Walleye fishing is a pursuit that requires both skill and strategy. These elusive creatures are known for their keen senses and can be challenging to catch.
Walleye fishing is a pursuit that requires both skill and strategy. These elusive creatures are known for their keen senses and can be challenging to catch.
In the angling world, the art of “Walleye Rigging” stands as a testament to the craft of catching one of the most elusive and highly sought-after freshwater species.
The pursuit of walleye, with their sharp senses and cagey disposition, demands a keen understanding of their behavior and a mastery of the techniques and rigs designed to outwit these cunning predators.
Walleye rigging is more than just assembling a few components; it’s an intricate dance of bait and presentation, a symphony of choice and strategy that resonates with anglers who aim to land the coveted prize.
In this article, we’ll delve into the world of rigging for walleye, exploring various techniques and tips to help you become a more successful angler.
Understanding the Basics of Rigging
Rigging is setting up your fishing tackle in a way that attracts and entices walleye to bite.
There are various rigging methods, but the two most popular ones for walleye are live bait rigging and jigging.
Live Bait Rigging
Live bait rigging is a highly effective technique for targeting walleye. It involves presenting live baitfish or leeches in a way that appears natural to the fish.
To rig for walleye using live bait, follow these steps:
Select the right bait: Common live baits for walleye include minnows, leeches, and nightcrawlers. Choose bait that is local to the area you’re fishing in.
Use a slip sinker or Lindy rig: A slip sinker rig allows the walleye to take the bait without feeling much resistance. This increases your chances of a solid hookset.
Adjust your leader length: Depending on the water depth and walleye behavior, adjust the length of your leader.
Longer leaders work well in clear water, while shorter leaders are suitable for murky conditions.
Slow trolling or drifting: Slowly troll or drift along likely walleye spots, such as drop-offs, humps, or weed edges, while keeping your bait near the bottom.
Jigging
Jigging is another popular rigging technique for walleye. It involves using a jig head and soft plastic or live bait to mimic the movements of prey.
Here’s how to rig for walleye using jigs:
Choose the right jig head: Jig heads come in various shapes and weights.
For walleye, opt for a jig head with a shape that matches the prey in the area and a weight that allows you to reach the desired depth.
Select the appropriate trailer: Attach a soft plastic trailer to the jig head, such as a paddle tail, curly tail, or twister tail, to create a lifelike presentation.
Cast and retrieve: Cast your jig near walleye hangouts and retrieve it with a combination of hops, twitches, and pauses.
Experiment with different retrieval speeds and depths until you find what triggers bites.
Pro Tips for Successful Walleye Rigging
Pay attention to the weather: When there is little light, such as at dawn or dusk, or overcast, walleye may be more active. Adjust your rigging techniques accordingly.
Use fluorocarbon leaders: Fluorocarbon lines are nearly invisible underwater, making them ideal for leaders.
It also has low stretch, allowing for better sensitivity when detecting bites.
Be patient and persistent: Walleye can be finicky, so keep going if you get immediate results. Experiment with rigs, baits, and locations until you find what works.
Practice catch and release: Help conserve walleye populations by releasing undersized or excess fish.
This ensures a healthy population for future generations of anglers.
Walleye Rig Setup
Setting up a walleye rig involves choosing the right equipment and configuring it to target these elusive fish effectively.
Below, I’ll outline a basic walleye rig setup:
1. Fishing Rod and Reel
Rod: Choose a medium to medium-light spinning or casting rod with a sensitive tip. A 6.5 to 7.5-foot rod is a good choice for walleye fishing.
The rod’s sensitivity will help you detect subtle bites.
Reel: Match your rod with a quality spinning or baitcasting reel. Ensure the reel has a smooth drag system and is suitable for the line weight you plan to use.
2. Fishing Line
Main Line: Use monofilament, fluorocarbon, or braided line, depending on your preference.
Monofilament and fluorocarbon lines work well for most walleye applications. Consider a 6-10 lb test for the main line.
Leader Line: If you’re using a leader, which is often necessary for live bait rigging, choose a 10-14 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater and offers abrasion resistance.
3. Terminal Tackle
Hooks: Use hooks suitable for the bait you plan to use. For live bait rigging, size 4 to 6 octopus or Aberdeen hooks are common choices.
Weights: Select a suitable weight or sinker depending on the depth and current. Split shot or slip sinkers (e.g., Lindy sinkers) work well for live bait rigging. Jig heads are used for jigging.
Swivels (optional): When using a leader, attach a swivel between the main line and the leader to prevent line twists.
