How to Catch Walleye in the Fall
There are generally two reasons why fishermen target walleyes: They are a challenging fish species to catch and their white, flaky mat is second to none as a food item. Anglers target walleyes throughout the year in bodies of water across the United States. But for those fishermen who want to catch a true trophy walleye, there is no better time than fall. That's when the walleyes are eating heavily in advance of the cold winter months, and when their locations are fairly predictable.
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Instructions
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Select the proper equipment. Spinning rods and reels work well. The rods should be about 6.5 feet long, medium action, and the reels should be spooled with 8 lb. monofilament test line.
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Find the fish. The best fall locations tend to be in areas where shallow water quickly gives way to deep water. During the fall, walleyes hang around steep-breaking drop-offs and intercept other fish as they swim along the drop-off, or as they move to and from shallow water. One of the best fall walleye spots is a long point that extends from a sharp drop-off. The walleyes will set up on the tip of the point, ambushing smaller fish as they swim by.
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Imitate a fish by trolling. Walleyes in the fall are feeding primarily on minnows and other fish, so choose a lure that mimics a minnow. Crankbaits are a good choice, especially when trolled parallel to drop-offs. While walleyes feed heavily in the fall, they don't want to work too hard to chase down food. Select a crankbait that you can troll slowly, and that has a large lip, which creates a slow, wide wobble.
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Cast crankbaits or jigs and minnows once you locate a school of walleyes. If you catch a fish or two off of one spot, pay particular attention to the exact area where you caught the fish. Then, quit trolling and begin casting a crankbait to the spot. If the crankbait fails to produce, or the bite slows down, tie on a jig and tip it with a minnow. The jig should be just heavy enough to allow you to maintain contact with the bottom.
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Go vertical. When you have located a school of walleyes that are in a confined area--like the tip of a point--one of the best methods for catching them is vertical jigging. Position your boat directly over the school of fish, tie on a jig and minnow, and drop the combination to the depth at which the walleyes are holding. Fish with a jigging motion, bringing the jig up, and then letting it fall back toward the bottom. Pay close attention, as most bites will occur as the jig falls toward the bottom.
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References
- Photo Credit walleye image by Elena Vdovina from Fotolia.com
