Earlier than you may head down the street of selecting the perfect walleye lures to fill your deal with field, it’s important to perceive that walleye lure choice differs considerably from different species. For many bass anglers utilizing something however synthetic lures is just not acceptable. Whereas walleye anglers routinely use crawlers, minnows, and leeches in addition to crankbaits, jerkbaits, and glide baits. This mixture of synthetic lures and reside bait creates a ton of deal with choices. You get much more lure choices once you add in that walleye anglers typically break up their time between trolling, casting, and drifting.
Over my 20-year skilled angling profession, I’ve tried and caught fish on almost each walleye lure choice, and from that crop, I’ve picked six of the perfect walleye lures. These lures are all versatile baits that cowl the commonest walleye fishing circumstances.
Key Options
CompactGreat colour selectionOval head to chop currentWeight: 1/16 to 1 ounce1/0 and a couple of/0 hooks accessible
Why It Made the Lower
The Northland Fireplace-Ball Jig’s big selection of sizes makes it a flexible jig, and with sensible options like a brief shank huge hole hook for rigging massive reside bait and good hooksets, it’s a go-to walleye lure for professionals.
Execs
Sizes to suit each situationGreat colour selectionVery versatile
Cons
A high quality, however not premium hook
Product Description
If I had a nickel for every skilled walleye match high 10 end the Fireplace-Ball Jig has accounted for, I may simply retire. Because of the success and recognition of the unique Fireball, Northland has since added standup and lengthy shank fashions to accommodate almost any jigging state of affairs. Nevertheless, if you’re on the lookout for versatility, the unique continues to be the perfect all-around jig.
The unique Fireplace-Ball’s design permits you to fish it successfully with few points. The top design cuts present however doesn’t snag simply, whereas that includes a really huge hole hook to extra simply rig massive reside bait and enhance hookups. If fish are brief hanging, there’s an eye fixed behind the pinnacle that enables for a stinger hook to be connected.
Key Options
Holographic finishes for flashFoam floatTwo needlepoint hooks for brief strikes60-inch chief 14-pound take a look at chief
Why It Made the Lower
In case you can solely have one spinner for walleye fishing, go along with the Northland Baitfish Float’n Spin. It’s a flexible spinner that covers most conditions and is made with high quality elements.
Execs
Extraordinarily versatileReally good colour selectionGood elements
Cons
No quick-change clevis for fast blade swaps
Product Description
The Northland baitfish blades have been legendary for years for his or her fish catching mixture of flash and vibration. The addition of a float is just not so widespread and gives loads of colour, however most significantly, flotation. The buoyancy helps maintain the hooks from dragging the underside and damaging the hooks and bait.
Walleye anglers are very explicit about their spinner rigs. The Northland Baitfish Float’n Spin is a best choice as a result of it’s extraordinarily versatile and permits anglers to hold much less deal with however nonetheless be coated in quite a lot of conditions.
Key Options
Sizes accessible from 1/16 to ⅞ ounceHolographic and tremendous glow colorsHook Measurement: #10, #12, and #14Constructed from zincBuilt-in fin
Why It Made the Lower
Glide baits have taken the market by storm over the previous few years. These lures had been solely often called ice fishing lures previously, however we’ve got since realized they work for walleye, bass, and any gamefish yr round. With many fashions in the marketplace, the Tikka Mino appears to have a barely totally different motion due to the all-zinc physique.
Execs
May be fished yr aroundOne-piece design almost eliminates breakageHigh-end finishes at an inexpensive value level
Cons
Most fashions may use one measurement bigger treble hook
Product Description
The effectiveness of glide baits is extensively identified, as is their tendency to have the rear plastic fin to interrupt off. The Tikka Mino solved this by molding the fin out of zinc and making it a part of the principle physique. No tuning or breakage means higher efficiency and fewer cash spent. You’ll be able to jig the Tikka vertically ice fishing fashion or forged it out and work it again. The latter methodology has been very profitable for selecting off fish in open water with forward-facing reside sonar.
Key Options
Lengths: 2 ½, 3 ⅛, 4, 4 ¾, and 5 ½ inchesRunning depths from 4 to eight feetWeight: ⅛ to ⅝ ounce Suspends in chilly waterHigh high quality VMC terminal and hooksGood colour choice
Why It Made the Lower
The Rapala Husky Jerk works nearly in all places and almost all critical walleye anglers have it of their field.
Execs
Suspends completely Fairly pricedAvailable in shallow and deep fashions in a number of sizesRuns true out of the field
Cons
High quality building, however fundamental finishes aren’t as eye-catching as lots of the minnow baits in the marketplace
Product Description
Ask ten critical walleye anglers what their go-to crank is for chilly water, and not less than 9 will say the Husky Jerk. Including to its cred is that whereas many walleye lures solely work properly regionally, the Husky Jerk simply appears to work in all places and is within the deal with packing containers of each walleye angler I do know. Out there in sizes from 2 ½ inches all the best way to five ½ inches to cowl almost all conditions. Moreover, there are three deep-diving sizes for trolling.
Whereas the Husky Jerks motion has caught loads of fish in heat water, it excels in water lower than 50 levels as a result of it completely suspends. Most suspending lures simply slowly rise, however the Husky Jerk trully suspends and won’t rise. The shallow divers forged properly, and run true sufficient to gradual troll or could be fished deeper compliments of a snap weight. Deep divers run true for trolling and simply appear to work when different lures won’t.
