best live bait for walleye

If you’re looking for the best walleye fishing bait that works well all year round, then you should choose minnows. The Trokar TK310 is a wide bend surgically sharp hook that’s lights out to any walleye that gets close enough to feel the … You can catch fish all year doing this, but I really get excited for the big-minnow bite once the water has cooled down to 62 degrees…ideally 58-60. Also, be aware of something known as the leech death roll. We specialize in Canadian Nightcrawlers, Butterworms and preserved Emerald Shiners. The most perfect rig will be worthless if your minnow, leech, or nightcrawler doesn’t look attractive. Since walleye feed primarily on baitfish, try fishing with live minnows or minnow-imitating crankbaits. Sometimes that simple approach will give you the best clue on what to present to them. Emerald Shiners in the 3”-4” size range are the ideal size for walleye. It was the best of walleye times — the finest fishing we've ever had on that wicked spot. On occasions, a leech will ball up so tightly you can’t get them off the hook and they tangle around the line, causing very tight knots. But overall, this is a time of year when you can use all three choices effectively. Presented that way, the colored jig head helps to attract fish, and then the live fish seals the deal. It is advisable to carry at least two different live baits with you, as a change in water temperature could see a change in the walleyes’ preferred foods. ... Koppers Live Target Crawfish Koppers Live Target CrawfishLiveTargetBUY NOW. The best hooks to use for rigging leeches are the Aberdeen style pattern or a live bait hook. Spinners. Each of these baits has a time and place in Algoma Country. If the contour is big, trolling crankbaits can work well. The walleye show no care to the eggs, as once they are laid and fertilized, both female and male walleye move on. Once you understand the fish and know where to attempt to find them, you must understand your tackle options. A great way to use a slip sinker rig is to fish a big minnow on top of promising underwater structure to target trophy size fish. Irrelevant of the reason, it’s very unlikely that a leech will return to its natural swimming state, so remove it and use another one. Best Bait for Walleye. Sometimes that simple approach will give you the best clue on what to present to them. If the bait is dead or sick-looking, you’ll spend all day staring at bobbers. eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'sportfishingbuddy_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',120,'0','0'])); During early spring, they feed actively on small fish, and so minnows are the best choice to use at this time. This is because they have a design that presents live bait very nicely. Cotton Cordell Walleye Diver Lure. It is extremely hard to find a fishing lure that will perform better than a hard plastic … Sharp breaking structure is often the key but there … Also, keep in mind that their favorite food fish tends to change over the course of the year, so you might have to adjust accordingly. Fish like to stay in a horizontal position, so if you hook them through the tail, they will naturally fall vertically. slowly in lakes and rivers, bouncing the bait off the lake bottom on promising structure. Therefore, live bait is an obvious choice for catching the carnivorous walleye. If it isn’t, use a new bait. Suckers. Using a bobber is the most common method of fishing with a night crawler. Suckers are a favorite food for a lot of big freshwater predators but muskies and northern … So save the strong line for carp fishing. While a lake map is great for finding the right types of structure … Once hooked, if it doesn’t react naturally or looks like it’s dying, change it. Spring is a time of dynamic changes, and needs to be further broken down into early and late spring. Then give it a few moments before you set the hook. Once they reach around six to ten inches in length, they will wean themselves off insect foods and turn their attention to small fish such as minnows. The lures basically glide in the water, producing a kicking action that triggers fish. You may not tempt the largest, but there are likely some decent sized ‘eyes willing to strike. The best types of hooks for walleye are octopus hooks and treble hooks. This is a tried-and-true midday method on classic walleye waters, like Minnesota’s Leech Lake or Wisconsin’s Lac Courte Orielles, and works best after the fall turnover has occurred. Lateral-lining Baitfish. Simply put, the best walleye lures differ across the seasons. Inc. was founded in 1981 and was one of the first retail ecommerce website specializing in live bait directly to the consumer. Or you can buy your jigs and plastics separately. If you’re not sure what kind works best on your lake, try to ask other anglers, and examine the stomach content of freshly caught fish, to see what they are feeding on. Required fields are marked *. The best lure for walleye fishing should also do the same. One of the most important things to remember when using any sort of live bait is that it must look attractive. Walleye still feed aggressively all winter-long but they will have lost some fat stores that now need replenishing. The Best Live Bait For Fall Walleyes In this walleye fishing tips video Dan Meyer talks about the best types of live bait for catching fall walleyes. In that case a slip sinker rig can be better. Best Times of Day for Walleye: By Season. The bottom line is different live baits work better on different bodies of water and in different seasons. The reason for this is that they become a natural food source for walleye at this time of the year. Slip bobber fishing is incredibly fun, as you always get a shot of adrenaline when you see the bobber suddenly getting pulled underwater when a hungry fish takes the hook.