective when walleyes move into shallow water. On early fall days when water temperatures are warmer, a trolling speed between 1.2 mph to 1.8 mph is generally best. I like to start by finding points, sunken islands, or structure that sticks out towards the main lake basin. The deep-diving husky jerk is similar to the bandit and is also used by many walleye charter boats in the Great Lakes. The big females generally only come shallow in the spring when they are up along the shore, in rivers or over sandbars, which are their favorite places to spawn. Although the average is four pounds, there have been reports of walleye in excess of ten pounds or more coming from the waters. The depth of a hole is relative to the average depth of the particular river you are fishing. Anchor at the edge of a drop off and cast up into 4 to 8 feet of water. A successsful day will involve at least a few lure changes, so be prepared with several colors and sizes. However, water temperature differences can still mean the difference of fish spawning in early April or early May in this part of the country. Walleye, a northern fish that are excellent to eat, were first introduced to Canton Lake in the early 1960's. The Wildlife Department brought in walleye from Ohio to stock in Oklahoma lakes to . In one dark, turbid weedy lake I fish walleyes are shallow 3-5" (even sunny midday) all summer long even though weeds go out to 8-10' they hang on shallow reef tops and INSIDE the weed line and up to quick dropping shorelines. We. In deep lakes that stratify a turnover happens in the fall- (your lake probably does not stratify) warmer water will pool deeper and fish will mostly stay in that warmer water. Crankbaits and jigging spoons work well when walleyes are deep. Season. BioSpawn ExoSwm Wind pushing onto flats can be some of the easiest places to locate high percentage night fishing walleyes. Making this angling especially alluring is the fact that some of the best walleye action of the year takes place in fall and winter. You can also find them in the river current. How to Catch Walleye. The fishing team are now co-defendants. The extra throttle allows you to not only cover more water, but it also seems to cut down on the "undesirable bycatch" (small walleyes and trout) that slower speeds are more prone to bring. Another walleye rule of thumb in the wintertime is to fish shallow early and late, and go deeper during the day. Once big enough, the fingerling walleye are then stocked in four other Oklahoma lakes: Altus-Lugert, Skiatook, Oologah and Kaw. Top rivers include the New, Roanoke, Staunton, Clinch, Mattaponi, Appomattox, and James rivers, as well as Swift Creek. Walleye Fishing 101: Be Relentless. In fact, many of the nation's best walleye fisheries are still ice . The right lure or bait will also depend on the time of year and the depths at which the fish are living. > Just barely skin hook the minnows with hook point facing the head most fish will eat it head first, so this increases hook-ups for sure. The spike can, in no small way, be attributed to the 2015 walleye spawn, which was one of the most successful in the history of the lake. All you need is a baitcasting reel, a length of line, and a couple of hooks. Watch as Jon shares tips and. Rapala X-Rap Shad The X-Rap Shad runs in 6-11 feet of water, and when you pause your retrieve, it suspends right where the action is. You may not land as many giants in these smaller waters, but river walleyes fight harderan 18-incher on light line in only 6 feet of flowing water will give you a run for your money. Secondly, how such a small stinger hook can stick a bit walleye and keep it buttoned up to the net. And of the two, I generally find that current areas are the most reliable. When walleye spawn depends on two factors: length of day and water temperature. Spring Walleye Trolling Tips. Take walleye ice fishing during the prime time witching hours of sunrise and sunset on so many lakes. Normally in the spring, I rarely fish deeper than 10 feet of water. Heavy insect hatches can actually let you catch walleyes on Dry flies. Sticky sharp hooks and two well-placed line ties make the Hammer Head Jig both user-friendly and highly effective for catching walleye. Keep an eye on the rod tip, as walleye can pull hard when they bite. When you catch a big Walleye, big meaning over 6-pounds, there is a 95% chance that it's a female. Just hover around the water with your boat and keep the line behind the boat. A walleye has the highest temperature tolerance range of most any fish. This spring has been much cooler and windier than normal across much of the walleye belt. Therefore, the technique you choose depends on the location. Trolling around rock piles and large flats will get a number of fish showing attention to your baits. Popular lures include: Trolling Lures. One big key is to fish them in low-light to pitch dark, when light-shy walleyes come into shallower water to feed on smaller crappie, perch and other prey species. Using a medium to deep-diving crankbait that closely resembles the kind of bait fish you're likely to find in the body of water where you're fishing is a great way to hook up on a hungry walleye. Wading out into the water or crossing a river to get to a nearby sandbar can give you an edge on locating male walleye or large females. "It's a fun way to catch walleyes," he says. According to Faust, while nobody can say for certain what generates ideal spawning conditions . Jigging. Lake Vermilion has plenty of rocks and the walleye will relate to them. In spring, you can find walleye along sandy shallow areas 3-10 feet (0.91-3.0 m) from the shore of lakes and rivers. In the spring and summer you want to fish weeds or rocks. You can find walleye congregating around holes throughout much of the year. A great tool to help you find them is a lake map, which can give you a highly detailed picture of the underwater landscape. But, they are also one of the first species to succumb to a sudden drop in oxygen levels. Deep weeds also hold daytime walleyes, offering a place to hide from the sun and ambush prey. Minnows between 3-5 inches range produce the expected result when walleye fishing. 