Walleye Fall Fishing Lure Tips

Bigger is Better

Big lures work best in the fall, for a few reasons: The walleyes, especially the females, are feeding to nourish their eggs and prefer a larger meal, which saves them the energy of chasing down multiple small meals; and the forage items, like minnows, have had all summer to grow and, thus, are at their largest in the fall. The walleyes are used to seeing and eating bigger fish, so your lure choice should reflect that.

Crankbaits are King

Most walleyes in the fall are feeding on minnows, so anglers should choose a lure that mimics a minnow. That is what crankbaits are designed to do. However, the walleyes do become more sluggish as the water cools down in the fall, so do not move your crankbait too quickly. When you feel like you are going too slowly, slow down a bit more. Additionally, use a crankbait that has a slow, wide wobble. These crankbaits will appear to be an easy meal to a walleye. If the walleyes are suspended off structure, crankbaits can be cast or trolled at the same depth the walleyes are holding. If the fish are shallow, which occurs under low-light conditions, make sure your crankbait bumps the bottom from time to time.

Fine Time to Use a Jig

Walleyes often are concentrated in specific areas in the fall, like sharp-breaking drop-offs and along the edges of deep underwater humps and reefs. The fish hang along the edges of this type of structure and wait for a potential meal to swim by. When you find walleyes in this situation, fishing directly over the top of them can pay dividends. Tie on a lead-head jig tipped with a minnow, leech or nightcrawler, or a jigging spoon, and drop the lure to the depth at which the walleyes are holding. Raise the jig or spoon a few feet, and then let it drop. Walleyes often will hit as the jig or spoon is falling. As with your lures, it is best to use large live bait. That means jumbo leeches and nightcrawlers, and large shiners or chubs for minnows.

Not Too Thick

While bigger lures are more effective in the fall, use the thinnest-diameter fishing line you can get away with. Most times, 8-lb. test line is as heavy as you need to go, since most of the walleyes you will be targeting are away from cover and other items that could break your line. Walleyes have a more difficult time seeing thin line, and lures fished on thin line perform more naturally, too.