Walleye fishing is a sport all anglers can enjoy regardless of age but they are a challenging fish. This particular species is intelligent, making them harder to catch than some of the others but it also makes fishing more exciting. They have a light bite that is hard to detect and they won’t strike at anything that appears odd or out of place. Since they are so hard to catch, it gives you a real sense of accomplishment when you do reel one in.
Walleyes get their name from their eyes, which are large and similar to cat’s eyes because they allow them to see well at night. This gives them an advantage over their prey so they naturally seek out their prey during the night, the early morning, late evening and on cloudy or windy days when the waves keep the sunlight from shining into the water.
Walleye Fishing Techniques
You don’t need to be a professional to fish for walleyes but it does help to learn all you can about them before you hit the water. This will help to make you more productive when you do get out on the water. Knowing a few good walleye fishing techniques will also increase the number of fish you can reel in because you can try different things until you find what is getting the best results.
Here are five walleye fishing techniques you can use anytime you go fishing:
1. Trolling – This technique makes it easy to find the walleyes because you can cover a lot of ground fast. Since you use several rods when trolling, you can also fish different depths and use different bait at the same time. This will make it easier to find the walleyes and discover what gets their attention the fastest.
2. Troll With Downriggers – Downriggers allow you to place your bait at a certain depth and keep it in the strike zone. You can buy manual and electric downriggers and both types work well so either one is a great choice but the electric is easier to use.
3. Jigging – Jigging is one of the best techniques you can use when you have a good idea of where the walleyes are located. Jigging allows you to use colorful jigs that quickly gain attention while placing the bait into the water quietly so you don’t scare them away.
4. Bottom Bouncing – Bottom bouncing is simply bouncing your bait off the bottom of the water. This gets their attention very quickly and will often cause them to chase your bait leading to more bites.
5. Drift Fishing – Drift fishing involves casting your line in the water and allowing the current to move the bait through the area where the walleyes are in a natural manner, which entices more strikes.
Different techniques work better in different situations. Choose your technique based on when and where you’re fishing. Switch around and try different methods to learn what works the best in your area.
Fishing Tips for Reeling In More Walleyes
Walleyes can be hard to catch so along with using different techniques there are a few tips that can make your fishing trips more productive. Use a lightweight sensitive rod to help you know when you have a bite. You can also use a bobber, which is recommended when you go fishing in choppy water and use small tackle because walleyes have small mouths. The larger walleyes will be the most active at night so if you’re seeking out a trophy fish, this is the best time to go fishing.
Keep an eye on the weather before and during your trip. Even a small change in the weather will change how they react and where they will be hiding. For example, if you’re fishing on a cloudy day and the sun begins to shine, the walleyes will move to the shaded areas and to deep holes. Don’t allow the hook to stick through the bait and use thin fishing line when seeking out this species. Since they have such good eyesight, they will see these things and stay clear of them.
Keep a well-stocked and organized tackle box and this will help you be prepared each time you go fishing. It can be very frustrating to get out on the water and realize you forgot your extra fishing line or your new pack of hooks.
Keeping the tackle box organized will save you time when fishing because you won’t have to look for things. You’ll know exactly where it is. This will also help you keep up with what you have and you’ll know right away when something needs to be replaced.
Check your gear and the weather forecast before heading out to the water to make sure you have what you need and that it’s a good time to go fishing. Pack some snacks and beverages and you’re all set to reel in those fish.