8. It also rides smoothly in choppy waters and tracks well in windy conditions. Sometimes the current is natural, like you'll find in a flowage or a headwater lake. Most walleye fishing in spring is in fairly shallow water. I can work these blades behind in-line weights at speeds of .8 mph to 1.4 mph. 1) Fish Shallow Water for Walleyes. Bull Shoals Lake Another . Getting a boat into such skinny water without spooking edgy 'eyes may be next to impossible. During the fall months, walleye move into the shallows to feed on small bream and yellow perch. > Run a long leader (10+ ft) of 12-lb fluoro to the tip-up linedon't want any of the tip-up line in the water column. Crankbaits are another solid option for catching walleye, especially for anglers who wish to troll. Trolling with minnow lures and shad raps is good also. Or, use a split shot to take a nightcrawler and small spinner down to the weeds. After that period is over, fish quit roaming and you quit seeing fish because no new fish are coming in. Once summer temperatures set in, you're going to find walleye on the points and offshore on rocky structures. Use a lake map to find walleye If you're fishing on larger bodies of water, it can be very challenging to find walleye haunts - especially on a lake you're not familiar with. I will usually rig my minnows using a slip-float system or a drop shot rig. Before that inspection, the pair had been poised to win the competition and team of the year honors, with a total prize of $28,760. Your primary walleye baits are mid-sized stickbaits and shad baits, running from 3 to 8 feet deep. For the worm option, use your thumbnail to pinch off a small 1-2 section of the worm. In 2022, there are 900. Walleye are difficult to catch and many anglers spend their entire lives after . Big Creek Lake. Trolling in the spring isn't a heck of a lot different than the summer or fall. Establish a milk run of good spots and fish through the spots fast and be willing to leave a spot after catching a few fish. The only real difference is the real estate you're fishing. Of course, there's always lakes that can produce all day or all night but that's where I start. and 1/8 Oz. In 2017, a 28-inch, 12-pound walleye was caught in Big Creek Lake by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Walleye hide out in deep areas close to spawning sites during the pre-spawn period. As active as these night-hunting walleye can be, they are quick to spook when they sense company. Cast your line out into the river and wait for a walleye to hit your lure. The idea is to work the lure with plenty of twitches, pauses and jerks to help walleyes locate your bait and eat. Once you locate them, choose the best walleye lures for fishing that depth and cover. Look for sand near rocky embankments, tree stumps, or other objects in the water. The best water temperature to catch walleye at is between 65-70 but any temperature above 35 will yield walleye willing to bite. Baiting your Hook. Joe Cermele Raised in Walter World. It comes in size 10 which is a 4-inch lure that dives 7-16 feet and size 12 that is a 4-3/4 inches long and dives 8-19 feet deep. Ranger Z518 - This boat is specifically designed for walleye fishing and comes loaded with features that anglers will love. Try casting live baits like minnows and nightcrawlers into the shallows and flats. Locate an area when the lake is necked-down or where there's . Trolling with nightcrawler harnesses (spinner rigs) is the preferred method in reservoirs during the summer months. In most lakes, walleye are among the first fish to do so. The top 7 walleye fishing tips 1. The more time you spend chasing river walleyes, the more you'll sharpen your hunting instincts, but these tips from Gierke will shorten the learning curve. Walleye Stizostedion vitreum Prefers slightly stained to murky water with little or no current. If fishing from a boat, ease in to areas and use an electric engine. Jig fishing can be an easy way to fish, certainly effective and relaxing. Casting artificial lures imitating their fall food favorites is a good way to draw the attention of a hungry walleye. Website: theanglerschoiceguideservice.com. Keep in mind moon phases can impact your success. . Here is a list of the best walleye fishing boats available today: 1. Lake Erie guides have turned trolling into an art, with a lot of different approaches to try out. Current attracts walleye in the fall especially. In spring, target the sand and gravel drop-offs at the deep edge of bars at the mouth of creek arms. The smaller males seem to stay in the 2 to 15 foot range all year. Weed beds, ledges, and drop-offs are all popular Walleye hiding places and you'll probably be fishing around them. Dave Smith, of Oswego, caught and released this impressive, 32-inch walleye fishing . 1) Minnows. It's simple to use and can be very effective. The smart thing to do is experiment, and when you find a technique you like hone that skill. In this short tip video Larry explains the proper technique on how to jig walleyes in current. Walleye fishing is big business along Lake Erie. The deeper the fish, the more active they'll be during the day. 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