Precision Fishing: The Best Walleye Fishing Lures.
Walleye are the ghosts of the freshwater world. They hunt in near-total darkness and stay deep when the sun is out. To catch them, you need lures that dive deep, create the right vibration, and mimic the shiners they crave. Here is the DU Tech Team's list of proven walleye killers.
Jigging, Trolling, or Blade Baits — Choose Your Weapon
Walleye location changes by season, depth, and weather. Match your tactic to the conditions and you'll load the cooler every time.
Vertical jigging is the surgeon's approach to walleye fishing. When you've located fish stacked on a specific rock pile, drop-off, or submerged reef on your fish finder, you can drop straight down and work your lure through the exact depth where the fish are holding. The Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Jig adds a built-in rattle that walleye can feel through their highly sensitive lateral line — an edge in murky or deep water.
Find fish on sonar → position directly above → drop jig to depth → lift rod 12 inches → drop slack → repeat. The fall triggers the strike.
- Precise depth control
- Works through ice in winter
- Rattle triggers walleye lateral line
- Add live minnow for cold water
- Requires knowing where fish are
- Need quality sonar/fish finder
- Short-striking requires stinger hook
Lure Selection by Water Depth
Walleye location changes with the sun angle. Match your depth and tactic to where the fish are holding right now.
"Walleye move shallow during the "walleye chop." Cast parallel to the shoreline and use a slow, twitching retrieve."
Walleye Depth Quick-Reference Chart
| Water Depth | Tactic | Recommended Lure | Color Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ft – 12ft | Casting / Jerkbaits | Rapala Husky Jerk | Silver / Blue (Clear Water) |
| 15ft – 25ft | Trolling | Deep Diving Crankbaits | Firetiger / Chartreuse (Stained) |
| 30ft+ | Vertical Jigging | 3/8oz Jig + Soft Plastic | Glow-in-the-dark / White |
Bait-to-Technique Matcher
Click any bait type to see the best matching walleye technique and rigging tip.
Why We Love the "Walleye Chop."
"If the lake is glass-calm, walleye fishing is hard because they can see your boat and your line too clearly. Our team waits for the 'Walleye Chop' — that 1-foot wave action caused by a steady breeze. The waves break up the light entering the water, making the fish feel safe enough to move shallow. In these conditions, move to brighter colors like Orange and Firetiger. Also, always use a 'Stinger Hook' when jigging — walleye are notorious for short-striking, just nipping at the tail of your bait."
5 More Walleye Tactics from the DU Tech Team
That 1-foot wave action from a steady breeze is your best friend. It breaks up the light entering the water, makes fish feel safe moving shallow, and creates a chop on the surface that disrupts their vision of your boat. In these conditions, switch to brighter colors: Orange, Firetiger, Chartreuse.
Walleye are notorious short-strikers — they nip the tail of your bait and miss the hook entirely. A stinger is a small treble hook tied on a 2-inch leader from the main jig hook. Place it near the tail of your minnow or plastic. Guaranteed to catch every fish that would have gotten away.
Walleye eyes are extremely light-sensitive. When the sun is high and bright, they drop to 25–40ft. Follow them down with vertical jigging. At dusk, they race back shallow. Time your presentations to match the light change — the 30 minutes around sunset is the peak bite window.
When trolling crankbaits, 0.1 mph can be the difference between a dead lure and one that's swimming perfectly. Use a GPS speed readout, not your engine RPM. Cold water: slow down to 1.5mph. Warm water: speed up to 2.5mph. The fish will tell you the right speed by how often they hit.
Clear sky + clear water = natural colors (Silver, Blue, White). Overcast + stained water = bright reaction colors (Firetiger, Chartreuse, Orange). Night or deep water = Glow-in-the-dark (always). Keep at least two rods rigged with different color families so you can test without retying.
Walleye FAQ
The Rapala Original Floating Minnow and the lead-head jig with a soft plastic have each caught more walleye than any other lures. In tournament fishing, deep-diving crankbaits like the Rapala Deep Tail Dancer consistently dominate.
For jigging: 10lb braid with a 10lb fluorocarbon leader (8–10ft). For trolling: straight 12lb fluorocarbon or 20lb braid with a 12lb fluoro leader. Avoid heavy mono — it stretches too much for deep jigging.
Yes, but they move deep. During the day, fish 20–40ft. At dawn and dusk, they move shallow. During the "walleye chop" (windy overcast days), they can bite in 8–12ft all day long.
Firetiger, Chartreuse, and Orange. These high-contrast colors produce a visible silhouette in low-visibility water. Add a rattle to increase the detect-range in murky conditions.
Standard trolling speed is 1.5–2.5 mph. Start at 1.8 mph and adjust until you find the strike. In cold water (under 55°F), slow down to 1.3–1.6 mph. Walleye are slower in the cold.
Caught a Gold-Sided Beauty?
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