Hi guys, I'm one of the new kids around here and I have a question for you all. I had a little mis fortune last year and lost a big tackle box full of crankbaits, soft baits etc. ( I coulda cried ) I'm trying to get my collection built back up which has been kinda slow during this economy. I thought maybe you guys could help me out by choosing your fav. lures as if you could only have 10 with you at anytime which ones would you choose for Walleye?
Avid outdoorsman NE Indiana

My favorite cranks for the areas I normally fish are: the Cotton Cordell Walleye Diver (jointed and regular), Rapala Jointed Shad Raps, old Storm Hot'N'Tot Thin Fins, Rapala Tail Dancer and Regular Rapala Shad Rap. I have had really good luck with the Cabela's brand Shad Raps and they are sometimes on sale for under $3 or so to save some cash versus the Rapala's. I have also used the Cotton Cordell Grappler Shad. I also keep a supply of Whitler jigs (have the spinner on them) and Road Runners for jigging with twister tails (I dont normally use just a plain ball head jig). I think thats is 9 so lastly I have some floating walleye rigs/worm harness' in the boat. I mainly fish the Mississippi River in NE Iowa in 6-10' of water so these choices might not work for your area. For colors I like Firetiger, Shad, Chrome/black or Chrome/blue and I might tweak the colors based on the catch rates (or lack therof) on those colors.

Just ten! Man that's tough but here's my list. 1) round head jig: use it with live bait or plastic or both most flexible of all walleye lures. 2) shallow running stickbaits: original Rapala, Bomber A, etc. get these in floating and suspending. (would that count as two? ) 3) deep running stickbaits: see above 4) swim baits: hollow body or solid body 5) bottom bouncers/walking sinkers 6) curly tail grubs: 2,3 and 4 inch scented ones work best for me (ring worms are sutable replacement for the 4 inch grub) 7) in-line spinners: Mepps, Pather Martin, Strike King the list goes on... jigging spoons 9) slip bobbers: though technically not a bait or lure a must need for a tackle box For fun try a season without using live bait. Gulp is a good replacement if you have to have some with you but give it a try. You'll learn a lot more about walleye fishing and it's frustrations and make yourself a better fisherperson in the process.

Thank you guys for taking the time to respond with your picks. I picked up a deep run 30ft rapala/ perch crankbait the other day, but haven't tried it yet. It seem reasonable that those Zoom Flukes may be a decent soft swim choice so I got a package of them super flukes in smoky shad color as well. Either of you, or anyone else have success with these for walleye ?
Avid outdoorsman NE Indiana

The flukes work well on a jighead to keep them near bottom when the walleyes are down deep. When they suspend weightless or a small split shot about 10 inches up the line works well also. My best luck with the flukes is in fall on rivers where walleye run up to the first dam. Work the current seams by drifting the fluke thru. Remember keep your rod tip about ten o'clock and a slight bow in the line. It won't be a hit just a slight tap.

You can buy quite a few worm harnesses. They come in differant shapes and sizes and colors.

I've also used Rapala deepdown taildancers with good results.

Also a 1/4 oz jig head with a crawler (cheap and you can get it in lots of colors.)

I'm thinking it's not the lure, it's the fisherman. I keep hearing stories about suspended walleye but have never caught any. Every walleye I have ever caught has been on the bottom (this might be a function of fishing during daylight hours) either on a deep diving crank or a jig and leech. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Every walleye fisherman should own a jig first. You can tip them with anything and they will work. Worst case scenario, tip over a rock or dig in the garden for a worm and you will have one of the best presentations ever. Next, if you can afford it, I'd buy a 4" Firetiger Rapala for when you feel like casting. If you build from there...you will be assured of being "in the game"!

#1 lure would be the crankbait.I wont pick just 1 style or brand as they all have different actions,depths & cadences you can apply to catch numerous fish with.I will run them from Mar.-Dec. here in the NW WI rivers & lakes.The reason it is my #1 pick is,a walleye at times will simply CRUSH these lures!It allows a person to cover vast amounts of water in a short time finding active fish.#2 lure has got to be a jig!Here again a person cant just have 1 style or brand as they all act differently depending on line used,retreival methods employed & what you tip the jig with.The beauty of these is you can catch fish year around with them but it generally isnt quite of a aggressive fishing method such may be found using cranks.#3 Rigging another year round approach to putting fish in the boat.Weather it be just a hook & sinker or numerous variations of lindy rig,bottom bouncer,walking sinker...This method again will produce fish year round usually without breaking the bank!I will add that a floating jig is more of a rigging style setup.The floating jig needs weight to make it effective otherwise it would be a surface bait.#4 corking or bobber-slip float fishing.Another method which can catch fish all year.This again I would group into a more methodical approach to catching fish.You are targeting 1 certain area that can hold numbers of less aggresive fish most usually with this tactic.These mentioned are more styles or methods of catching fish.I will now add my top 10 favorite lures according to the waters I fish most. #1 Rapala Shad Raps.If it had to be just 1 color or size #5 Black Glass.But colors & size depend alot on waters you fish according to water clarity or stain & baitfish present #2 Rapala Jointed Shad Rap Firetiger.#5 #3 Rapala original floating minnow #9 Firetiger #4 Jigs 1/8,3/16 & 1/4oz with a wire plastic keeper such as B-Fishn tackle or Hutchs tackle offer.Colors again are dictated by water clarity & conditions. #5 Plastics such as Ringworms 4" Can be cut down for a smaller profile! #6 Bladebaits such as a Heddon Sonars,Cicadas,B-Fishn or Hutchs tackle offer 1/4oz #7 Lindy no snag sinker rigs 1/4-1/2 oz #8 Bottom bouncers 1-2oz with various harnesses #9 Slip Bobbers or floats,Thill Pro Models I find the best #10 The Basics,hooks #2-#6 wire as well as baitholders,sinkers slip & fixed mount with addition of a couple small plastic beads for color attraction & a few hairpin spinners which you add a jig & plastic to compliment your offering. This is a starter list & will cost anywhere from$100-$200+ to compile.But if you are thrifty & shop around you can keep your costs down.No better time than the present to find deals as its the end of the year is here & they will throw many of the stated items in the bargain bins!Happy Holidays .Now get out & get your string stretched!Best of luck fishing all. WHITETIP

I think every person learning to fish should first learn with a jig. It is one of the most versitile lures out there, not just a bottom dragging presentation. Yes it can and most often is fished along the bottom but with different plastics or feather/fur it has effectiveness higher up in the water column. Add a slip bobber and it works well on ALL suspending fish and you can return to the same depth without worrying about how much letback to reach the same depth consistently. The forgotten lure, in my opinion, is the in-line spinner. Just my opinion.