How to Catch Walleye in the Fall
- 1). 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.
- 2). 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.
- 3). 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.
- 4). 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.
- 5). 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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