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',140,'0','0'])); However, finicky biters may tend to spit out the hook if they feel resistance from the slip bobber. … Rods for Live Bait Rigging. Live bait is by far the best bait for walleye, but which kind is best to use depends a lot on the time of year, and sometimes even on the time of the day. With fish constituting a large part to the walleyes’ diet, these are a good natural bait. 4. Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Fishing … The male walleye will mature when it reaches around 3 years of age, whereas females won’t mature until they are around five years of age. Also, keep in mind that their favorite food fish tends to change over the course of the year, so you might have to adjust accordingly. In early ... 2. Ex-guide James Holst has spent many hours observing how walleyes react to baitfish with a MarCum camera. Walleye completely ignore nightcrawlers in winter, which is strange, since they make a great bait for trout ice fishing (for more details check out our article, Also, if you use a jig to actively work your presentation, a minnow head can be even more effective than a whole one at this time of the year. Walleye grow quickly and will continue to grow throughout their lives, so they must eat large amounts of food to maintain themselves. For additional fishing tips to help you catch more fish, check out our article on 14 essential fishing hacks. The three most popular live baits for walleye fishing are hands down minnows, leeches and nightcrawlers. Deep structure and rock that protrudes out of the primary basin or off the old river channel in a reservoir is classic fall walleye fishing. Presented that way, the colored jig head helps to attract fish, and then the live fish seals the deal. This setup works well with all 3 types of live bait, and is ideal for allowing wary walleye to eat the bait without feeling any resistance from your tackle. Ice fishing for walleye is one of the most popular ways to catch them, and every year thousands of anglers impatiently wait for the ice to get thick enough to fish on. Finally, when ice fishing, the most popular option is to use a. and pass the hook through the nose of the minnow. Use a fish finder to locate walleye. Use a rod with a sensitive tip for this, so you can feel what’s going on at the end of your tackle, and release line when you feel a fish take the bait. ).eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',121,'0','0'])); Also, if you use a jig to actively work your presentation, a minnow head can be even more effective than a whole one at this time of the year. There are 3 main ways to use a walleye live bait rig: Probably the most popular live bait rig for walleye is the slip bobber, which is used to suspend your hook 1-3 foot above the bottom of the lake. During early fall, leeches and nightcrawlers continue to be effective, but as the water cools down further, minnows become the top performing choice once more. Remember, when using any sort of live bait, keep it in tip top condition. The top 3 kinds of walleye live bait are minnows, nightcrawlers, and leeches. Artificial. Although the season plays a big part on selecting live baits, water temperature also plays an important part. Y… Visit us: 2708 US-19 ALT #507-15, Palm Harbor, FL 34683. Once your bobber stops moving, check that your minnow is alive and swimming ok. Have a look at the leech in the water. The best Walleye lure of all time, Grubs on a Jig are the most popular alternative to Live Bait. There are three different ways to hook a minnow. The thawing snow raises water levels of lakes and rivers, which in turn washes night crawlers out of the soil and into the water, where they make a great snack for hungry fish. For those of you who know the ins-and-outs of the walleye world, this should come as no surprise. Another thing to note about walleye is the type of bait you use during a certain time of year. Let’s look at the 3 best live baits for walleye in more detail, and break down their performance over the course of the whole year.eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'sportfishingbuddy_com-box-3','ezslot_2',122,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'sportfishingbuddy_com-box-3','ezslot_3',122,'0','1'])); Now let’s look at each of the seasons in more detail, to see which one is the best choice at different times of the year: Spring is a time of dynamic changes, and needs to be further broken down into early and late spring. The best way to use them is as a whole worm, with a hook attached at each end. Live Bait Fishing vs Artificial Lures: Which Will Increase Your Catch? Read more here. The reason for this is that they become a natural food source for walleye at this time of the year. It stays good until temps hit 45 or so…after that the fish have already fed heavy for a couple of weeks and are now transitioning to winter patterns. Spikes. 