Successful walleye techniques for summer

Walleye are by far the most popular freshwater sport fish in Ontario. Many anglers are dedicated solely to luring walleye, who are considered by many to be the tastiest freshwater fish there is. While they are generally easiest to catch during the spring and fall, walleye can still be had during the hot days of mid-summer if you follow a few basic techniques.

The main problem with summer fishing is that the food supplies for predatory fish are extremely abundant. They are also less aggressive eaters in the summer compared to the active spring period and fall period where they feed more aggressively to prepare for winter. This means that you will need to use the best lures and techniques to attract walleye in summer. They are much more picky about what they choose to attack this season.

Walleye have excellent vision in low light and stained water conditions and generally prefer to feed at dawn, dusk, and during particularly harsh or stormy conditions. These have a stronger adverse effect on prey, giving walleye periods a significant advantage. By planning your fishing charters for these times, you will greatly increase your success rate. There is even a term known as “Walleye Chop” which refers to particularly harsh conditions when they are actively feeding.

Live bait is almost always the best option in summer. Given the abundance of food and minimal risk of running out of food, the Walleye can be downright picky about what it will bite. You definitely won’t get much action with a bare hook or basic spinner. You’re going to have to drop something pretty tempting in front of him to land a hit. For many anglers, even the most experienced ones, the selection of lures can often be quite daunting. Take a tour of your local fishing store and you’ll be presented with seemingly endless options. Many of these are supposed to attract fish, but all too often they attract only the angler. Since walleye have extremely good vision, you will need to be a little more careful to select something that will work. Something like a Rapala Flat Rap in perch color will often do the trick. You will want to make sure you have a mix of lures that look like bait and shiny lures that look ridiculous. The fish on any particular day will usually show an extreme preference for one or the other.

However, your actual fishing technique will have much more influence on your success than your lure selection. Trolling with live minnows and almost any lure will often work, but during hot summer days you will usually need to drag the lure or bait past your nose. Your best bet will be to find a good structure where the walleye are likely to hide, waiting to ambush their prey. Slow cast and retrieve methods that drag the lure along a bed of weeds or outcroppings will generally give the best results.

By selecting the best time of day and optimal Walleye feeding conditions, along with proper lure selection and technique, you can be virtually certain of a successful fishing trip.