Walleye 101: Timing, Jigs and Trolling
Walleye are the most targeted fish on the lakes in this guide. They're light-sensitive, structure-loving and most active when the light is low. Get the timing right and the rest gets a lot easier.
When to go
Walleye feed hardest at dawn, dusk and after dark, and on windy or overcast days when light can't penetrate the water. Spring (right after ice-out) and fall are the two best windows. In midsummer they go deeper and bite best at night.
Where to look
Start on points, rock and gravel reefs, sharp drop-offs and weed edges near deep water. In spring, check river mouths and rocky shorelines where they spawn. By summer, look at mid-lake humps and the edge of the thermocline, usually 15 to 30 feet.
Three presentations that work
- Jig and minnow: a 1/8 to 3/8 oz jig tipped with a fathead or shiner, hopped slowly along the bottom.
- Live-bait rigs: a slip-sinker rig with a leech or nightcrawler, dragged slowly across flats and breaks.
- Trolling crankbaits: cover water along breaklines at 1.5 to 2.5 mph to find active fish, then slow down.
Quick tips
Use the lightest jig that keeps you on the bottom. Set the hook on any extra weight, not just a thump. When the wind blows into a point, fish that side first.
Lakes to try
Lakes in the guide rated 4 or 5 for walleye: