You should gauge the color and clarity of the water before fishing. If the water is murky and dark you should use brighter colors, such as orange, chartreuse, or yellow. However, if the water is crystal clear, use darker or more neutral lures, such as black, white, or silver.

The next step is your casting or retrieval technique. In the spring and when the days are a little cooler, use a more aggressive retrieve. If you are casting, reel in your lure with quick, jerky motions. This will imitate the movements of an injured fish which can be very appealing to a hungry walleye. In the summer, you may want to reel in your line a little slower, as the fish tend to be a little sluggish and lazy. As well, when you are trolling, you can use a combination of these two methods.

Troll your line quite a distance behind your boat so that the motor doesn’t spook the fish. Run your motor at a very slow speed and use an S or zig-zag pattern over an open area of water. Walleye will often hide in the weeds during summer, so you can also use this pattern over thick weed beds. Just make sure that you do not sink your line right inside the weeds. Instead, troll just outside the weeds or over the top.

Fishing for walleye in the winter can definitely be challenging and exciting for both the seasoned and rookie fisherman. You should start by drilling several holes starting from very close to shore – about 2 feet of water and expanding to about 30 feet or more. Dip your bait into the shallowest hole and suspend it about a foot or so above the lake bed.

Alternate between jerking the line and keeping it still; these movements will attract walleye. If you are not having any luck at your first hole, change holes every 15 minutes or so. Keep in mind that walleye can still see light through the ice, so keep lights and heaters at a minimum so that you do not spook them.

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