Walleye is a popular game fish that can be caught in many of the lakes and rivers throughout North America. They are very difficult to catch, but there are some tricks you can use to increase your chances of catching one. One way to do this is by using live bait like leeches or minnows on your line when fishing for walleye.
This blog post will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the best bait for walleyes so that you have an easier time catching them next time!
How To Choose Baits For Catching Walleye
Whether you are fishing for walleye, trout, or bass there is one essential item that will improve your catch. The type of bait you use greatly depends on the species and time of year but it is important to get something that will get a bite quickly.
Crankbaits
Crankbaits usually catch walleye during spring and fall when other types of baitfish are moving around. Also, crankbaits can be used to catch walleye in weed beds because they come in a variety of diving depths.
Paddle Tails
Paddle Tails can be used to catch walleye all year, but they are most successful during the summer. They are good at catching walleye suspended along weed beds, but they cannot get through heavy weeds very well. They can also be used for trolling or casting with success.
Minnows
Minnows are another good choice for catching walleye. They can be used in all three fishing conditions, but they will work the best during the summer when there’s heavy weed growth.
Leeches & Worms
Leeches and worms are effective at catching walleye, especially when there is plenty of vegetation on the bottom. During the spring, leeches and worms can be used to catch walleye that are spawning, while they can also be used all year long.
Walleye Jigs
Walleye jigs are a very effective choice of bait if you’re going after the bigger fish out on a lake. They work well for casting or trolling because they attract larger walleye.
Best Live Baits for Walleye
One of the most popular techniques for catching this toothy fish is with live bait, so you should be prepared to get your hands on some baitfish if you want to catch them.
Here are our top three choices for the best live baits for walleye:
1) Live minnows
Minnows are the most common live bait for walleye. They can be found in almost any fishing tackle store or bait shop. You will usually find them in clear plastic containers of five to ten gallons. Minnows are live fish that have their swim bladders removed so they don’t cause too much damage to your fishing line. As they are still alive, they must be kept in an aerated container to ensure they remain healthy. It is typical for anglers to use several minnows at once because walleye will eat them one by one until the entire school has been devoured.
2) Nightcrawlers
Nightcrawlers are one of the best live baits for many species of fish including walleye. They are long earthworms that can be found in almost any dirt. It is best to use ones that are at least four inches long because they will stay on your hook better and not wiggle off as easily. As with minnows, you should keep them in an aerated container to keep them alive and healthy. They are most effective when fished on the bottom of the lake or river where they can easily be picked up by a lurking walleye.
3) Leeches
The best live baits for walleye sometimes include things that aren’t even fish! Species such as the northern pike will take them with greed, so walleye certainly won’t pass up a tasty meal of leeches. Leeches can be found in most freshwater lakes and rivers during the late summer months when water temperatures are warm. They also live in stagnant pools of water that have low oxygen content. You can tell if a body of water has leeches by looking for their tell-tale blood spots on the surface of the water. Once you have some, put them in a container with some dirt or grass to keep them alive and healthy so they can provide you with many hours of fishing fun on your next outing.
What size lures do walleye like?
The best fishing lures are ones that mimic all sizes of minnows, shiners, or perch because they’re what walleye tend to prey on. If you want to catch more fish, try using bigger worms because they’re more attractive than smaller ones.
Another reason why plastic fishing lures are the best for catching walleye is that they can be fished in many different ways or used on many different kinds of setups. You can use them one at a time or in multiples (the video below shows you how to rig them).
You can also use plastic lures on an open-faced jig head, which is always the best way to fish with worms. Lake Fork jigs are specifically made for fishing with these types of plastic grubs because they’re top quality and produce more fish. You can also use the jigs with live bait, but you’ll only catch bigger fish this way because it’s harder for them to get off.
What color lures do walleye like?
Walleye are incredibly shy fish that will only bite when you present them with an opportunity. To get these tasty treats, try using colors like purple and green! These two hues come in many shades to suit any water depth or weather condition- for sunny days I recommend bright or flashy pieces while on cloudy ones go for darker tones such as solid dark greens, blues etcetera…
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the right bait for your next fishing trip, you want to use more than just a tiny piece of worm. Our blog post discusses some different types of baits that are sure to get the attention of any fish with an appetite. If you’re still not convinced, take our advice and try something new! We hope this article has helped provide insight into how each type of baitfish can help make your fishing experience easier.