Walleye Fishing Techniques: The Ultimate Guide for Michigan Anglers

Mastering effective walleye fishing techniques can make the difference between coming home empty-handed and landing your limit on Michigan's legendary waters. Whether you're targeting the world-class fishery of Lake Erie or exploring inland lakes across the state, understanding the right approaches, tackle, and strategies is essential for consistent success in walleye fishing.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore proven techniques for walleye fishing that work throughout the seasons, helping both novice and experienced walleye anglers improve their catch rates. From selecting the right baits to mastering specialized trolling methods, these walleye fishing tips and techniques will elevate your angling game.

Essential Walleye Fishing Techniques for Different Seasons

Spring Walleye Techniques

In early spring, walleye move into shallow areas to spawn, creating prime opportunities for anglers. During this period, focus on:

• Targeting shallow flats and spawning areas in 4-10 feet of water

• Using lighter jigs (1/8 to 1/4 oz) tipped with minnows

• Working jig heads with a slow, methodical retrieve near bottom structure

• Fishing near river mouths and tributary inflows where walleye congregate

Fishing jigs is particularly effective in spring as water temperatures begin to warm. A 1/8 oz jig tipped with a minnow or soft plastic worked slowly along the bottom can be deadly for tempting sluggish walleye in cold water.

Summer Walleye Techniques

As waters warm in early summer and into the heat of the season, walleye often move deeper or suspend in the water column:

• Trolling with crankbaits becomes highly effective

• Focus on deep water areas, especially drop offs and mid-lake structures

• Target weed edges and rock piles that hold concentrations of baitfish

• Consider night fishing when walleye move shallow to feed

One of the most productive fishing techniques for walleye during summer is trolling with crawler harnesses. These versatile rigs combine spinner rigs with night crawlers to create an irresistible presentation that triggers strikes even from neutral fish.

Fall Walleye Techniques

In late summer into fall, walleye begin transitioning back toward shallower water:

• Focus on structural elements like points and breaks

• Use blade baits with an aggressive vertical jigging presentation

• Try slowly trolling crankbaits along contour lines

• Pay attention to baitfish movements as walleye follow forage

Fall offers some of the year's best opportunities to catch walleye as they feed aggressively before winter. Vertical jigging near structure can produce some of the season's biggest fish.

Top Trolling Strategies for Walleye Success

Trolling remains one of the most consistent walleye fishing techniques for covering water and locating active fish. Michigan anglers regularly employ these specialized trolling approaches:

Crankbait Trolling

Crankbaits are cornerstone lures for walleye trolling. The most effective options include:

1. Bandits - Excellent for depths of 0-28 feet with a slower action perfect for trolling speeds of 1.5-2.5 mph. Their large profile attracts big fish and they come in countless color patterns. Top colors include Chrome Blue, Fire Tiger, and Pink Lemonade.

   
   

   

   
   

2. P-10's (Perfect 10's) - These shallow diving crankbaits feature a larger profile and slower action, ideal for trolling at 1.0-1.5 mph. Their internal rattles help walleye locate them in stained water.

3. Reef Runners - Known for erratic, hunting action and a wide wobble that triggers strikes. They require occasional tuning but their unpredictable movement makes them especially effective in open water.

4. Husky Jerks - Perfect for cold water or pressured conditions, these lures excel when trolled at 0.8-1.5 mph. Their suspending action makes them deadly during pauses in the retrieve.

Advanced Trolling Techniques

To enhance your crankbait presentation and reach precise depths, consider these specialized walleye fishing techniques:

Inline Weights

Small weights rigged a few feet ahead of your lure allow you to:

• Reach deeper water without extra-long leads

• Maintain precise depth control

• Adapt quickly to changing conditions

Bottom Bouncers

These L-shaped weight systems keep your bait just off the bottom while preventing snags:

• Maintain a 45° line angle while trolling for optimal presentation

• Pair with crawler harnesses or soft plastics for a deadly combination

• Perfect for contour trolling along drop offs and ledges

Snap Weights

These clip-on weights provide versatility for depth control:

• Allow shallow-running baits to reach deeper water

• Enable shorter leads to hit deep fish

• Provide better control in currents or windy conditions

Diving Discs and Planers

Specialized diving tools like Big Jon Mini Discs, Tru-Trips, and Jet Divers:

• Take baits deep without additional weight

• Offer stealthy presentation for clear water conditions

• Can dive 10-50 feet depending on model and setup

• Work well with various lures from crankbaits to spinner rigs

Planer Board Strategies

Planer boards significantly expand your trolling spread and increase your chances to catch walleye:

Inline Planer Boards

These small, buoyant boards attach to your line and plane your lures out to the sides:

• Spread lines horizontally to cover more water

• Allow detection of light bites through flag systems

• Work well with line counter reels for precise depth control

Top inline board options include Off Shore Tackle (with adjustable tension and tattle flags), Church Tackle TX-12 (excellent in waves), and Yellow Bird (budget-friendly).