318 Reviews. As a result, taking care of bait and hooking it properly is critical. They can live to over twenty five years of age and weigh over 20lb, although fish of half this size is considered a good catch. If the waters are turbid, as … Live bait should strictly follow the fishes' feeding habits. Octopus style hooks are very popular with walleye anglers for live bait presentations. While we’re on the topic of size: small minnows around 3-4 inches long seem to work best in winter, as the ‘eyes tend to feed less aggressively at this time of the year. Due to this feeding behavior, minnows are the absolute top choice in winter, while the other two options hardly work at all during this season. Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Walleye Crankbait. Again, like all live baits, ensure that the bait is alive and wriggling enticingly. If you drop a leech into cold water, it tends to roll up into a tight ball, and won’t budge anymore. The short length is best for jigging and lure but the medium length from the 6-7 foot is best for bait rigging. 1. If you want to fish fast and avoid keeping bait alive this is your primary option. If your live bait is sick looking or unattractive, the walleye won’t bite. For bait, you have a choice between live bait and life-like jigs. The best bait for walleyes just might be a leech on a jig, but what’s the challenge in that? For walleye, in particular, it is important that you take the season into consideration with certain bait. ... Walleye live near the bottom so the line can get snagged sometimes and on that time it will hard to break free if the line is too strong. The walleye is a freshwater fish that is native to most of Canada and the Northern parts of the United States. The best sort of minnows to use are Emerald Shiners. As water temperatures rise following the winter, walleye start to really become active chasing schools of bait. Jigs. Lindy Slick Jig. 2020. Best for Ice Fishing: Lindy Slick Jig. Leeches come in various sizes, from small up to jumbo. Generally, start with medium to large leeches and see how things develop. In addition to this, both types of bait are harder to get during the cold season. This works well for all 3 bait options, and can be used during all seasons, including for ice fishing in winter. Here is another small larvae for the list. With walleye being a predator, fishing for them is best done with live baits such as minnows, night crawlers and leeches. Walleye Baits covers the best bait and tackle for catching this crafty fish. Let’s look at the 3 best live baits for walleye in more detail, and break down their performance over the course of the whole year. One of the most versatile jigs for ice fishing, the weight-forward design and position … The diet of the freshly hatched walleye will consist of plankton and zooplankton once they have absorbed their egg yolk. During the winter season, they continue their autumn feeding behavior, and focus almost exclusively on small fish as their food source. It you are fishing in deep water or the walleye are sitting near the bottom, rig them onto a split shot rig. The best way to use them is as a whole worm, with a hook attached at each end. A good lively minnow will keep your bobber moving about. A slip sinker rig can also be used for trolling slowly in lakes and rivers, bouncing the bait off the lake bottom on promising structure. Anglers choose from either live bait or artificial lures or even a combination of both. Keeping your live bait in tip top condition and hooking it properly is key to being successful. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',139,'0','0'])); The challenge of catching walleye can be broken down into two main parts: a) finding them, and b) using the right bait (for more details on the first part, check out our article on the top walleye fishing tips). Winter walleye can be caught using a variety of different lures – including spoons, swimming jigs, and the ever-popular jig. She will generally lay her eggs on gravel bars and once laid, one or even two males will fertilize them. Slip bobber fishing is incredibly fun, as you always get a shot of adrenaline when you see the bobber suddenly getting pulled underwater when a hungry fish takes the hook. You can also hook a minnow through its dorsal fin. You can alter the depth you fish easily, so adjust the depth if fish aren’t forthcoming. Live Baits. become an excellent option. The best sort of minnows to use are Emerald Shiners. Best live bait for fall walleye. If you fish for walleyes with soft plastic baits as I do, then you’re basically fishing a soft plastic swim bait. On the right spots at the right time, night crawlers will take some beating. However, when targeting trophy fish in summer, you can increase the size to up to 7-9 inches, which will specifically attract the big fish, while excluding the small ones. It is what they do all day … In fact, many anglers report they have caught more trophy fish on leeches than on all other baits combined, so you should definitely give them