4. Bait
Live Bait: Walleye are often enticed by live bait such as minnows, leeches, nightcrawlers, or shiners.
Use the bait that’s prevalent in the area you’re fishing.
Soft Plastics: If you’re jigging, select soft plastic baits such as paddle tails, curly tails, or twister tails.
These should be paired with jig heads of appropriate size and weight.
5. Rigging Techniques
Live Bait Rigging
- Use a slip sinker or Lindy rig for live bait rigging.
- Thread the live bait onto the hook, leaving the point exposed.
- Adjust the leader length depending on the walleye’s location in the water column.
6. Depth Adjustment
Monitor your depth finder or fishfinder to locate walleye. Adjust your rig’s depth accordingly. Walleye often hugs the bottom, especially during the day.
7. Presentation
Slow and Steady: Whether live bait rigging or jigging, maintain a slow and steady retrieve. Walleye can be finicky and prefers a leisurely approach.
8. Patience and Observation
Walleye fishing often requires patience. Pay close attention to your line for twitches or subtle movements that might indicate a bite.
9. Regulations
Always check and adhere to local fishing regulations and size limits for walleye.
Remember that walleye behavior can vary depending on water temperature, time of day, and the specific lake or river you’re fishing in.
Therefore, it’s essential to adapt your setup and techniques accordingly.
Experimentation and local knowledge can be invaluable in finding success when rigging for walleye.
5 Best Rigs For Walleye
When it comes to targeting walleye, there are several effective rig setups and presentations to consider.
The best walleye rigs can vary depending on factors like water conditions, location, and the preferences of the fish.
Here are some of the most effective and best walleye rigs:
1. Live Bait Rig (Lindy Rig)
The Lindy Rig is a highly effective setup for targeting walleye. It consists of a few key components and is known for its ability to present live bait in a way that entices walleye to bite.
Here’s how to set up a Lindy Rig for walleye:
Components
Slip Sinker: Start with a slip sinker or egg sinker. The sinker’s weight will depend on the depth of the water and the current.
Generally, use enough weight to maintain contact with the bottom but not so much that it gets snagged easily.
Lindy Rigs are often praised for enticing walleye in various water conditions, making them a go-to choice for many anglers.
Swivel: Tie a swivel to the end of your main fishing line. The swivel serves as a connection point between the main line and the leader.
Fluorocarbon Leader: Attach a fluorocarbon leader to the other end of the swivel.
The length of the leader can vary, but it’s often in the range of 3 to 5 feet.
A fluorocarbon leader is preferred because it’s nearly invisible underwater and has low visibility.
Hook: Tie a suitable hook to the end of the leader. The hook size can vary depending on the size of the bait you’re using and the walleye you’re targeting. Common choices include size 4 to 6 octopus or Aberdeen hooks.
Bait
Thread live bait such as minnows, leeches, or nightcrawlers onto the hook. Ensure the bait is presented naturally and enticingly, often with the hook’s point exposed.
Lindy rigging for walleye tips
Once your Lindy Rig is set up with bait, you can employ the following fishing techniques:
Slow Trolling: Slowly troll the Lindy Rig along likely walleye spots, such as drop-offs, humps, or weed edges.
Keep the bait near the bottom, allowing it to move naturally with the current.
Drifting: If conditions allow, you can also drift with the Lindy Rig. This involves letting the wind or current carry your baited rig as you cover potential walleye-holding areas.
The Lindy Rig is favored by many anglers for its ability to keep live bait near the bottom, where walleye often feed.
Its design allows walleye to take the bait with minimal resistance, increasing the chances of a solid hookset.
2. Spinner Rig
A Spinner Rig is a popular and effective setup for targeting walleye.
This rig is designed to attract walleye with flash and vibration, making it especially effective when trolling at slow to moderate speeds.
Here’s how to how to make walleye spinner rigs:
Components
Spinner Blade: Start with a spinner blade of your choice. Spinner blades come in various shapes, sizes, and colors.
Colorado and Indiana blades are commonly used for walleye fishing due to their ability to create noticeable vibration.
Beads: Add a few plastic or glass beads above the spinner blade. These beads serve as attractors and add extra noise and color to your presentation.
These rigs are often favored when trolling, and many anglers report success, especially in open water.
Leader Line: Tie a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader to the bottom of the spinner blade.
The length of the leader can vary, but a common range is 18 to 36 inches.
Hooks: Depending on your local regulations and personal preference, you can use single hooks, treble hooks, or even snell hooks.
Attach one or more hooks to the end of the leader.
Bait
Spinner Rigs often use live bait such as nightcrawlers, leeches, or minnows. Thread the bait onto the hooks to allow it to spin freely and impart additional action to the rig.
