Cold water Walleye fishing without any ice can be
challenging if you do not understand how the fish
behave, feed, and react under these conditions.
There are some techniques that will not work well
in water that is thirty eight degrees, even though
these same techniques may be wildly successful
in the summer.
Trolling is not effective, and neither is casting
normally. To catch the Walleye in these
conditions think slow and succulent.
One method that can be very effective in cold
water Walleye fishing is to use bait that is smaller.
Large worms and jumbo sized lures and bait will
not work as well during colder temperatures.
Use small worms and lures instead.
Leeches may work well, too.
Using bait on a smaller scale can help make
sluggish Walleye want to bite.
Jigging may work well in cold water that has no
ice. Slip bobbing can also be effective, because it
can be slow enough. Watch your line closely,
because some bites may not be very aggressive
at first, reflecting the lethargic walleye.
A stinger hook can be a great way to catch
Walleye in cold water that is around thirty eight
degrees Fahrenheit.
Because Walleye can be sluggish, many times
their strike may fall short and just rip the tail or
end off of the bait.
A small hook, either single or treble, can be
attached to the bend, and then one hook can be
attached to the tail or end of the bait, you may be
able to land the Walleye even if it is a short strike.
When combined with a jig and either a minnow or
crawler, this can be very effective. A lighter line
can also make a big difference when Walleye
fishing.
A four to six pound test line can help you feel the
vibrations from a nibble much better during the
cold weather.
Fish at a shallower depth if the water is cold.
The thermocline will be much higher in the water,
and so will the Walleye.
The fish can be found in as little as two or three
feet of water, very close to the shore.
There is no reason to go twenty or thirty feet
down when the water temperatures are so chilly.
Spinners and light jigs which are put right in the
shallows close to shore can be extremely
effective in colder water temperatures as well.
Cold water Walleye fishing means changing the
way you think and fish. Walleye can be found all
year long, but their movements and patterns will
change.
