Andrew Martinsen's Walleye Fishing Secrets

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Andrew Martinsen's Walleye Fishing Update


Andrew Martinsen on Walleye Fishing

Into the Depths of Medium-Depth Reservoirs

The deeper the reservoir, the bigger the challenge it becomes for an angler to pull out a fish. Walleye have more places to hide out and that makes them harder to find. If you are heading out to comb the deeper depths for walleye, you are going to want to take some patience and some tricks up your sleeves.

Like any other walleye, deep reservoir inhabitants like structure. Since this provides both cover and food, these are prime spots and a good place to start.

Often your depth finder will show a group of fish suspended in the deep water. During the summer walleye will go deep because the baitfish is also on the move to deeper waters. It isn't out of the ordinary to find them sitting about forty feet below.

When the fish are sitting deep it will take a little work to get them out. In most cases, sticking with lures that match available food sources works well. If the waters are bumpy and the sky overcast, opt for a fluorescent color.

Crankbaits and planer boards are the best tools for the job. There are two different presentations that you should try. Run lures anywhere from 75 to 125 feet directly behind the boat. Then run a set in the 25 to 50 foot range from the side. This will help to cover more area and reduce line tangles.

Vertical jigging with spoons can yield good results if walleye don't seem interested in crankbaits. Silver spoons work great because they imitate the baitfish that walleye can't get enough of. If the walleye are lying deep while the sky is cloudy, glow-in-the-dark spoons may be able to catch their attention in the darker waters.

You can't really go wrong with bottom bouncers tipped with minnows or night crawlers. Go big when you choose to throw live bait onto your line. The larger bait will be easier for the walleye to spot.

If you are back trolling, try adding a rattle jig to your night crawler harness. Walleye are very sensitive to vibrations and will zoom in on the bait that is making some waves. A rattling jig that is ? to 1 ounce is usually enough to stir the walleye up.

When you are fishing deep, it helps to know just how far down the fish are sitting. Walleye will usually congregate at the same depth if they find the ideal conditions. Try a lead-core line. It works with most lures that you could ever want to use. The line also is colored; the colors switch about every five feet. This makes tracking the hot zone fairly easy.

Deeper waters give the walleye lots of places to hunt, hide and just hang out with the group. If you are going to break up their little walleye gang, you will need to throw out some unexpected presentations to get them to take the bait.

May all your days on the water be good ones,

Andrew Martinsen

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