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Andrew Martinsen's Walleye Fishing Update
The Shallow Strategy
Raking in Fish in Shallow Lakes and Rivers
Walleye fishing strategies are an important step to success, because without effective strategies you may end up going home empty handed and missing out on some great fish. Strategies you use should depend on the waters being fished and the specific conditions present.
Fishing a shallow lake requires a good strategy. Because the lake is shallow all the way across, there are fewer places for the fish to hang out, and this makes it easier to find them. The darker waters in these lakes provide cover for the Walleye, and this means that you may find the fish in water as shallow as a few feet.
Locating water in shallow lakes means using a strategy that does not include speed, because of the ten horsepower limit. Trolling along the shoreline can help you locate shelves that jut out into the lake, and these are prime areas for both bait fish and Walleye. Look for shelves that are at the most ten feet deep. Use either a jig or a crankbait, and make sure to keep your boat within casting range and avoid drifting too far. Precision boat control is important in this situation. Shelves which have active Walleye populations will result in some action, and this will let you know you are in the right spot. If crankbaits are not getting results, try switching to a jig and minnow presentation. This may prove successful when earlier efforts and presentations have failed. A jig that weighs between one sixteenth and one eighth of an ounce is most effective.
Trolling a river that has a current around eight miles an hour and is between fifteen and twenty five foot deep requires a strategy created just for this situation. Set your speed according to the clarity of the water. If the water is dark, start out slow, around one mile per hour. If the water is clear you can start at a faster speed. Planer boards may not work in this situation, so you may need to set up a number of rods individually. If you put a small split shot four to five feet above the crankbait this will stop debris such as leaves. Look at what the natural food in the river is, and use crankbaits that resemble the natural food sources. Jigs with twister tails are also an effective lure in rivers with these conditions. Pay close attention to turns and bends in the river, as well as areas where the river bottom rises up and then drops back down. Walleye loves spots like these to lie in wait and ambush their prey. Look closely at areas where fast water or currents meet slower waters, because Walleye like these spots. Troll slowly along the edges of the river, and the results you get Walleye fishing will be much better.
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