So I have really gotten into fishing, specifically Rainbow Trout and Walleye, over the course of the last 2 years. I have probably spent more time learning, researching, watching tutorials, videos, documentaries, understanding every single detail of fishing these species than any human alive and I am fairly confident I know the best setups to use for catching them both consistently. This past weekend up on Lake Vermilion I just landed my personal best walleye…28.5″, 7.44 lbs, 15″ girth. Just shy of the 30″ club, but a thrill nonetheless. Here is the exact setup I have been using and experiencing ultimate success on:
-Okuma 7’10” M Telescopic Trolling Rod (DEC-C-7101M-T)
-Okuma Cold Water Low Profile Line Counter Reel
-Trilene Big Game Mono as a backer (enough to until I cannot see the base of reel)
***(a double uni knot to tie the braid to the backer)***
-Suffix 832 Advanced Superline Braid – 30lb – Green
-Egg/bullet/torpedo in-line (no need for swivel with torpedo in-line sinkers) sinkers will all work. 1/4-1/2oz. I used egg on this set up, letting it slide freely on the braid, with a small bead between sinker and swivel.
***(a nice ball bearing swivel connecting braid to leader)***
-Seagur Blue Label Fluorocarbon Leader – 8lb – (4-6′)
-Mack’s Smile Blades (1.5″) – I prefer chartreuse
-3 small colored beads – with the chartreuse smile blade I had two chartreuse and 1 green bead
-Mustad Slow Death Hook – Size 2 is the best, though the fish below was caught on a size 4 (bent it). Tie with simple fisherman’s knot.
-Hook half of a crawler on the hook from the end of worm, guiding the hook through the body so the hook disappears. Poke hook back out after 1″ of worm has been threaded through and pull the rest of the crawler up so the eye of the hook is just inside the tip of the worm. The hook, minus the sharp end of the “J” should be fully hidden in the worm…with the worm touching the beads on one end and the other end hanging down 1-2″ off the bottom. The bend in the slow death hook will make that baby spin so pretty, complimenting the smile blade nicely.
-Find some smooth wind and simply drift. The slowest possible troll will work too, even cutting all power every so often to really present this meal at a SLOW speed.
This will put fish in your boat. I caught two 5lbs Smallies (personal best) and this 28.5″, 7.44lb Waldo on this exact setup. I just want to share this information with everyone because I hope others can experience the adrenaline and thrill of such nice catches and consistent success. Let me know if you have any questions. I won’t tell you specific spots to go, so don’t ask. Any fishing lake should have detailed maps with well known fishing hotspots. Check your local bait shop and pay $10 for your lake’s fisherman’s map. It will pay dividends with using the above setup. I get all my gear on Amazon.
Tight lines boys and girls!
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