A walleye will, on occasion,
strike any type of artificial lure. Muskie fishermen sometimes hook trophy-class walleyes
while pitching foot-long jerkbaits. Bass anglers often catch walleyes while fishing along
weedlines with plastic worms. Bluegill fishermen have evn taken walleyes on tiny wet
flies.Although jigs, jigging lures and plugs are the
most widely used artificials, others like spinners and flies may be equally effective.
Weight-forward spinners can be used at a variety of depths.
They are well-suited to unstratified waters, where walleyes may range from 5 to 30 feet
deep. Most weight-forward spinners come with a plain hook for use with nightcrawlers or
other live-bait, but some have tail-dressings of hair, feathers, or soft plastic, making
bait unnecessary. The best sizes for walleyes are 1/4 to 5/8 ounce.
Standard spinners work well in spring, when walleyes are in
the shallows. Models with size 2 or 3 blades are most effective.
Spinnerbaits are more snag-resistant than other types of
spinners. Models weighing 1/8 to 1/4 ounce will catch walleyes that are buried in weeds or
brush.
Streamer flies produce walleyes
in spring. They imitate baitfish, so a walleye cruising the shallows in search of food
finds a treamer hard to resist.
Spinnerbait. Toss a spinnerbait into
pockets in flooded brush or emergent weeds and let it helicopter downward before starting
your retrieve. This method works best in rivers and reservoirs, where rising springtime
water levels drive walleyes into shoreline vegetation.
Standard Spinner. Cast a standard spinner
into the shallows when walleyes are cruising rocky or gravelly shorelines in early spring.
Reel just fast enough to keep the lure above bottom. To avoid severe line twist, always
attach a standard spinner with a snap swivel.
Streamer Fly. Cast a streamer over a
shallow feeding shoal beginning at dusk. Retrieve with a darting motion. Use a sink-tip
fly line, a tapered leader with an 8 to 10 pound tippet, and a size 2 or 4 fly that
resembles a baitfish, such as a white marabou muddler.