Big Boards (Mast-Style)

These larger systems are favored by charter captains and serious anglers:

• Allow running 12+ lines simultaneously

• Track consistently even in rough conditions

• Eliminate the need to fight board resistance when fighting fish

Live Bait Techniques for Walleye

While artificials have their place, live bait remains devastatingly effective for walleye:

Crawler Harnesses

These time-tested rigs combine multiple elements that walleye can't resist:

• Flash from spinner blades

• Scent and movement from night crawlers

• Customizable with different blade types:

  • Colorado blades for murky water (0.8-1.6 mph)

  • Indian blades for all-around performance

  • Willow leaf blades for clear water and faster speeds (2.0+ mph)

Slip Bobber Rigs

Slip bobbers offer precise depth control for suspending live bait:

• Ideal for fishing over submerged structure

• Perfect for detecting subtle bites from finicky walleye

• Works well with minnows, leeches, or partial night crawlers

Jigs with Live Bait

Combining jigs with live bait creates a presentation that's difficult for walleye to resist:

• 1/8 to 3/8 oz jigs depending on depth and current

• Tip with minnows in cool water

• Use leeches or crawler pieces as waters warm

• Maintain bottom contact with occasional lifts to trigger strikes

Specialized Techniques for Challenging Conditions

Low-Light and Night Fishing

Walleye have excellent low-light vision, making dawn, dusk, and night prime times to catch walleye:

• Use shallow diving crankbaits in black, purple, or glow patterns

• Try stickbaits with subtle action near shoreline structure

• Consider fishing jigs tipped with minnows around shallow reefs

Clear Water Approaches

In gin-clear conditions, walleye become notoriously finicky:

• Use fluorocarbon leaders to reduce visibility

• Downsize your presentations with smaller baits

• Increase your casting or trolling distance to avoid spooking fish

• Consider natural finishes that match local yellow perch or other forage

Dirty Water Strategies

When visibility is limited due to algae blooms or runoff:

• Use lures with bright colors and strong vibration

• Add rattles or other noise-making components

• Slow down your presentations to give fish time to locate your offering

• Focus on shallow areas where light penetration makes feeding easier

Electronics and Finding Walleye

Modern electronics have revolutionized the ability to locate and catch walleye:

• Use side-imaging to locate key structural elements like rock piles and transitions

• Employ down-imaging to verify fish holding on structure

• Forward facing sonar helps identify actively feeding walleye and their reaction to your presentations

• Pay attention to thermoclines on your sonar as walleye often suspend near these temperature breaks

Seasonal Locations: Where to Find Michigan Walleye

Spring Locations

• River mouths and tributaries

• Shallow flats with gravel or rocky bottom

• Rocky shorelines warming in the sun

• Protected bays where water warms faster

Summer Locations

• Mid-lake structures and humps

• Deep basins adjacent to structure

• Weed beds with access to deeper water

• Suspended over open water near baitfish schools

Fall Locations

• Points extending into deeper water

• Drop offs near shallow feeding areas

• Current areas concentrating baitfish

• River systems, especially below dams

Tackle Selection for Walleye Success

Rod and Reel Setups

Your choice of equipment significantly impacts your ability to detect bites and land fish:

• Jigging Setup: 6'6" to 7' medium-light spinning rod with fast action

• Trolling Setup: 7'6" to 8'6" medium-heavy trolling rods with line counter reels

• Live Bait Rig: 7' medium action rod with sensitive tip for detecting light bites

Line Considerations

The right fishing line improves presentation and bite detection:

• 6-10 lb monofilament for light tackle applications and live bait rigs

• 10-14 lb fluorocarbon for jigging and structure fishing

• 30-50 lb braided line for main trolling line with fluorocarbon leaders

Putting It All Together

Becoming proficient in multiple walleye fishing techniques is the key to consistent success across seasons and conditions. The most successful walleye anglers are adaptable, willing to change presentations based on fish behavior rather than sticking with favorite methods.

By mastering these proven techniques for walleye fishing and understanding when to apply them, you'll dramatically improve your fishing efforts and catch more fish throughout Michigan's prime walleye waters. Whether you're trolling Lake Erie's famous walleye grounds or working inland lakes for resident fish, these strategies will help you connect with more and bigger walleye this season.

Remember that patience and persistence are virtues in walleye fishing—sometimes the difference between a slow day and landing a giant walleye is simply making subtle adjustments to your presentation until you discover exactly what triggers the bite on that particular day.

Book A Lake Erie Walleye Fishing Charter With Net Dreams Fishing Today!

Ready to put these walleye fishing techniques into practice on the legendary waters of Lake Erie? There's no better way to experience Michigan's premier walleye fishery than with the experts at Net Dreams Fishing. With Lake Erie's astounding population of over 89 million walleye, our experienced captains know exactly which techniques will produce results throughout the seasons.Book Lake Erie Fishing Charters today!