Just when you think the last word has been published about new walleye techniques, that the last major breakthrough has occurred and only fine-tuning of the details remains, along comes a method so revolutionarily simple and easy to execute you’ll wonder why you never thought of it before.
You could categorize this technique as a finesse presentation, yet it requires very little angler finesse. It’s a method you have probably flirted with at times, and the necessary components are most likely already in your tackle box. Yet most walleye anglers have fallen short of piecing this puzzle together.
Is your curiosity piqued? Are you ready to learn a stealth approach that will catch wary, scattered, tight-lipped walleyes under most conditions, in a variety of water depths? Then read on, and you’ll discover the finer points of catching bullet-weight walleyes.
Keeping it on the level
I believe the key aspect of this technique is presenting the live bait in a horizontal posture. It may require up to 200 feet of line to level out in deeper depths. We’ll discuss that later.
But first, let’s get you rigged up for fishing this presentation. Spool up with 6-pound-test monofilament on light spinning gear. Thread on a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce bullet weight and tie on a small swivel. Next add a 6-foot-long, 4-pound-test fluorocarbon leader (Berkley Vanish is a great choice) and tie on a No. 6 hook. I’ve found that using a premium, super-sharp hook works best. You can find all these components at Wal-Mart.
Trying for a soft approach
A 6.5- to 7-foot medium light-action rod is perfect for this presentation, along with a light spinning reel. This “soft action” allows a striking walleye to load up the rod, often eliminating the need for a hook-set.
Pucker up to a leech
This offering suits a leech perfectly, allowing this tantalizing walleye entree to be presented in a horizontal or natural position. A lively leech, undulating through the water overhead, creates a temptation walleyes can’t resist. Hook the leech once through the sucker for best results.
Night crawlers and minnows can also be used with this setup and may even be the preferred bait at certain times. Hook a minnow through the lips so it can swim along, and thread a night crawler onto a long-shaft Aberdeen-style hook. When hooked like this, these baits follow in a natural posture.
Look Ma, no hands!
Finally, I believe the most effective way to fish this technique is from a rod holder (I told you this was going to be easy). Use a kicker motor to troll forward. An ideal speed is usually in the 1 to 1.5 mph range. In calm conditions, lower the bow-mount electric motor for a quiet approach.
Next, let out between 100 and 200 feet of line, place the rod in a holder, and sit back and relax. Vary the amount of line until you identify a productive depth. I use a line-counter, which clamps onto my rod, to measure the amount of line I let out. Troll along a breakline or zigzag across a flat until you contact active fish.
This is a great presentation for targeting walleyes tucked in weedbeds. When fishing in vegetation, shorten up your line so the bait skims the tops of the weeds.
You can cover a lot of ground with this setup, and when a walleye strikes, you simply remove the rod and start reeling. Remember not to grab the rod too soon when a fish hits, but rather allow a walleye to “fully commit” before removing the rod from the holder.
If you’re looking for a sure-shot way for catching walleyes, try this bullet-weight technique. It’s simple to rig, easy to use and is guaranteed to deliver flat-out action!