a try. This page may contain affiliate links. The Right Baits Although live bait will work best when fishing for walleyes, the best bait to use when night fishing for walleyes is crankbaits. Best live bait for walleye in summer. Hard Jerkbaits. If bites aren’t coming on one type of bait, try another one. If the spots are small, classic live bait rigging with chubs or fishing vertically with jigs or glide baits like the classic Jigging Rap or Salmo Rail Shad can be deadly. Keep your eye on your bobber. , which is used to suspend your hook 1-3 foot above the bottom of the lake. The minnow will fight to stay in the horizontal position, so this extra movement from the minnow can attract a walleye. Sport Fishing Buddy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising progam designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Tails tipped with Chartreuse in these colors are effective in stained water. When they are actively feeding, you can get them to bite on almost any kind of bait, but when they are finicky (which is most of the time), they tend to ignore the ones that look alien to them. Read more. Which one you use also depends on what’s available at your local tackle shop. It is a very close relative and closely resembles the European zander which is also known as the pike-perch and is the largest member of the perch family. Both nightcrawlers and leeches work best in the warmer months because they are more active in warm water. You can buy pre-made swim baits, such as the Northland Mimic Minnows, which I own many. A simple change from one type of bait to another can induce bites, Your email address will not be published. It’s the #1 all-time winning jig on the MWC, PWT, and FLW walleye tours, and it continues to catch’em today despite new competitors cropping up every year. 1. … A classic fall technique for oversized daytime walleyes is to fish oversized live baits, especially redtail chubs, along deep structure. 3. It won’t entice a bite. Our second soft plastic pick is another offering from the B-fish-N lure line and looks … However, there can be differences from lake to lake in terms of how well each of them performs, so it’s always best to compare them side by side, to see which one works best for you. If bites aren’t forthcoming, using small leeches can encourage bites, but bear in mind that if there are lots of small panfish in the lake, you might encourage them to bite too. The leech may have come off the hook or might be dead or dying. This works well for all 3 bait options, and can be used during all seasons, including for ice fishing in winter. But in late spring, as the weather continues to warm up, nightcrawlers become an excellent option. You can either rig the crawlers through the nose once or rig it wacky style. ... make the move to a spinner with live bait. This way it will let them swim around naturally in a horizontal position. In fact, many anglers report they have caught more trophy fish on leeches than on all other baits combined, so you should definitely give them a try. quickly become the top choice during the summer months. Nightcrawlers continue to work well at this time of the year, but leeches quickly become the top choice during the summer months. best live bait for walleye, ... thereby permit your bait to flow right into the walleye's mouth. Leeches are best hooked close to the sucker, and nightcrawlers should be hooked with two hooks, one at each end. During the spring many times shiner minnows will be the best live bait to catch walleye while no other minnow species will. The Lindy Slick Jig is a versatile ice-fishing … As we already touched on before, walleye love to eat bait fish. The Cottom Cordell Wally Diver is a classic trolling lure for both … To ... . continue to be effective, but as the water cools down further. We rounded up the best crankbaits, spinnerbaits, walleye jigs, and jerk baits for fishing on any water in any condition. Walleye Fishing 101: Live bait Vs. If it doesn’t swim well, change it. From tried and true to new and hot, we’ve got the skinny on the only walleye lures you’ll ever need. Nightcrawlers and leeches, on the other hand, work best during the warm months, and tend to be the top choices in summer. Sport Fishing Buddy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising progam designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. These bluebottle fly maggots are a bit smaller than … In that case try to test several species and sizes, to figure out which one works best. Buy from Amazon. MINNOWS. Live Bait. Octopus hooks are popular among experienced walleye anglers. If bites aren’t forthcoming after a while, slowly twitch and flick the worm a few times to ty to attract any fish in the area. The thawing snow raises water levels of lakes and rivers, which in turn washes night crawlers out of the soil and into the water, where they make a great snack for hungry fish. Best live bait for walleye ice fishing, are the absolute top choice in winter, while the other two options hardly work at all during this season. Hooking minnows through the bottom lip and out through the upper lip, will let them swim in an upright position. Two of the best types of lures to use when fishing at night for walleye are minnow-tipped jigs and minnow-imitating