Lures Baits Bait
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
What lures, bait, and rigs should I use to catch lunker size walleye?
This is for shore fishing.
Ice fishing is the best time to catch trophy walleye or as late as you can fish them before they spawn in the area you live. Early ice, usually late November through December, is the steadiest action for the big females in NW Wisconsin but the last week or so of the season, it goes until the first Monday in March, can be good also. the females need to sustain their egg production so even when it's slow you have a chance at one that time of the year. We catch the vast majority of them on tip ups with decent size shiners or sucker minnows set about a foot off the bottom. We like to get set up an hour or so before dark and stay until we get our limit or get bored. If you don't have any ice use slip bobbers to achieve the same basic presentation. Trolling crankbaits can be good in the summer but they will not be as big. The spring feed is fun, about a week or so after they spawn, but again they won't be the monsters you are looking for. I have probably caught more walleye, in general, with a jig and minnow. Use smaller minnows in the spring and larger ones in the fall and winter. You will find that you catch just as many when it's sitting on the bottom as when you are working it. My other favorite technique is to use a floating jighead on about a 2' leader from a needle weight or some sort of bottom bouncer. Use minnows in the spring but go to leeches as soon as the water warms slighty. I caught a 10 pounder in the middle of December, it was only 29" but had a 17 1/2" girth. She broke off in the hole but I dug her out! If you are anywhere near the reservoirs in Tennesee or Kentucky I have heard they use bluegill rigs for the monster eyes. Just catch a decent keeper size gill and set it up on a quick set rig, with a stinger hook towards the tail. One last thing, I am a FIRM believer in fishing the full moon and new moon phases. My last 2 10 poundrs were both on the day of the full moon, on the same spot of the same lake 2 years apart. The big bite might not be right on either of those days but it will definitely be right around them, like the 2 days before to the 2 days after. Watch the major and minor times on the solunar table but weather is more important than that, in my opinion. The big dogs also seem to be more active on a dropping or low barrometer. Good luck!
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