Fishing Technique
To effectively use a Spinner Rig for walleye:
Trolling: Attach the Spinner Rig to your main fishing line and troll it behind your boat.
The speed at which you troll can vary, but a speed of around 1 to 2 miles per hour is often a good starting point.
Spinner Rigs are popular among anglers who want to cover a wide area and attract walleye with flash and vibration.
Depth Adjustment: Use a depth finder or fishfinder to locate the walleye and adjust the depth of your rig accordingly.
Walleye are often found at various depths depending on water temperature and time of day.
Experiment: Vary your trolling speed and depth until you find what triggers bites. Spinner Rigs are versatile, so don’t hesitate to experiment with different blade colors and bait options to determine the walleye’s preferences on a given day.
Spinner Rigs are effective for covering a lot of water and attracting walleye from a distance due to the flash and vibration they produce.
They are particularly useful when walleye are scattered or when you’re trying to locate active fish.
3. Bottom Bouncing Rig
A Bottom Bouncing Rig is a specialized setup commonly used by anglers to target walleye, particularly in deeper water or areas with strong currents.
This rig is designed to keep the bait close to the bottom while allowing it to move naturally with the current.
Here’s how to set up and use a Bottom Bouncing Rig for walleye:
Components
Bottom Bouncer or Weighted Wire: The key component of a Bottom Bouncing Rig is the bottom bouncer or weighted wire.
This is a piece of wire with a weight (bottom bouncer) at one end and a leader line attachment point at the other.
The weight is the part that makes contact with the bottom.
Leader Line: Attach a leader line (usually made of fluorocarbon or monofilament) to the end of the bottom bouncer opposite the weight.
The length of the leader can vary but is typically around 3 to 5 feet.
Hooks: Tie one or more hooks to the end of the leader. The choice of hooks depends on your preference and local regulations. Single hooks or treble hooks can be used.
Bait
Bottom Bouncing Rigs often use live bait like nightcrawlers, leeches, or minnows.
The bait is typically threaded onto the hooks in a way that allows it to move naturally in the current.
Fishing Technique
Here’s how to use a Bottom Bouncing Rig effectively for walleye:
Casting or Trolling: Depending on the fishing situation, you can use a Bottom Bouncing Rig for casting and trolling.
Casting: Cast the rig to your target area and allow it to sink to the bottom. Maintain a slow, steady retrieve while keeping the line at a slight angle to maintain contact with the bottom.
Trolling: The boat’s forward motion will keep the rig near the bottom. Adjust your trolling speed to control depth.
Depth Adjustment: Use a depth finder or fishfinder to determine the depth at which walleye holds.
Adjust the leader’s length and the bottom bouncer’s weight to reach the desired depth.
Feel for Strikes: Walleye bites while using a Bottom Bouncing Rig can be subtle. Pay close attention to your rod tip and line for any twitches or changes in tension.
When you feel a bite, set the hook with a firm but controlled upward motion of the rod.
Tips for Successful Bottom Bouncing
- Bottom Bouncing Rigs are effective in deepwater situations, along drop-offs, and in strong currents where walleye feed near the bottom.
- Experiment with different leader lengths and weights to find the right combination that keeps your bait in the strike zone.
- Maintain a slow and steady retrieve or trolling speed to keep the bait near the bottom and allow it to move naturally.
- Be patient, as walleye may take their time to decide to strike.
- Bottom Bouncing Rigs are particularly effective when walleye are concentrated in specific areas or held near the bottom.
4. Slip Bobber Rig
A Slip Bobber Rig is a versatile and effective setup for targeting walleye, especially when you want to suspend the bait at a specific depth in the water column.
This rig allows you to adjust the depth at which your bait is presented easily. Here’s how to set up and use a Slip Bobber Rig for walleye fishing:
Components
Slip Bobber: The slip bobber is the key component of this rig. A buoyant bobber can slide up and down the fishing line.
Bobber Stop: The bobber stop is a piece of plastic or rubber attached above the slip bobber on a fishing line. It prevents the bobber from sliding up the line beyond a certain point.
Beads: Add a few plastic or glass beads above the bobber stop. These beads serve as protectors, preventing the bobber from damaging the slip bobber.
Leader Line: Attach a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader below the slip bobber.
The length of the leader can vary but is typically in the range of 3 to 5 feet.
Hook: Tie a suitable hook to the end of the leader. Common choices include size 4 to 6 octopus or Aberdeen hooks.
Bait
Slip Bobber Rigs often uses live bait such as minnows, leeches, or nightcrawlers. Thread the live bait onto the hook in a way that presents it naturally.