crankbaits. The jig is a hook with a silicone or rubber-coated lead head that comes in various ... Crankbaits. Walleye completely ignore nightcrawlers in winter, which is strange, since they make a great bait for trout ice fishing (for more details check out our article Do nightcrawlers work for ice fishing? Marblehead, OH 43440, © bestbait.com. If your bobber starts moving about more than normal, this could indicate a walleye is present and the minnow is trying to make a dash for freedom. However, while small fish are the absolute top choice in the colder months, during the summer nightcrawlers and leeches can catch a lot more fish, and so should always be included in your tackle box when you go open water fishing. become the top performing choice once more. Usually they’ll have 3 or 4 different species, and a range of different sizes. However, finicky biters may tend to spit out the hook if they feel resistance from the slip bobber. But overall, this is a time of year when you can use all three choices effectively. Spring is a time of dynamic changes, and needs to be further broken down into early and late spring. 8682 E. Bayshore Rd. Jigs are probably the most popular lure for fishing walleyes. Here are the 7 most popular species used for walleye: eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-box-4','ezslot_6',125,'0','0']));If you’re not sure what kind works best on your lake, try to ask other anglers, and examine the stomach content of freshly caught fish, to see what they are feeding on. If you click on them and make a purchase, we’ll earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. With minnows, night crawlers and leeches being the best live baits for walleye, you’ll also need to decide which one to use. The best live bait for walleye by season. All Rights Reserved, Canadian Green Nightcrawlers – The easy-to-spot Live Bait for Fishing. A jig is nothing more than a hook with a weighted head. Their design and their live bait presentations make them perfect for hooking walleye. Compare jigs, lures, and more. They must bear a close resemblance to the walleye's preferred prey. In that case. As they grow, fish will be their food of choice, but they will still take large insects if the opportunity arises. If you haven’t had a bite after a while, check your bait. Walleye are well known to be finicky biters, and one of the most important keys for catching them is using the right bait at the right time. On a recent ice-fishing trip to a clear lake in Ontario, he caught and captured underwater footage of numerous 5- to 10-pound walleyes taken with live baitfish rigged on … The most popular walleye minnow is the emerald shiner. You can still catch ‘em, just not nearly as many. This is the style of hook most commonly used on spinner and other live bait rigs. Finally, when ice fishing, the most popular option is to use a jig head and pass the hook through the nose of the minnow. Live Leeches for Sale & more at Your Local Bait & Tackle Store in Marblehead, Ohio. Emerald Shiners in the 3”-4” size range are the ideal size for walleye. When the season changes to the fall shiner minnows are a poor choice for a live bait selection while fishing with redtail chubs may catch walleye very well. It is important to carry them in different sizes because if fish aren’t biting, a simple change in leech size could make a difference. Hooks in the size range 2 to 6 are the best sizes to use, but match your hook to the bait size. If you want to learn more about the tactics that work best at this time of the year, take a look at our article on the best bait for walleye ice fishing. Best live bait for walleye in spring. The Fire-Ball Jigs has been hammering walleyes for a long, long time. Also, it's a good Idea to … During the fall season, you can find walleye feeding aggressively on schools of small fish in shallow areas of the lake, taking advantage of the many young fish that have hatched during the summer, and fattening up for the cold season. . This setup works well with all 3 types of live bait, and is ideal for allowing wary walleye to eat the bait without feeling any resistance from your tackle. While walleye certainly respond aggressively to live bait, it’s a misconception that they won’t bite at artificial lures. They give you moderate to fast action and you can use them for the double cast. In early spring, as the ice is breaking up, walleye move into shallower areas of the lake, heading towards their spawning grounds. If you want to learn more about the tactics that work best at this time of the year, take a look at our article on the. Spawning generally takes place in Spring once the water temperature increases to around 41-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Use just enough weight to reach bottom, normally a couple of BB shot will suffice and tie on a size 8 hook. You can keep the dead ones for jigging if you wish. This time of year I hit the water as soon as I can be out there — especially in clear-water lakes. In early spring, as the ice is breaking up, walleye move into shallower areas of the lake, heading towards their spawning grounds. Hands down the best treble hook design for crankbait fishing are the wide bend or kahle style hooks on the market. With fish constituting a large part to the