How to Catch a Walleye on a Fly Rod
Walleye are one of the most sought-after gamefish in the northern United States. Walleye are usually caught on spinning rods using jigs or live bait, but they can be caught on fly rods. Walleye prey on smaller fish. A fly fisherman can use flies that imitate minnows to successfully catch walleye.
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Things You'll Need
- 6- to 8-weight fly rod and reel
- Fast-sinking fly line
- Fly line backing
- 10-foot fly leader
- 6-pound tippet material
- Streamer flies
- Boat
- Depth finder
- Fish marker buoys
Instructions
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1
Place the fly rod and reel on the table. Spool the backing onto the reel. Tie the sinking fly line to the end of the backing. Spool the fly line onto the reel. Tie the leader to the end of the fly line and feed through the fly rod guides. Tie 3 feet of tippet to the end of the leader. Select a streamer fly that imitates a minnow and tie the fly to the end of the tippet.
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2
Search the lake for drop-offs or sunken islands using a boat and depth finder. Ideally these should be between 10 and 20 feet deep. Identify one of these areas with a marking buoy.
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3
Maneuver the boat so it is upwind from the buoy. Being upwind from the drop-off or sunken island makes it easier to cast a fly to the area.
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4
Cast the fly to the area around the buoy. Give the line time to sink to the bottom. Most fast-sinking lines sink at a rate of 1 foot per second. Slowly retrieve the fly by pulling on the fly line.
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5
Cast to the buoy approximately 20 times. Walleye strikes are usually aggressive. Change to a different type or color of streamer fly if no fish strike. Move to a different area if there is no success after trying different types and colors of streamer flies.
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6
Move to different areas until fish are caught. Walleye travel in schools, so once a single fish is caught there are almost always more in the area.
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Tips & Warnings
Use streamer flies that are at least 2 inches long. Large flies catch large fish.
Always follow proper boating safety rules.
Be aware of the fish limits and regulations for the area you are fishing.
