Lake of the Woods is located in both the United States and Canada. It’s one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and it’s an excellent place to catch walleyes. Night fishing is recommended for this species because this is when they feed the most aggressively. This is due to their excellent eyesight that gives them an advantage over their prey at night. Nevertheless, fishing on windy days when the waves break up the sunlight in the water and overcast days can prove to be quiet effective as well.
Like most species, the walleye will be the most aggressive during the spring right before spawning season but this is not the only time when you can reel in a nice catch. With the following five Lake of the Woods walleye fishing secrets, you can reel in a mess of fish any time of the year:
1. Sometimes the walleye will not completely take the bait. When this happens and you try to set the hook you pull it out of its mouth and end up losing the catch. The way to correct this problem is by leaving a little slack in the line. Going over the waves when trolling in choppy water will create just enough slack in the line that the walleye will completely take the bait so that when you set the hook, it will be secured.
2. When fishing Lake of the Woods for this species, use lightweight fishing line and a small hook and make sure the bait completely surrounds the hook. Walleyes can see very well and if the hook is sticking out of the bait too much or if the fishing line is too thick, they will see it and swim away.
3. Bottom-bouncer rigs are an excellent tool that can help you catch more walleyes. The weight will bounce up and down on the bottom of the lake creating a little slack in your line. The bouncing action captures the attention of the walleye and the slack it creates allows them time to swallow the bait so you can set the hook more securely.
4. Set the hook with several short strokes instead of one hard jerk and this will secure the hook and help you avoid pulling it out of its mouth and losing your catch.
5. Use a slow presentation when seeking out this species. It gives them tine to focus on the bait creating more bites.
Both live and artificial baits can be used for catching this species. If using live bait, try minnows, worms and crayfish. These seem to always get the attention of the walleye regardless of the type of water you’re fishing in or the season you go fishing. Some of the best artificial baits to use for walleyes in this lake include spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs and soft plastics that imitate worms and minnows.
Spring and fall is the best time to go fishing simply because this is when the walleyes are the most plentiful and the most aggressive. However, you can reel in a nice catch during the summer and winter as well but you may have to put a little more effort into it. For example, in the summer, you’ll need to look for the walleye in the deeper parts of the water. In the winter, you’ll need to have more patience and use slower presentations.
The Lake of the Woods is one of the best places to go when you want to enjoy fishing for walleyes. The environment is perfect for this species to grow and thrive. Not only are they plentiful in this lake but the scenery is gorgeous. You get to sit back and relax in one of the most peaceful surroundings found anywhere in the world while doing something you enjoy.
You can use a variety of techniques when fishing this lake all with great success. Trolling, casting, jigging and drift fishing are the most commonly used techniques for this area. Choose the one that suits you the best based on the gear you have available. You can go out on a boat or fish from shore all with great success.
Keep in mind that when fishing in clear water you need to take extra precautions to not scare the fish away.
Since they can see so well, they can see you if you get too close. Talking too loud or making a lot of unnecessary noise will also scare them away. Taking a few precautions can make a big difference in the number of walleyes you reel in each trip.
When fishing, always take precautions to stay safe. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and let your guard down but this is when the most accidents occur. Follow all of the rules and regulations regarding the lake, stay safe and have a great time reeling in the walleyes when fishing Lake of the Woods.