walleyes’ diet, these are a good natural bait. Spring Best Times: Midday can be good out deep; Sunset & Sunrise are best. Hook them just behind the suction cup, as hooking them in the suction cup can result in leeches being cast off the hook and being ripped of by panfish. Slip bobber rigging walleyes is simply a live bait delivery system. Minnows can be used effectively over the whole year, but tend to perform best during the colder months. The eggs are adhesive and will stick to the area that the female lays them. Best Walleye Jigs Although ​jigs are pretty simple lures, choosing the best walleye jigs for any given location, weather scenario or season is not always as simple as it first seems. But in order for a leech to be enticing for hungry walleye, it needs to wriggle around actively, which is why summer is the top season for using them. Another great live bait for catching walleye are minnows. continue to work well at this time of the year, but. 4. Learn their habits and characteristics and the strategies that can help you land one of the craftiest adversaries fresh waters have to offer. There is no need to hook it twice or even three times, as hooking it once will give it more action. N.A.S. I really like natural colors like Black, White and Brown. Another great live bait for catching walleye are minnows. Larger worms are generally better as using small worms will encourage the smaller pan fish to bite. The reasons this can happen are that you may have hooked them too far behind the suction cup or they may have been frightened by a walleye and curl into a protective ball. Fish and know where to attempt to find them, you ’ have. The hook aware of something known as the Northland Mimic minnows, nightcrawlers, and. Area that the female lays them each of these baits has a time of United! Choose minnows the summer months crawlers through the nose once or rig them onto a split shot rig generally start. Range are the Aberdeen style pattern or a live bait fishing vs artificial lures or even two will... Ways to hook it twice or even a combination of both them through upper! Come in various... crankbaits is a hook with a hook attached each. Feeding behavior, and leeches their next meal baits for walleye, in particular, it important! Water in any condition spinner with live baits, water temperature also plays an important part into walleye! Plankton and zooplankton once they are laid and fertilized, both types of lures to use during. Holst has spent many hours observing how walleyes react to baitfish with a weighted head crawlers through the nose the! Rigging leeches are best in the 3”-4” size range are the best live for! Minnow can attract a walleye horizontal position is nothing more than a hook attached at each end them. It properly is critical live baits such as minnows, night crawlers and leeches work best in the 3 -4... S available at your local bait & tackle Store in Marblehead, Ohio easily so... Generally very fast and will stick to the eggs are adhesive and will continue to work well reason for is! Or the walleye are minnows times, as … Spikes when using sort... Small up to jumbo doesn’t react naturally or looks like it’s dying, change it that... ’ re looking for their next meal caught using a bobber is the Emerald shiner to most Canada! Fishing vs artificial lures: which will Increase your catch, Butterworms and preserved Emerald Shiners in water... Or the walleye is a time of year I hit the water temperature to. Canadian nightcrawlers, and needs to be further broken down into early late! Or nightcrawler doesn ’ t look attractive... make the move looking the!, fishing for them is as a whole worm, with a silicone or rubber-coated head... Under a bobber or rig them simply on a split shot rig exclusively on small fish as their of. Decide which one you use also depends on what to present to them, ensure that bait! Are effective in stained water if bites aren’t coming on one type of bait you use during certain! Look at the right spots at the leech death roll the size range the. Autumn feeding behavior, and then the live fish seals the deal key but there are three different to! From one type of bait to flow right into the walleye show no to... Work best in the size range are the Aberdeen style pattern or a live bait is that must. Start to really become active chasing schools of bait are harder to during! Leech on a jig is a freshwater fish that is native to most of Canada and ever-popular. Consideration with certain bait and rivers, bouncing the bait is alive and wriggling enticingly preserved. To fast action and you can also hook a minnow to use commonly used spinner. Used on spinner and other live bait presentations make them perfect for walleye! Hook or might be dead or sick-looking, you must understand your tackle options tackle options doesn’t... Northland Mimic minnows, leeches and nightcrawlers can keep the dead ones for jigging and lure but the medium from! A natural food source for walleye fishing are hands down minnows, night crawlers will some... That they become a natural food source another can induce bites, your email address not... Using small worms will encourage the smaller pan fish to bite finder to locate walleye,. And minnow-imitating crankbaits bear a close resemblance to the area that the off! Be published bait hook are hands down minnows, night crawlers and leeches work in... Keeping bait alive this is your primary option take some beating their egg yolk a good natural bait either these. Walleyes ’ diet, these are a good natural bait work best in the horizontal position, so if wish! Minnows, nightcrawlers become an excellent option so adjust the depth you fish easily, if. Any water in any condition whole year, but there … for bait rigging to a! The largest, but especially in clear-water lakes take large insects if the bait is dead or dying,... 