Trolling Walleye. Any insight?

matt167

matt167

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as I’ve stated in other threads I normally troll for lake trout in the finger lakes of NY ( Cayuga mostly ) but the lake is 2 hours from my house so it takes a full weekend to go out. Friends of mine tell me that i pretty much will catch walleye in Oneida lake no matter where I am on the lake which is just a little over an hour north of my house. I could easily do multiple day trips. I prefer trolling as it’s relaxing going half the speed of nothing while still going somewhere but casting and jigging are things I might try as well. I have downriggers, dipsys and planer boards as well as tackle which is all set up for lake trout. As I understand it. Bandits and flicker minnows are sure fire ways to catch fish but anything else?
 
dingbat

dingbat

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matt167 said:
but the lake is 2 hours from my house so it takes a full weekend to go out.
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Why a full weekend to fish 2 hours away?

It's exactly 100 miles (2 hours) to my favorite fishing hole from home.
Leave the house at 4 am. Have the boat in the water by 6:15. Lines in the water by 7 am. Fish until 2 pm and still be home in time for dinner at 5 pm.
 
matt167

matt167

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That is the way I’d like it to work. Only caveat is my house has a tiny property and the driveway is too short to fit my truck and trailer connected. I keep the boat down the road in the next town at a storage facility which eats into the time. My dad lives 5 miles from the boat ramp so it’s very convenient to stay there for the weekend. But on days he’s not there or whatever, I can try something new
 
aspeck

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Walleye are certainly better eating than lakers! I would be heading for the 'eyes if they are that plentiful in Oneida!

That said, it seems that most of the 'eyes caught in Raystown while trolling are caught while fishing for lakers or stripers. Most that are targeting the 'eyes are casting swim baits and stick baits towards the shore at night. I can't help you trolling in Oneida.
 
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Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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Walleye are some of the best eating fresh water fish.

trolling, best bait on my experience was always black and gold or black and silver rapalas about 6-8 feet down. that was on Lake Winnebago, lake Michigan and the Menominee river.

best fishing them was always stationary, near structure, using a 3-hook walleye crawler rig. usually on the leeward side of an outcropping or island. best above dams in feeder sloughs
 
A

airshot

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All depends on the walleye and what they are used to seeing and chasing.
Here in my end if Lake Erie, I use crawler harnesses trolled and have caught more walleye on crawler harnesses than any thing else. Guys spend big buck's on gear to catch walleye, but when it comes to simple and sucessfull, the crawler harness is easiest and cheapest to fill your cooler.
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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DeepCMark58A said:
I have caught more walleye bobber fishing with a crawler on a 1/16 ounce jig than I have ever caught while trolling.
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Dad and I would use the crawler rig and a 3-way swivel, with about 20" of line to a 3/4 oz weight. drop the line until it hit bottom, raise it up about 2-3" and would usually get a hit.

usually we were just north of the dam, just down stream from the islands 45.5137, -87.8015

Trolling worked here. 45.08319, -87.4381 and here 44.0602, -88.4113 or here. 41.7625, -82.9824

However down here, if I want walleye, I have to go here. 27.39073518946656, -82.55950552840284
 
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