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Walleye Caught By my Dad

Walleye caught on the Columbia River, WA

My great nephew and I, fall fishing on Lake ...

Catch of the day!

Walleye

The walleye is one of our most interesting game fish, and superior on the table! Walleyes can be taken on a wide variety of natural baits and artificial lures. Success, however, requires understanding of their very distinctive habits and nature. The walleye is a fish eating predator, at least in part, yet it is the gentlest biter of all game fish. It feeds on forage fish, but also relishes any fat nightcrawlers it comes across. Unlike most predator game fish, it is not stirred to attack by excessive "action." It is predominately a bottom feeder, yet at times it can be taken on the surface. Consequently, almost any lure or bait will take walleyes if it is fished long enough! The trick of walleye fishing is to settle on the lures and methods most likely to bring success, day after day. Trolling is by far the most popular walleye fishing method. Walleys tend to hug the bottom, but during the early season they move into shallow, shoreline waters. Necessary lure depth is achieved by attaching a bell sinker, about 30 inches from the lure. Trolling is done at the slowest possible crawl; with the motor barely "ticking over". With all this working well, the bell sinker will bump along the bottom while the trailing lure will barely clear it. One of the most deadly walleye combinations that can be fished consists of a No. 4 or No. 6 blade Panther Martin^® ahead of two fat nightcrawlers hung on a three-hook gang. The Panther Martin^® Bucktail, No.s 4 and 6, is self sufficient as a walleye troll. A Panther Martin^® of either of these sizes is a good bet when combined with a yellow streamer or bucktail. For best results, be slow and deliberate in everything you do in fishing for walleyes, This applies right up to the time of landing, for hooks tear right from their mouths with exasperating ease. Never "horse" a fish you want for the stringer and always use a landing net.