Trolling Walleye. Any insight?

[matt167]

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]

but the lake is 2 hours from my house so it takes a full weekend to go out.

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]

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]

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.

 

[Scott Danforth]

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

 

[airshot]

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.

 

[dingbat]

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.

Isn’t that always the case…lol

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I have caught more walleye bobber fishing with a crawler on a 1/16 ounce jig than I have ever caught while trolling.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have caught more walleye bobber fishing with a crawler on a 1/16 ounce jig than I have ever caught while trolling.

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

 

[matt167]

Definitely will try crawler harnesses. I for sure want to catch some as I’ve never actually had Walleye

 

[redneck joe]

Definitely will try crawler harnesses. I for sure want to catch some as I’ve never actually had Walleye

you will love it. Meaty like a bass but (imo) flavor as good as bluegill.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

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

I grew up fishing the Mississippi in the Monticello area, all rock stretch of river and on Mille lacs lake bobber fishing the windward side of structure. Used bobbers to keep bait out of the rocks.

 

[aspeck]

As far as I am concerned, walleye is the best eating freshwater fish there is. Nice firm flesh, full flavor, but not strong or overbearing. Just a delicious fish on which to feast. There are many fish that I will return to the water because I don't feel like cleaning them ... but a walleye is hard not to keep ... the taste buds and the tummy revolt if I go to release one ...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Yep .... Catch, Fillet, Release

 

[roscoe]

We've been walleye fishing NW Ontario shield lakes, and many Wisconsin waters for 60+ years. Many many techniques work. Key is getting the bait to the fish.

In some waters, Jigging in 4 to 6' of water with small crawler or minnow or leach, either under the weeds, or over a mud flat that have hatching grubs or leaches coming out of hibernation. Later in the year, deeper water, 10' - 30'.

During the mayfly hatch, you have to be right in the swarms with 1"-1.5" long red worms.

Evenings, floating rapalas on weedy shore lines that hold baitfish, and then drop off to deeper colder water.

Known feeding areas, lightly drag a jig n minnow across the bottom from deep to shallow.

When the bite has slowed, or on unknown waters, troll - everywhere, to cover ground and learn the areas. Around rocky points, along sandbars, adjacent to weed beds, or over them if they are submerged.

What we troll with:
a floating rapala with a 1/2 oz. weight about 30" in front of it.
Or a diving rapala or reef runner if it's not weedy.
Or a spinner lure like a little joe with minnow, with a 1/2 oz. in front of it.


Although, we make our own, using a fine 12# test steel, because we are often attacked by northern pike while trolling.

And, one family group we know are canoers and kayakers, and only use 1" hammered brass ( not copper ) spoons for trolling or jigging.

Never fished Deep Open water, where they school up, out in the deep water.


Good Luck.

 

[redneck joe]

why not copper?