CRANKBAITS FOR WALLEYES THIS YEAR

It might not look like it, but open water fishing season is fast approaching. It is good to add a new technique to your fishing bag of tricks every year. Many anglers are aware of how effective crankbaits can be for walleyes, but there are still a lot of anglers who have not yet discovered the productivity of these lures when walleyes are the target. Following are some ideas for catching more walleyes on crankbaits.

Crankbaits are created from hard plastic and are usually in the shape of a minnow, although there are also crankbaits that resemble crawdads, grasshoppers, and anything else that might live in or around water. The come in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and running depths. For walleyes, crankbaits with a long, slim design are usually preferred. Walleyes tend to feed on real minnows that are longer and thinner in shape, therefore a lure of that configuration will usually be best. Not always, but usually.

Crankbaits have developed a reputation of appealing to big walleyes. In fact, many anglers have caught their personal biggest walleyes on crankbaits.

Although crankbaits are productive spring, summer, and fall, many successful walleye chasers use them the most in late spring until ice-up.

If the fish are pinpointed, it works well to cast crankbaits to them. However, if the walleyes are spread out over a large area, trolling is the way to go.

It used to be thought that your crankbait should be banging on the bottom for maximum effectiveness, and that still works well. But there are times when a bait running off the bottom will produce also. You need to determine where the fish are, then select a bait that runs at that level.

The Frenzy Flicker Shad crankbaits, although new to the fishing world, have been very productive in early workouts. They are available in a size 5 and a larger size 7. The 5’s are great early in the year, the 7’s are good when the water warms and a larger bait is desired.

If you’ll be trolling your crankbaits, a line counter reel is a big advantage. There are guidelines available that show how deep a lure will run with a certain amount of line out. The line counter reel will show how much line is out, and will let you know how deep the bait is running. When the productive depth is determined, you can match that depth on every trolling pass.

A softer action, longer rod, something like a seven foot medium action Lightning Rod with an Abu Garcia line counter reel spooled with 14/6 FireLine is perfect for most crankbait trolling applications.

The crankbait can be attached by either tying directly to your line or by using a Cross-Lok snap. However you decide to attach the crankbait, tie it on tight, because the biggest walleye you’ve ever caught might be the next fish to inhale it.

For more fish-catching information, visit http://www.fishingthemidwest.com