How to Catch Walleye
The short answer
Walleye hold on lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams. They peak Mar–May and Oct–Nov. Start with jig + minnow: 1/8–3/8 oz jig tipped with a minnow, hopped slow along bottom breaks — the eternal walleye standard. Dusk into dark, and any low-light or chop — 'walleye chop' is real.
When Walleye bite
Spring river runs & fall turnover are prime; summer means deeper water
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
around | around | peak | peak | peak | around | around | around | around | peak | peak | around |
What to throw for Walleye
Best first. The retrieve matters more than the lure, so each one says how to work it.
- Jig + minnow — 1/8–3/8 oz jig tipped with a minnow, hopped slow along bottom breaks — the eternal walleye standard.
- Crawler harness — Nightcrawler on a spinner harness, slow-trolled or drifted along contours in summer.
- Crankbait — Trolled or cast over points and flats at dusk — pick a size matching the local baitfish.
- Jigging spoon — Vertical over marked schools in deep water, winter and summer.
Where to find them
Look for lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams.
Walleye hate sun — fish the low light, the wind-blown side, and the depth breaks. Find bottom structure that meets baitfish and work it slow. The bite is a soft tick; sweep, don't slam.
Tide and timing
Tide isn't the driver for walleye — dusk into dark, and any low-light or chop — 'walleye chop' is real.
Tackle
6'6"–7' medium-light spinning · 2500 reel · 8–10 lb braid · 8 lb fluoro leader
Check the regulations
Size and bag limits change by state and by season, and they change more often than any article gets updated. Check your state agency before you keep anything.
Sounder links the right state agency for wherever you drop a pin, and flags a fish that’s out of slot as you log it.