Walleye

Gear & Tackle
Weighing in at an average of
1 to 4
pounds, walleyes usually
require
medium to medium-light
tackle.
Rods should be in the 5'6" to
7"
length, The Gary Roach
Signature
Series has been designed
specifically for the most
productive
walleye fishing techniques,
and is
an ideal choice. Trilene XL
from 4# to 8# test works very well with Leadhead
jigs or slip sinkers from 1/8
oz. to 1/2 oz. for most situations. Spinning reels
are the norm for jigging,
cranking and rigging presentations, while baitcasting
reels are preferred for heavy
rigging situations.

Lures & Presentation
Jigs account for most of the
walleyes caught, hopping or dragging along the
bottom in deep water or
casting and retrieving in the shallows. Slip sinker rigs
are also designed to be
worked slowly along the bottom, snelled with plain
hooks, floaters and spinner
rigs. Diving and minnow-shaped crankbaits are the
most popular casting and
trolling lures, available in literally hundreds of styles,
colors and actions.

How to Locate
Walleyes, most active in
low-light periods, relate to structure such as
weedlines, rock piles and
sandbars, frequently favoring the very bottom edges
of such locations. In spring
and fall, look for fish in water from 5' to 15' deep
near the mouths of streams
and shoreline-connected bars and weed beds. In
rivers, walleyes congregate
below dams and rapids, often lying in current
breaks waiting to ambush prey
coming downstream. Warm weather walleyes
are often found much deeper,
from 25' to 45', or suspended in schools
roaming large lake basins.

Effective Baits
Most walleye fishermen prefer
live minnows, leeches and nightcrawlers,
although Berkley Tournament
Strength Power Bait, specially formulated for
walleyes, is quite effective
and much more convenient. Liquid Power Bait for
walleye is also available,
and makes any lure more effective.