Okay, so I suscribe to a fairly well known fishing magazine in addition to the NAFC. Doug Stange is the author of the particular series of articles I've been reading.

In these articles he advocates the use of swimbaits on jig heads for walleyes. But not the 2-3 inch deals that seem to be the usual for chasing walleyes. Infact he scorns anything under 4 inches, praises five inches and advocates using up to six and a half.

Has anyone had any experience catching walleyes on these sizes? I personaly have a habbit of going fairly small regardless of my target. Even when looking for bass i'll only throw the really big stuff (I consider five to six inches really big except for those berkly 7inch worms. I've never really felt those were "big") if they seem to be "on".

I have a tendancy to be easily influanced by magazine articles but I realize the techniques these guys offer are somtimes verry specialized or unique to some areas so I'm wondering if any sub pro level fishermen out there have seen results like this.

   I used a 4 inch grub last year and hooked a really nice Walleye. It broke off at the shore since I couldn't get to it and tried to drag it up the bank. I have always thought the same as far as size. I will give it a shot when I go this week and let you know.

 

 

Jim USArmy 1986-Present Life Member NAFC Member Western Fishers Member Full Moon Fishers A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. Henry David Thoreau

They were throwing these swimbaits on erie I believe and also some lakes in canada when he wrote the article on them, in my area if your going to use swimbaits I dont use any of them under 4'' My twister tails are 3'' so 4'' isnt a huge jump but its still a jump I dont use any of them over 5'' never had hit off of a 5'' even I do not believe, I am also a firm believer in smaller is better, Most of my bigger fish were caugh off of 1/16-1/8th weighted jig heads with a 3 inch twister sometimes I bite some of the twister off or dull-flies (marabou jigs). I have also never caught a fish on anything that was over a 1/2 oz.
Its easier to Judge then be Judged, Its better to be Judged and Learn from it. Holdrege, Nebraska

 I fish Lake Erie and we though 3” to 6” lures both soft and hard.  Most of my lures are above 4” and my favorites are lucky craft live pointers 3 ¾” or Reef Runner deep divers 4 ¾”.  For soft swim bait I like Strike King Shad-A-Licious 4 ½” or 5 ½” or Lake Fork Live Magic Shad 4 ½” or 5 ½”.  I don’t know if this is right for were you fish but I do know It work here.  Most weigh over a ½ once. 

What magazine was it?

 

It was In-Fisherman. I just didn't want to get into any kind of trouble as if I was promoting a compeating magazine on our boards here or anything like that.

 

I actualy picked up some of the 4 1/2 5 1/2 inch shad-a-licious baits. The 5" looked so big in the package but then I took them out and put some jig heads in them they don't look so massive anymore. Still way way bigger than what i'm used to, but after a couple days of looking at them I can see myself tying them on.

My wife also picked me up a package of 6" mister twister sassy shads. Those boys are huge. I looked at them and though "pike/musky" but who knows..I'm open to giving anything a go. 

A lot of time people fish with small baits, and if they catch fish, they continue to use that same size.

Here is something to think about. Start out using big baits and chances are if you do land a fish, it’s going to big a large one.

If you don’t get any bites, you can always switch back to the smaller size.

There are times when conditions call for the use of small baits, but I'm generally of the belief.. big baits for big fish! Although I don't use plastics for trolling.. we commonly run F-18 Rapalas on Lake Ontario or Erie for walleye. They usually only produce large fish. Once in a while we pick up a "dink" on them.. but I think they're probably trying to mate with the lure. Many of my most productive worm harnesses have double #7 or 8 blades on them. Not to say that you can't catch big fish on small baits.. on our local river I get many 5# and over walleye on 1/8 oz. jigs and small fathead minnows. But for Big waters with Big fish.. I like Big baits! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

I like my pan size walleye, 2-3 pound in the 14-17 inch range. I can't think of a better eating fish than walleye. Here in NE Il. our prime walleye water has a slot limit and we can't keep fish under 14, between 18and 24 and only one over 24. The 14-17" fish seem to fit my pan just fine! BTW, we can only keep 3. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois