Walleye Fishing Information
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Walleye Fishing Tips, Techniques and More
This page has walleye information, fishing tips, techniques, art and more.
Walleye are freshwater fish, native to North America. They are named for their large eyes that reflect light at night.
Many people consider walleye to be the best-tasting freshwater fish.
photo credit: Ohio DNR
Walleye are freshwater fish, native to North America. They are named for their large eyes that reflect light at night.
Many people consider walleye to be the best-tasting freshwater fish.
photo credit: Ohio DNR
Table of Contents
What are Walleye?
Walleye are members of the perch family of freshwater fish. They are usually marked with a pattern of dark olive-brown and yellow-gold, with speckling on the sides and a dark area along the rear of a spiny dorsal fin. The lower lobe of the tail is tipped with white. The species grows to about 30 inches and 15 pounds. Other names for the species include walleye pike, yellow pike, or yellow walleye. Walleye Fishing Articles
- Lake Erie Night Fishing for Walleye
- Night walleye fishing is all together different than day fishing and will give you an adrenalin rush addiction!
- Lake Erie Walleye Fishing Tips and Techniques
- Fishing guides employ a variety of techniques when fishing for Lake Erie walleye in the spring. Anglers can either troll or cast for these fish along the shorelines. Casting begins in late April as anglers fish the shallow shore lines. At the end of April these fish have spawned and are ready to replenish their lost energy of the spawn. Throughout the early season, fishermen troll and cast for these delicious fish.
Walleye Habits
Walleye are native to Canada and the northern United States and have been stocked in cooler reservoirs throughout much of the USA. Walleye prefer clear, cool water. The often inhabit deep water during the day and move into shallow areas at night to feed. Anglers fish with jigs and other lures for walleye, working the lures slowly over productive parts of lakes. Anglers also fish for walleye with live baits including minnows, shad and nightcrawlers.
Walleye Fishing Books
The Walleye War: The Struggle for Ojibwe Spearfishing and Treaty Rights by Larry Nesper
For generations, the Ojibwe bands of northern Wisc more...0 points
Catch More Walleyes by Mark Romanack
Walleye fillets are prized across the country as outstanding more...0 points
Critical Concepts 4: State-of-the-Art Walleye Presentation (Critical Concepts (In-Fisherman)) by In-Fisherman Staff
The walleyes are swimming scared, and well they sh more...0 points
Walleye Links
- Fishing Guides and Charters
- This site lists some of the top walleye fishing trip providers.
- Freshwater Fishing News
- Freshwater Fishing News provides fishing news, events, species profiles, photos, art and other information.
Trolling Techniques for Lake Erie Walleye
Lake Erie's central basin has proven has proven to be the worlds gold mine for catching big trophy size walleye. If you plan to visit this region for world class fish, many fishermen consider May through the end of October to be peak months.
A local fishing guide from Wall Hanger Charters explained walleye trolling techniques, saying, "We can run planer boards out the side of the boat and run ten lines off these boards. The jet drives can go down 10 to 50 plus feet depending on the length of the line. In the spring, we are typically running 10 jets back 30 to 40 foot leads in 20 foot of water with worm harnesses and flutter type spoons, the baits of choice. We also run crank baits at this time of year, typically back 100 feet."
He went on to explain mid-season fishing, explaining, "As the water warms, and summer is upon us, we move to deeper waters running 40 and 50 jets with leads of 60 to 125 feet back. This is also the time we start to use dipsy divers back the same amount of lengths. When using dipsy divers we run a 6 foot lead behind them with Michigan stinger spoons in various colors."
Trolling an S pattern really also helps to trigger these fish during the spring. The bait fish in the deeper waters are larger alewives, smelt, and emeralds. This is the time to use larger spoons in the 4-6 inch range. Up to 16 rods at one time are used in deeper waters. 8 rods are run on planer boats, 6 dipsy divers and 2 down riggers. The dipsy divers are set on different settings of 1, 2, and 3. The downriggers use 10 pound balls with leads of 25 feet.
For more walleye fishing tips and techniques, visit Lake Erie Fishing Charters.
A local fishing guide from Wall Hanger Charters explained walleye trolling techniques, saying, "We can run planer boards out the side of the boat and run ten lines off these boards. The jet drives can go down 10 to 50 plus feet depending on the length of the line. In the spring, we are typically running 10 jets back 30 to 40 foot leads in 20 foot of water with worm harnesses and flutter type spoons, the baits of choice. We also run crank baits at this time of year, typically back 100 feet."
He went on to explain mid-season fishing, explaining, "As the water warms, and summer is upon us, we move to deeper waters running 40 and 50 jets with leads of 60 to 125 feet back. This is also the time we start to use dipsy divers back the same amount of lengths. When using dipsy divers we run a 6 foot lead behind them with Michigan stinger spoons in various colors."
Trolling an S pattern really also helps to trigger these fish during the spring. The bait fish in the deeper waters are larger alewives, smelt, and emeralds. This is the time to use larger spoons in the 4-6 inch range. Up to 16 rods at one time are used in deeper waters. 8 rods are run on planer boats, 6 dipsy divers and 2 down riggers. The dipsy divers are set on different settings of 1, 2, and 3. The downriggers use 10 pound balls with leads of 25 feet.
For more walleye fishing tips and techniques, visit Lake Erie Fishing Charters.
Fishing Information
How to Clean and Fillet Walleye
To Fillet Walleye1. Scale the fish with a manual or electric fish scaler. While holding the fish with one hand, use the tool to remove all scales. You must run the scaler from tail to head in order to get the scales off. The skin should be smooth when all scales are gone. Rinse well.
2. Cut behind the gill, from back down to flank.
3. Working from the top, slice along the skeleton, connecting from head to tail. Follow downward, cutting the meat away from the ribs.
4. Make a vertical cut near the tail, cutting down to the bone. Continue filleting from top to bottom, carefully separating the meat from the skeleton along the entire length of the fish.
5. Rinse the fillet and place on ice immediately.
To Clean Whole Walleye (bone in)
1. Scale as described above.
2. Cut downward behind the fish's head, severing the backbone. Continue cutting downward behind the fish's gills, stopping before cutting into the digestive tract.
3. Cut from the lower belly back to the vent, avoiding all organs. The head and internal organs should separate from the body at this point. Remove all organs, saving the fish roe if any is found.
4. Cut off the tail and fins.
Freshwater Fish
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