| Don't accept slow sumertime walleye action. Crank up your
outboard and go after them. During midsummer, walleyes stay close to baitfish, leaving
large expanses of water without fish. Also, baitfish abundance reduces walleye willingness
to chase a lure. Use power trolling to cover lots of water, searching for fish. A
spinner rig coupled with livebait provides a strong strike trigger. The spinner blade
provides flash and vibration to entice walleyes as well as other gamefish. Choose shape
and size to match the color of the walleye's preferred baitfish. Lime green, golf, or
chartreuse are best where walleyes feed on perch or fathead minnows. Use silver or white
combinations if minnows, shad, or smelt are common prey. Troll at 1 - 1/2 to 2 mph for
most situations.
Bottom bouncers are another option for summer walleye action. Tie your line to the
forward eye of the bouncer, and tie a leader with a spinner rig and crawler to the barrel
swivel. Drop it to the bottom and troll parallel to breaks, along deep flats, or across
points. For most situations, I prefer a 3 to 4 foot snell with a #2 blade. Choose bouncer
weight based on trolling speed and depth of the fish. Carry models from 3/8 to 1-1/2
ounces, a 3/8 ouncer fishes well from 10 to 15 feet, a 1/2 ouncer down to 25 feet.
The wire arm tapping bottom adds action to livebaits. The position of the lead on the
lower leg determines action. Weight near the end of the wire keeps the spinner and bait
stable as it drags. Weight farther up the shaft creates a jumpier motion that sometimes
entices more fish. |