3 Keys to Successful Walleye Trolling

Walleye are among the best tasting freshwater fish you’ll catch. One of the most popular methods for bringing these deep water beauties to the boat is trolling.

It takes more than a boat and some tackle to successfully troll walleye, though, and today we’ve got three tips to help you stay ahead of the curve.

RELATED: 4 Top Lures for Catching Walleye

Tie On the Right Baits for the Job

Choosing the right bait for trolling is the first step in the process. When considering which baits to use, think about the main forage in the lake you’re fishing, which will help you determine the lure style you should start with. Typically with walleye, though, it’s a safe bet to start with shad and minnow imitators.

In the shad-style baits, I like Berkley’s Flicker Shad, especially when the fish are actively feeding on shad, perch or crappie. Bonus Tip: The size of the forage in a given lake tends to be smaller earlier in the year, so go with a smaller lure if you’re fishing during this period.

RELATED: 4 Night Fishing Tips for Walleye

Find the Feeding Depth

Running the right lures is just one piece of the walleye trolling puzzle; you also have to put those baits at the right depth for them to attract fish. Using your electronics, your first instinct might be to run your lures right at the depth where you’re marking fish, but there’s a good chance you won’t get bites doing that.

Walleye typically feed “up,” meaning their feeding depth is actually above where you’re marking them. Because of this, running your lures roughly five feet above them will lead to more strikes. When fish are hanging close to the bottom, though, sticking close to structure, you’ll have better luck running lures right in front of their faces.

Get to Know Your Running Depths

Knowing exactly how deep your lures run is one of the most important keys to being successful at trolling, especially walleyes. Most lures, especially those made for trolling—Rapala’s Trolls-To series, for example—will indicate their trolling depth on the package.

I’ve also written on my crankbait box and on stickers to indicate each lure’s depth. To each his own, right? Bonus Tip: You can download the Precision Trolling Data App, available for both Android and iPhone formats, to have information on the trolling depths of a multitude of lures.

Photo credit: Wikimedia