WU-211: Two-Timing Walleyes - Part 1

by Mark Martin & Dave Truett

Fall Walleye Patterns - In the fall, try following a pattern that mirrors the predictability of the walleyes.  It goes like this: jig moderate depths most of the day; cast or troll minnowbaits in the last hour or two before dark and on into the night.  Sounds straight forward enough?  You bet it is.  Although other patterns exist, such as plumbing the depths with lead-core line, keep it simple everywhere from the natural lakes of the North country to the big water of Lake Erie and the rest of the Great Lakes.

This is the time of year when walleyes are primed to feed before winter, focusing on minnow- related prey..  That’s precisely what you need to do the same, working live bait or plastic minnows on slim-minnow imitations, once the witching hour arrives.  The way that we look at it, is a recipe for destruction!   For all excellent fall fishing in the depths during the daytime, you need to know when to say when.  That is, you need to slide shallower when the sun nears the top of the trees.  Like clockwork, walleyes move in farther and are even more aggressive.  That makes them perfect targets for minnowbaits.

Dave with a nice ‘Eye, jigging the shoals as the sun starts to settle in the western sky.

Actually when walleyes are on a feeding frenzy in the Fall, one can catch them more often with imitation minnowbaits than with live bait rigs.  Keeping your baits running in the water will attract more quantities of walleyes than constantly removing your live bait from the water and hooking on a fresh minnow.  Remember that when night fishing with crankbaits, walleyes can see the silhouette of the bait against the upper layers of the water column.  Plus, it is a real pain when fishing with live bait at night, having to constantly  re-bait your presentation.

At night trolling a minnow plug, is an excellent way to cover a lot of water very quickly.  Walleyes seem to group together at night when they are frenzy-feeding.  Make sure that you take along a white on yellow-colored buoy marker to easily mark the spot when you start to hook up into a large school.  It is easier at night to relocate your hot spot this way.

Ah!  Night-time walleyes.  It just doesn’t get any better than this!  Try it and you will agree.

Questions and Answers

1. In the Fall, when are the key times to jig, cast or troll for walleyes?  Jig moderate depths most of the day.  Cast or troll minnowbaits in the last hour or two before dark and on into the night.
2. What other pattern exists in the Fall, which produce good results for walleye?  Plumbing the depths with lead-core line, using a slim-minnow imitating plug.
3. In the Fall, walleyes are primed to feed before winter.  What type of baits are most effective?  Minnow-related, slim plugs work best.
4. At what time of the day should you move shallower with your baits?  When the sun nears the top of the trees is when you slide shallower with your baits.  Like clockwork, walleyes move in farther and are even more aggressive.  That makes them perfect targets for minnowbaits.