Finest All-Round Crankbait: Reef Runner
Key Options
Size: 4 ¾ inchesWeight: ⅝ ounceMax diving depth: 28 ftUnique searching actionCurved banana fashion profileWorks on virtually all walleye waters
Why It Made the Lower
The Reef Runner is a uncommon lure that works in heat and chilly water in addition to nearly wherever, which is why it’s my decide for the perfect all-around crankbait.
Execs
A whole lot of colours accessible Excessive touchdown proportion Naked bare colour patterns work in gin-clear waters the place different cranks won’t
Cons
They must be tuned regularly as a consequence of their searching motion
Product Description
The Reef Runner must be one of the vital imitated and copied lures of the final twenty years due to its capacity to catch fish below quite a lot of circumstances throughout the walleye belt. Many walleye anglers are shocked that the Reef Runner could be gradual trolled at .8 mph throughout the cool water intervals or successfully fished at speeds nearing 3 mph in the summertime. It is without doubt one of the few lures that simply all the time appears to work.
The curved physique and lip design trigger the bait to hunt, making a in-built chew triggering motion that catches fish. Nevertheless, this does come at a value, and the Reef Runner tune must be checked regularly. Whereas the unique 800 is the preferred, you can too purchase a smaller 3 ½ inch model. Each sizes are also supplied in a shallow mannequin for casting or when much less depth is required.
Key Options
Size: 2 ½, 2 ¾, and three inchesWeight: 5 1/16, ½, and ⅞ ounceLarge choice of colours
Why It Made the Lower
The Rapala Rippin Rap has been fooling walleye since its inception and it really works via the ice or in open water.
Execs
Attracts fish from a distanceFishes quite a lot of depthsCan be forged out and labored or vertically jiggedLarge number of sizes and colours
Cons
Is usually a scorching or chilly presentation
Product Description
With a purpose to make it to an inventory of finest walleye lures it must work below quite a lot of circumstances. Lipless cranks could be burned over a shallow flat or weed mattress or slowly reeled and bounced over a deeper rocky backside. The Rippin Rap is flexible sufficient to even be ice fished or fished vertically in open water. Moreover, the load rattles do wonders for calling fish in and getting bites in off-colored or soiled water. The large choice of colours and number of sizes permits you to discover simply the suitable one for nearly any circumstance.
FAQs
Q: What colours are finest for walleye?
Most popular colours for walleyes can enormously differ as you journey to totally different areas of the nation. In lakes with darkish water, colours comparable to gold or glow colours can excel, whereas colours comparable to purple and pink are thought of the go-to within the cleaner waters of the nice lakes. Nevertheless, if I had to decide on one combo, it could probably be chartreuse and orange as it really works as persistently as something. When the water colour and forage change ensure you change your lure colour with it.
Q: What colours do walleye see at evening?
Colour preferences positively change from lake to lake as does when you’ve got a full moon or darkish, cloudy evening. The most effective issues you are able to do to extend your evening fishing odds is to have a lure that has good distinction. A darkish again with mild sides helps present extra distinction and make the goal simpler to select up. Doctoring up the eyes with slightly glow paint and possibly even a few small prism tape strips down the aspect by no means hurts both.
Q: Do walleye hit spinnerbaits?
Bass anglers will certainly let you know that walleyes will hit spinnerbaits, however you may’t catch them on what you don’t throw. A spinnerbait seems to be like a dying baitfish and might simply be fished round heavy cowl. For many years, anglers in Nebraska and the Dakotas have been quietly utilizing spinnerbaits for walleyes. The distinction is that they troll them on leadcore or braided line and fish them deeper than what a spinnerbait is historically fished.
Issues to Take into account When Selecting a Walleye Lure
A few of the finest walleye waters could be present in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs—primarily throughout the higher Midwest and the Dakotas. These enormously totally different our bodies of water create the necessity for quite a lot of lures for use. Present, water depth and temperature are all components that trigger our deal with luggage to develop when walleye fishing.
Whereas you will need to ensure you have an ample choice of colours in your jig choice it’s possibly extra essential to have quite a lot of sizes. Having a weight heavy sufficient to have the ability to fish vertically in a river is extraordinarily essential, as is having one mild sufficient to pitch alongside rip rap or a weed line. This philosophy is identical when in comparison with crankbaits or crawler harness sizes. Many days downsizing a crankbait or blade measurement only a contact is the distinction between a barbecue and an empty cooler.
Whereas most will admit it’s enjoyable to have all the fancy colours and finishes, the suitable measurement and weight is what actually makes the distinction on the finish of most days.
Ultimate Ideas
It is rather straightforward to get locked into only one lure or presentation, however once you have a look at essentially the most profitable walleye guides and match anglers, they have a tendency to have one factor in widespread, they don’t play favorites and are superb at quite a lot of ways. Be sure that to have a wide variety of lures in quite a lot of classes to keep away from finicky walleyes.
Some walleye anglers primarily solely fish reside bait, whereas others will solely use synthetic. With a purpose to persistently catch fish via the seasons and with modifications in climate, it’s clever to ensure you have a wide variety. In lots of circumstances lures is usually a supply system for each. Jigs and crawler harnesses can be utilized successfully with both reside bait or artificials and in some circumstances, each.
