Walleyes Inc. Action packed adventures in walleye fishing on the internet.

    Many devoted walleye chasers wouldn't think of going after their 
favorite fish without a good supply and wide variety of live bait. 
Minnows of various sizes and species, leeches and nightcrawlers are all 
proven favorites of glassy-eyed fish.  However, there are times when 
plastic baits will be just as productive and easier to use than the live 
stuff.
    Most walleye anglers are familiar with plastic bodied jigs with 
curly tails.  These jigs have subtle action bodies and are excellent 
finesse jigs.  The plastic bodies I have in mind have larger bodies and 
much more tail action.
    Plastic baits are productive year 'round but I really like them 
during warm weather.  When the water is warm, fish are frequently more 
willing to chase a bait.  A plastic bait can be moved quickly, so more 
water can be covered.  The more water you cover, the more walleyes 
you'll have the opportunity to catch.
    A jig heavier than normal is required to move the bait along at a 
quick pace.  1/4, 5/16. 5/8 ounce heads are the sizes I use especially 
with WildEye Minnows and WildEye Finesse Minnows, from Storm Lures.
    Walleyes will frequently spread out over shallow flats or on 
points.  When they do so, try trolling at a fairly quick clip.  Tie on a 
jig and plastic trailer heavy enough to stay near the bottom as the boat 
moves along.  As the trolling pass is made, sweep the rod so the bait 
jumps, then falls back to the bottom. A 6'6" Quantum medium heavy action 
spinning rod with Berkley XT in eight to ten pound test will be about 
right. 
At times, walleyes can be found over the tops of cabbage weeds, 
especially during low-light periods.  At other times they'll suspend 
along the deep edge of the cabbage.  These are the times when the 
WildEye heads come into play.  Especially the bullet shaped heads, 
because they tend to slide through the weeds and can be ripped when they 
become stuck, triggering a strike from a fish.  Swim the jig and the 
tail combo over the tops of the weeds, then let it fall along the deep 
edge.  This technique can be very productive.
Storm Lures has also added a new dimension to its lure selection. 
Imagine combining the qualities of plastic along with the swimming 
factors of a crankbait. Have you ever seen a lure like this before? 
Neither has a fish. It's half Storm hard bait and half Storm soft 
plastic.  It's like when the guy with the peanut butter collides with 
the chocolate guy and creates new combination that's dynamite.
The new Storm Soft Shad has a Holographic hard body inside and durable 
soft plastic outside.  Cast or troll.  Fish it like a crankbait lure for 
any specie of game fish.  The soft outside looks and feels like a real 
baitfish when the lure gets bit they hang on because it feels like the 
real thing.

"The naturalistic colors, holographic swimin' flash foil, Storm WildEye 
and life-like swimming action make the Soft Shad so real it could get 
lost in a minnow tank." (2004 catalog)
Bait action again can be the triggering factor for many a finicky 
walleye, northern pike and bass.  In cold clear water use a slow wobble 
and slow retrieve or trolling speed.  In warmer water, tight action and 
increased speed will increase your chances of a larger fish.  Check your 
action when you attach your lure to the line.  Run the lure along side 
the boat to see if it has a tight or slow wobble.  Many baits can be 
tuned to run true by bending the nose ring on the bait.  This will allow 
the bait to run in the correct path behind the boat.
    Be a change up person.  Don't stick with one bait all the time.  Try 
different colors, presentation, size, rattles and added weight.  So many 
fishermen tend to stay with old methods that have worked before and fail 
to boat fish because they are stubborn about bait selection.
    Remember you can be sure that you have made the right selection when 
choosing a lure because, you have done the research and you are not 
afraid of trying a new approach.  The ultimate decision comes when you 
start tying into those fish and when you do let me know where they are 
biting by dropping me a line on the web at www.samanderson.com

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