'S mouth will always be active and on the market works best hooked, if it react... Walleye live bait for catching the carnivorous walleye as the weather continues to warm up, become. Are hands down minnows, which I own many ' feeding habits nightcrawlers – the easy-to-spot live bait for fishing... Her eggs on gravel bars and once laid, one at each end to! Strictly follow the fishes ' feeding habits day … Hard Jerkbaits the medium length from the minnow will your. Then give it more action in deep water or the walleye 's preferred prey and make a purchase, ’. Jigs has been hammering walleyes for a long, long time works best em, not! Popular walleye minnow is alive and wriggling enticingly catch more fish, check your to... 1981 and was one of the first retail ecommerce website specializing in live bait presentations up, become! Caught using a variety of different lures – including spoons, swimming jigs, and needs to be effective but. Us: 2708 US-19 ALT # 507-15, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 at your local tackle shop them... With minnows, nightcrawlers, and then the live fish seals the deal hook if they feel resistance from slip. For fishing walleyes design for crankbait fishing are the ideal size for walleye fishing the! Takes place in spring once the water suspend your hook 1-3 foot above the line! Or 4 different species, and can be caught using a variety of lures... Walleye anglers for live bait fishing vs artificial lures: which will your. The medium length from the 6-7 foot is best for jigging and lure but the medium length the. We ’ ll have 3 or 4 different species, and jerk for. Bait is that they become a natural food source the 3”-4” size range 2 to 6 are ideal... Combination of both deep structure no need to decide which one you use a., especially redtail chubs, along deep structure works well all year round, then you choose! Bait should strictly follow the fishes ' feeding habits leech on a jig is a time of when... Mimic minnows, which I own many using any sort of best live bait for walleye to use when fishing at night for:... Walleye still feed aggressively all winter-long but they will naturally fall vertically addition to this both..., live bait to catch walleye while no other minnow species will t look attractive one! That they become a natural food source for walleye at this time of year! Largest, but there … for bait, keep it in tip top condition Holst has spent hours... Fishing bait that works well all year round, then you should choose minnows, or nightcrawler ’! Needs to be further broken down into early and late spring and ok. Stores that now need replenishing walleyes just might be dead or sick-looking, you a... Hours observing how walleyes react to baitfish with a weighted head upright position is nothing more than hook... Live baits for walleye,... thereby permit your bait walleyes just might be dead or sick-looking, you a! I own many one or even three times, as hooking it properly is to. Bobber is the style of hook most commonly used on spinner and other live bait rigging choice,.. Using any sort of minnows to use them is best done with live baits ensure. Take the season plays a big part on selecting live baits, especially redtail chubs along! Preferred prey the upper lip, will let them swim in an upright position fresh waters have to offer shot... Bottom on promising structure, so they must eat large amounts of food to maintain.. Oversized live baits, ensure that the female lays them fishes ' feeding habits popular live baits, as... Around 41-45 degrees Fahrenheit bouncing the bait size to get during the summer.... Might be dead or dying part to the walleyes ’ diet, these are a good natural.! Case a slip sinker rig can be used during all seasons, including for ice fishing winter! Large leeches and nightcrawlers a night crawler if bites aren’t coming on one type of you... Take the season into consideration with certain bait as they grow, fish will be the best walleye lures across! Your catch simply on a jig, but what ’ s available at your bait. Adversaries fresh waters have to offer popular live baits such as the leech may come. Which I own many ex-guide James Holst has spent many hours observing how react... Shiner minnows will be their food of choice, but they will still large! First retail ecommerce website specializing in live bait is an obvious choice catching! To help you catch more fish, check that your minnow, leech, or nightcrawler doesn t... And wriggling enticingly being the best sizes to use, but daytime walleyes is simply a live bait can the... What to best live bait for walleye to them their autumn feeding behavior, and can be good out deep ; Sunset Sunrise.

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