i was just wondering what do all of you use to catch walleye. i know spinners work good, but is there any good swimbaits or lures?

Salmo Hornets are good as well as Rappala Tail Dancers(I use the deep version). Still can't beat a jig and leech on the bottom. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Fisherman720,

I love LuckCraft live pointers expensive but the action is awesome. Also Reef Runners ,Rapala Deep Tail Dancers are good up here.  In Lake Erie nothing beats a good harness and crawler.    

Thanks Tony NAFC Life Member

thanks guys i'll be sure to go out to bass pro and pick some up.

I suppose that kind of depends on where you fish but I fish the Mississippi River in NE Iowa and catch most of my fish in 6-8' of water. I mainly troll using Rapala Shad Raps, Shad Rap RS or the Jointed Shad Raps in the 5 size. I also use the Cotton Cordell Walleye Diver or Jointed. If I'm fishing wing-dams usually a jig/twister tail combo. If the fish happen to move shallow on rip-rap shoreline I use the Rapala Husky Jerk and at the same time I will float a leech on a bobber.

up here in menominee on the bay of green bay when the waters colder we use culprit great lakes goby jigs, when the water warms up and the shad (alewifes) move in we switch to deep diving raps (usualy perch yellow perch or firetiger) right now i've been slaming them off of green spoons and 1/4 ounce jigs with a walleye sucker minnow on it or floating crawler harnness with a bottom bounce and letting the current take it away walleye fisher

Walleye fishing can be done very cheaply, or expensive. Here is what i would get. Shap raps(both deep and shallow divers), JIGS, JIGS, slip bobbers and hooks, weights and live bait hooks, spinners(#2-#6 blades, i perfer to make my own), a few spoons in bright colors(old reliable), twister bodies(normally white, green, chartruse, orange, red 2"-4" sizes). These are my favorite type of lures to use. Remember what works in one place and time might not work at another at the same time. BE FLEXIBLE. Other then the rapalas, most of this stuff can be picked up relatively cheap. When i get the chance to get out to the water i have ples lined up and ready with different setups. It really helps with the ability to change out faster. OH and by the way, the jig colors are usually brighter ones. White, Glow, Chartruse, red, even black or grey are my perfered colors. Good luck out there.

 

Luke

where I live about a half hour south of Ft.Wayne Indiana we have the St Marys river. While you can catch walleye anytime of year there seem to be two seperate 10 day to 2 week spells us locals refer to as the walleye run. One occurs normally around Memorial day. The other one comes right around the fall equinox... now... You can catch these fish on numerous different baits, but one of the best things I've had luck with is small bluegill in the 3 to 4 inch range. We usually just put a 1 ounce weight behind a barrel swivel and run a 18 to 24 inch leader out to a medium sized hook. I sometimes run 2 leaders and hook the gill just behind the dorsal fin and up front between the eyes and the mouth. Cast out and just leave the bail open and wait. When the line starts running out give it a second then set the hook.
Avid outdoorsman NE Indiana

We have a simmilar "run" here in NE Illinois on the Fox river and Chain of Lakes. Those must be some walleye if you are using bait that large! I may have to make a trip next spring! Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

You would be welcome anytime my friend. The river I mentioned is part of the Lake Erie watershed and I've personally caught them up to six pounds and have a buddy thats caught over an eight pounder nearly 30 inches long. The bluegill idea sounded strange to me at first too but when you consider a small gill is not really much larger than some shiners you can buy. Shiners might work just as well but the only reason I use the little gills is cause they"re easy to catch and free basically minus a few waxworms. I might add that it is legal to do that here but may not be everywhere so check the local regulations before you try it. My son and I went to a nearby pond and caught about 8 little gills just perfect size and I am planning to go try it early tomorrow. The river here is so low this year I'm gonna try a few holes I know of and we'll see what happens. Good fishing !!
Avid outdoorsman NE Indiana

what is the best live bait for walleye? I've just become a hard core fisherwoman.I do alot of fishing in the sandstone river in summers county WV.

I have had my best luck with a jig and leech or leech and Lindy rig. Second goes to minnows and crawlers rigged the same way. A word of warning: the bulk of my fishing is from the Chicago area north to the Canadian border and I think you are a bit south of there! Tom

The first question: Rapalas and other minnow/shad shaped baits. As for swimbaits I've been playing with these ones from Gander Mtn. that are a lot like the Mr Twister sassy shad. They come in sizes from 2" up 4" with colors going from pearl to shad to fire tiger (perch). And they won't break the bank like the new hollow swim baits. Question two: Gulp minnows or leechs on a jig or spinner is quite deadly. Having said that live minnows and leechs are best.