WU-207: Shallow Water Walleyes - Part 1

by Jeff Taege & Dave Truett

Introduction:

Shallow water walleyes in weeds, timber or brush are there because of the cover it affords them. These areas provide walleyes a supply of food and a shady place to escape from the sun. When walleyes are shallow, techniques such as pitching, flipping and dipping jigs tipped with live bait, casting crank baits, or fishing slip bobbers with live bait will consistently produce.

A 10 pound walleye taken from shallow water in weeds, casting a crank bait (#5 Shad Rap Firetiger)

In the springtime the key to success is to find the areas where the waters warm up the fastest. These “warm water” areas attract bait fish and in turn attract walleyes. Areas to look for include rock and weed points, gravel and rubble shorelines, riprap banks, and mouths of feeder creeks.,

When it comes to fishing walleyes inhabiting shallow water areas, it is very important to employ subtle, even stealthy tactics. Walleyes in shallow water are among the spookiest fish to swim in fresh water, and any excess commotion or shadows from boats will force walleyes out of their shallow water haunts.

Long casts and proper boat positioning (keeping your boat off of fish holding structure) are vital parts in shallow water presentations.

Casting Crank Baits - Casting crank baits to locate shallow water walleyes is a favorite technique for finding productive feeding areas. Look for windswept points, cuts, and steep sloping shoreline areas. Casting lures can pay big dividends. It is very important to choose the lure that runs at the proper depth, occasionally ticking bottom to trigger strikes. Most of the time a slow swimming motion with occasional pauses produce best. Constant experimentation with lure color, action, diving depth, and rate of retrieve are needed to pattern what walleyes want.

Whether trolling an artificial lure or casting a crank bait, walleyes only see this bait-type silhouette and react to it aggressively. Walleyes on a feeding frenzy can be caught more easily by using a crank bait than by live bait rigging. For example, when fishing professional tournaments, it is important to keep your lure in the water and in the walleye’s face. Covering as much ground as possible as quickly as possible is what crank baits can afford you. Also your percentage of strikes will increase dramatically.

Remember, you can find walleyes fast, by casting crank baits. However, once you locate them, use other subtle types of presentations to lure more walleyes into your livewell. Be creative. It almost always pays off.

Questions and Answers

1. What is the key to finding walleyes when spring fishing? The key to success is to find the areas where the waters warm up the fastest. These areas attract bait fish and so attract walleyes.
2. Why is it important to employ subtle, stealthy techniques, when fishing in shallow waters? It is important to employ these techniques because walleyes in shallow water spook easily, and any commotion or shadows from boats will force them out.
3. What favorite technique is used for finding walleyes? Casting crank baits is very successful in finding walleyes in a productive feeding area.
4. What happens to a lure when it ticks the bottom? Occasionally ticking the bottom with a lure will trigger a walleye to strike.
5. What produces the best, when casting crank baits to walleyes? A slow, swimming motion with occasional pauses when retrieving the artificial bait produces the best results for strikes.
6. What two, simple things will increase your percentage of strikes when fishing for walleyes? Keeping your lure in the walleye’s face and covering a lot of ground quickly are what will increase your percentage of strikes.