Fishing Technique
To use a Slip Bobber Rig effectively for walleye:
Adjust the Depth: Determine the depth at which you believe the walleye are holding, or experiment to find their preferred depth.
To adjust the depth, slide the slip bobber up or down the fishing line and secure it in place with the bobber stop.
Cast and Wait: Cast your rigged line to the target area and let the baited hook sink to the desired depth.
The slip bobber will float on the surface, indicating when you have reached the selected depth.
Monitor the Bobber: Watch the slip bobber closely for any movement. If a walleye takes the bait, the bobber will submerge, tip, or move unnaturally.
Set the Hook: When the bobber reacts to a bite, set the hook by lifting the rod tip quickly and firmly to secure the fish.
Tips for Successful Slip Bobber Fishing
- Use a sensitive line to detect subtle bites and to ensure the bobber reacts to even the slightest fish movement.
- Experiment with different bait types and depths until you find what triggers bites from walleye.
- Slip bobbers are excellent for presenting bait above submerged structures, drop-offs, and other likely walleye-holding areas.
- Be patient and attentive while waiting for the bobber to signal a bite. Walleye can sometimes strike gently.
- Slip Bobber Rigs are a fantastic choice for anglers looking to precisely control the depth at which they present their bait to walleye.
5. Three-Way Rig
A Three-Way Rig is a versatile and effective setup used in various fishing scenarios, including walleye fishing.
It’s particularly useful when you want to present your bait near the bottom while keeping it at a specific depth.
Here’s how to set up and use a Three-Way Rig for walleye:
Components
Three-Way Swivel: The key component of a Three-Way Rig is the three-way swivel.
It has three attachment points: one for the main line, one for the dropper line with a weight, and one for the leader line with a hook.
Dropper Line with Weight: Attach a dropper line to one of the swivel’s eyes. On the other end of the dropper line, add a weight.
The weight should be heavy enough to keep your bait near the bottom.
Leader Line with Hook: Attach a leader line to the remaining eye of the swivel. The length of the leader can vary but is often around 2 to 3 feet.
At the end of the leader, tie on a suitable hook. The hook size depends on your bait and target walleye size.
Bait
Live bait like minnows, leeches, or nightcrawlers is commonly used with Three-Way Rigs.
Thread the live bait onto the hook in a way that presents it naturally.
Fishing Technique
To use a Three-Way Rig effectively for walleye:
Casting or Trolling: Depending on the fishing situation, you can use a Three-Way Rig for casting and trolling.
Casting: Cast the rigged line to the target area.
Trolling: When trolling, let out enough lines so that the weight touches the bottom.
Adjust your trolling speed to control depth. Trolling with a Three-Way Rig is effective when covering larger areas.
Depth Adjustment: Use a depth finder or fishfinder to determine the depth at which walleye holds.
Adjust the leader’s length and the weight’s size to reach the desired depth.
Feel for Strikes: Walleye bites on a Three-Way Rig can sometimes be subtle. Pay close attention to your rod tip and line for any twitches or changes in tension.
When you feel a bite, set the hook with a firm but controlled upward motion of the rod.
Tips for Successful Three-Way Rig Fishing
- A Three-Way Rig is effective for fishing near structures, drop-offs, humps, and other likely walleye-holding areas.
- Experiment with different bait types and depths until you find what triggers bites from walleye.
- Use a sensitive line to detect subtle bites, and ensure the weight is heavy enough to maintain bottom contact.
- Be patient while waiting for the walleye to take the bait. Sometimes, they may nibble or bite gently.
A Three-Way Rig offers precise control over depth and bait presentation. It is a valuable tool for walleye anglers, especially when targeting fish near the bottom or in varying depths.
Adjust your setup and technique based on local conditions and the behavior of the walleye you’re targeting.
Remember that the choice of the best rig for walleye fishing can vary depending on the specific conditions you’re facing, including water depth, temperature, and walleye behavior.
Successful walleye anglers often experiment with different rigs and presentations to adapt to changing conditions and find what works best on any given day.
Additionally, local knowledge and guidance from experienced anglers in the area can be invaluable for selecting the most effective walleye rig.
Conclusion
Rigging for walleye is both an art and a science. It requires a deep understanding of the fish’s behavior, the right choice of baits and rigs, and patience.
You’ll increase your chances of reeling in that trophy walleye by mastering the abovementioned techniques and adapting them to the specific conditions you encounter on the water.
So, grab your gear, head to your favourite walleye waters, and put these rigging tips into action for a rewarding fishing experience. Happy angling!
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