Beginner
Walleye: First Jigging & Trolling Trips
Find bottom transitions and fish a jig or crankbait with control.
Start on an edge
Try points, reef edges, weedlines and changes from rock to softer bottom. Dawn, dusk and overcast conditions are useful starting windows, not a guarantee; some waters produce in daylight too.
Mark the depth of each bite. From shore, work reachable breaks with a jig; from a boat, maintain a controlled drift or slow movement along an edge. Wear a life jacket.
Keep a jig near bottom
Tie the jig to your leader with a snug knot and rig a soft plastic straight, or a legal minnow securely with its hook point clear. Use the lightest head that lets you tell where the bottom is in the current and wind.
Lift gently, let the jig settle and pause. Constant hard snapping is not required. If line trails far behind the boat, adjust boat speed or head weight before assuming the jig is on bottom.
Troll with a repeatable setup
Use a crankbait's diving information as a starting point. Line diameter, speed and line let out affect actual running depth. Keep turns gradual and watch for weed fouling.
Check bait transport rules, hook limits and harvest regulations. Use a net and pliers to avoid teeth and hooks, and record the speed and depth when you get a bite.
Advanced · Walleye
Walleye: Precision Depth & Boat Control →Need gear for this?