Walleye Fishing

Walleye is also a predatory fish as it starts feeding on tiny crustaceans like shrimps when newly hatched. As it grows older, it switches to nymphs then to fry and eventually to adult fish. Walleye is cannibalistic by nature but to a lesser degree than a pike.

Walleye was exclusive to Canada and the northern part of the United States. However, stocking other fishing lakes and rivers in the United States made it possible for walleye to thrive in almost of the country.  Since walleye hunts other fish for food and they in return are hunted by the larger pike fish, there is often disparity in balance between prey and predators in certain bodies of water. In most cases, the imbalance rights itself after years.Walleye prefers sandy and rocky bottoms of moderately deep lakes and rivers. It thrives in murky cold water with little or no current.  It will eat anything though it is partial to tasty live baits such as insects, worms and shrimps.   Walleye spawn during spring and are partial to migration to smaller feeder streams for the purpose. However, if migration is not viable, a sandbar or gravelbar will do.On average, an adult walleye can weigh from 2 to 5 pounds. An 8-pounder walleye is a trophy catch though the record since 1982 was a 22-pound walleye caught in Greer’s Ferry Lake near Little Rock, Arkansas.

ishing Tips for Walleye

Walleye is a smart fish.  It normally feeds during dusk and dawn but it can change its feeding pattern once it feels that there is distress in the water – as in an abundance of anglers.  An angler should be aware in the changes in the feeding pattern of walleye. He should locate sandbar, mud humps, weed bars, mouths of streams and lakes for possible hideouts of walleye.

Trolling is a great way to catch a walleye. Trolling or dragging a lure should be done ever so slowly so as not to spook a walleye in its lie near the bottom.  Jiggling the lure a bit is irresistible to the fish. Switching to dead bait for trolling using a boat is also effective.  The rod should be held lightly but tightly as a walleye is likely to strike anytime.  Walleye could pick up bait and reject it without an angler even knowing about it.

Though walleye feeds at night, it sometimes changes its feeding time. In spring and autumn, the first and last hours of darkness are the best time to fish.  In the summer walleye are usually in the shallows in the early hours of the day and tend to move into deeper water as the day progresses.  Winter fishing for walleye is at times best done at midnight.

During spawning time in spring, expect walleye in shallow water with sandbar or mud humps.  Walleye will also be partial to areas under dead branches and any other form of overhead covering.

Tackle, Baits and Lures

A spinning rod partnered with a spinning reel is a great combination for catching walleye.  A graphite rod from 6 ½ feet to 7 feet in length paired with a ten-pound test line is sufficient for catching walleye.

Dead baits are acceptable but lures such as jigs, plugs, spoons and spinners will do just fine.  When using plugs in shallow water, note that they should look like real meal.   There are probably hundreds of plugs and crankbaits available for anglers to choose from.

Where to fish for Walleye

Walleye is no longer exclusive to Northern America since the practice of introducing the specie to various lakes and rivers in the United States became popular. The state of Massachusetts has Connecticut and Merrimac Rivers as its main walleye habitat.  In Alabama there are a number of lakes that teem with walleye population like the Dannelly Reservoir and West Point Lake.  In Indiana the 14-pound walleye record was fished out of the Tippecanoe River.  Lake Michigan is also a favorite fishing ground for walleye. In Montana, Fort Peck Lake and Fresno Reservoir top the list of lakes with walleye population.

Resources:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?catalogId=10001&langId=-1&mode=article&objectID=29714&storeId=10151

http://www.walleyehunter.com/rods.html