The walleye is an amazing species that put up an incredible challenge. They’re often referred to as an elusive species because it can be difficult to detect when you have a bite. Once you do hook one, you’re in for one heck of a fight. On top of being a fun and exciting species to catch, they also make a great tasting meal, which is another reason so many anglers enjoy fishing for them.

Walleyes have large glassy eyes that allow them to see well in the dark so they normally feed the most aggressively at night when they have a huge advantage over their prey. However, this doesn’t mean the only time they can be caught is at night. Using the right methods and bait, you can catch walleyes most anytime but seeking them out in the direct sunlight is not recommended. They avoid direct sunlight and they’re much harder to find during this time.

One of the best methods to use when fishing for walleyes is trolling. This is so popular because it allows you to cover a lot of ground fast making it possible to find the fish faster. When trolling, you’ll be using several rods at once. This allows you to fish with a variety of baits and fish different depths at the same time, which greatly enhances your fishing trip.

If you’re new to trolling or just looking for ways to make your fishing trips more productive, here are five tips to try when trolling for walleyes that can help increase the number of fish you catch:

1. Don’t make the mistake of using more fishing rods than you and your crew can handle. If you have a lot of them, it may seem like you’ll get more bites. However, you’ll actually be reducing the number of catches you reel in because you’ll most likely miss most of the bites trying to jump from one rod to another. It will end up making the fishing trip more stressful than fun and entertaining.
2. The color of the lures that you use can make a difference in the amount of success you have. It’s vital that you choose the color based on the water condition and the depth at which you’re fishing. For example, dark colors tend to work best in clear water and bright or florescent colors work best in murky water.
3. When trolling, you’ll be covering a lot ground but when you run across a location where the walleyes are biting. Stop for awhile. Drop anchor and fish until you no longer get a bite and then you can begin trolling again.
4. Invest in good quality rod holders. This will make keeping up with your fishing rods much easier and protect them as well. You can’t tell when you have a bite if the fishing rod is lying flat on the boat and poor quality holders can easily break and cause problems.
5. Don’t get discourage if you’re not very successful your first few attempts. Learning how to troll successfully takes time and lots of patience. The more you practice, the better you’ll become.

Learning all you can about walleyes will also help to make your trolling experience more productive. It will help you determine where to troll and which baits will be the most effective. Learning their seasonal patterns will make it easier to find them any time of the year. Many anglers use a GPS system to help mark out the hotspots and record where they can be found and when.

As a general rule, walleyes will be closer to the shore in the spring. They can usually be found around three to ten feet from the shoreline. In the summer, they move out to the deeper parts of the water to get away from the bright sunlight that shines through the water. In the fall, they tend to scatter out a little more and may be harder to find.

Walleyes have small mouths so be sure and use tackle small enough for them to get the bait in their mouth.
Experienced anglers recommend four to six pound test line as well. This will make it easier to feel when you get a bite so you won’t miss as many and they won’t be able to steal your bait away as often.

Trolling for walleyes is a great way to fish for this species because it’s a good way to catch some of the larger walleyes and to reel in higher numbers. Before you go fishing, take a little time to get prepared. Make sure you have all of your gear in order and that you have a few extras to make your fishing trip more enjoyable. For example, you’ll want to carry along a few snacks and beverages so you won’t get hungry or thirsty while on the water.