What tactic to use? And when to use it?

I’m certain at some point this must have been a topic here, but I can’t seem to find it. I am learning to Walleye fish and understand that their are different ways to catch them, but what I want to know is when do you use one tactic over another? I understand that a jig and a minnow is primarily a spring tactic, but when would you stop using jigs and switch to spinner rigs? How about slip-bobber fishing, when is that a better tactic vs say something like jig-n-raps or snap jigging?

Thanks in advance,

I am by no means a walleye expert or even a fishing expert for that matter but I think your question is too vague. if one were to try to answer it more specifics would be required – water temp, body of water, river vs lake, bottom content, weed growth, forage, moon cycles, fishing pressure…..

another way to answer the question of when to use one tactic over the other is when the fish don’t bite

yet another way to answer the question of when to use one tactic over the other is whenever you feel like it. There are no right or wrong answers in fishing. A lot of it is by feel and what you are confident in. Big part of why it holds so much appeal is its not a game that’s easily figured out and the playing field changes all the time

I agree with what was said above.

I for instance prefer fishing with jigs, pitching swimbaits, jig raps, or casting cranks. I look for places and conditions that this is advantageous (wind blown points, weed edges, or mid lake humps for jig raps). When things get tough ill pull bottom bouncers but mostly use that as a search tool and then try to fish jigs again.

Everyone has their own confidence method so you’re probably gonna get a bunch of different answers

there is a lot of factors to ferret out. i’ve seen enough nice fish caught using tactics that you’d think wouldn’t work at all at certain times of year. for example, i watched a guy vertical jigging jigs and minnows in a spot were typically you are fishing in spring and fall. it was the middle of summer, 100 degrees and he was popping fish left and right.

so don’t overthink it. there are plenty of resources and articles to get you started in the right direction. here and and walleye central.

Agreed with the previous comments. I’d also add a jig and minnow will catch fish all year. What you are really looking for, imo, is when do different tactics start working BETTER than others, and there really is no set rules for that as it changes by the minute/hour/day based off conditions. The one rule to your point would be generally leeches/crawlers aren’t used heavily until the ground is thawed and the fish start seeing them naturally.

just look at tournaments. these guys are the best of the best and they’ll be using all sorts of tactics at any given tournament.

After we’ve read all the millions of articles about walleye and tactics and such we get good enough to develop on the water strategies where we know several tactics could fit on that given day.
When we start applying those strategies on the water our learning increases… Many times to the point of utter confusion!

If you haven’t developed a strategy then you haven’t researched enough walleye articles. My strategies are tailored to gauge the fish mood. Once mood is figured out location and tactic falls into place.

There’s oooodles of them articles online and they’ve been repeated many times.

I wish sturgeon fishing was so easy, but when I Google I only find my articles. That’s not helpful

Walleye… Google it man!!! Start absorbing… And get ready to be caught with your wallet out because that’s what the walleye fishing industry is all about. $$$$ through sales!

Water temperature is probably your largest indicator to choosing a group of tactics to use as a fish catching strategy.

30-40 degrees presentations are slowest
40-50 speed up the presentation. Blade bait bite can be killer.
50-60 speed up more. Jigging raps, Lindy rigs, etc
60-70 crawler harness speeds. 1-2mph
70+ cranks 2-4mph

Within each of those ranges the fish mood can be aggressive or not. Temp rising=aggressive
Temp falling= not

I might troll cranks in the dead of winter, but I doubt I’ll exceed 1 mph. That’s when they are aggressive!

In the summer above 70 in cooling conditions I might troll 2mph. When the trend warms I’ll speed up to 4mph.

Lazy fish in the winter the bait may be absolutely still. Aggressive in the winter I won’t fish faster than my absolute laziest fish in 50 degrees.

Fun stuff them fish are to figure out. The more you know the more you’ll question!

Biggest mistake I think people make above 60 degrees is fishing too slow. I prefer to start fast and slow down from there.

If I start slow and do not catch fish I start thinking nothing will work… You know since they won’t take this barely moving leech… But really it might just be moving too slow for their mood. Helps me to put more fish in the boat if I go fast then slow down to get bit.

Last week trolling with my daughter is get bit consistently if I was jerking my trolling rod. I was already going 2.5 mph but the fish were telling my to go faster. So we did and cranked up the fish count.

Fish are always talking.. You don’t need to put your head in the water to hear them.

IMO, tactics are directed by location and fish mood. First start with location. If there are no fish then no tactic will work. Step one, use your electronics to find the fish.

Step two, let the location dictate what tactics will work. You won’t want to rig through large rocks. Rigging or trolling works over gravel, sand, or mud.
For most rock piles I’ll start with vertical jigging.
I reserve casting for working edges of structure to cover ground.

Step three, let the fish’s mood combined with the location dictate the tactic. If they are inactive a bobber may be required (my last resort). Or go the other way and try speed to trigger a bite.

It’s all part of trying to figure out the pattern that is working at that time.
I try to limit myself to a couple of tactics so that the boat isn’t filled with rods and boxes on every trip. Hopefully what you brought will work. If not, go back and reload before trying again.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

Biggest mistake I think people make above 60 degrees is fishing too slow. I prefer to start fast and slow down from there.

If I start slow and do not catch fish I start thinking nothing will work… You know since they won’t take this barely moving leech… But really it might just be moving too slow for their mood. Helps me to put more fish in the boat if I go fast then slow down to get bit.

Along those lines a mistake some people make is when they slow down after seeing a fish short bite a bait. Example, they take the end off your crawler or leech, or half of the minnow. Many people will slow down their presentation. Often it is better to speed up to trigger a more aggressive attack that gets them to take the entire bait.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I wish sturgeon fishing was so easy, but when I Google I only find my articles.

Let us know when you get done writing your book. I will buy the first copy.

You will always ask yourself this question. Even if you are getting bit you will ask yourself would something work better? One thing that can help is keeping a fishing journal. You can review it and find similar weather, season… and try the tactics that worked those times.

I would agree with what FBRM said – that’s a great rule of thumb and starting point. The only 2 baits I use as really ‘year round’ baits are jig and minnow and crankbaits. The presentation of each depends on water temp and fish mood but generally cold = slow or vertical and warm = fast.

30-40 – vertical jig and minnow or plastics, cranks on 3 ways
40-50 – pitch/drag plastics, troll cranks, blades, jigging raps
50-60 – trolling cranks, pitching plastics, ripnraps
60+ – start pulling spinners with crawlers and leeches

I don’t usually go to crawlers/leeches until the water is getting warm but I know other guys that pull them in colder water.

Slip bobbers are for summer and evening but that’s just because I like to sit back, drink beer, and watch bobbers to down as the sun sets.

Understand their prey for each season and use baits that can target that zone.

Let me first say that this is exactly why I asked this question. Yes it was purposely vague, but I didn’t want to get just one answer. So thank you to all whom responded, this was what I was looking for.
Let me fill in some of the blanks. I primarily fish on the Whitfish Chain of lakes north of Brainerd. I’m my 12 years of being up there (we have a permanent campsite), I can honestly say that I have only a handful of spots that I’ve caught only a few fish. I am NOT looking for someone to tell me specifically where to catch Walleye on this chain. I believe in putting the time in for the reward. But the lakes are so loaded with structure, that it is always a wonder where I should even begin.
I usually pull spinners that I make along with Lindy rigs to “look for fish”

Opener I pitch a jig and minnow in a few areas, I’ve tried jigging raps, I haven’t tried a slip-bobber just yet, but nothing I’ve tried is anything I’d call consistently working. I get 1-2 Walleyes per year! I have heard of people driving around and looking for fish before they wet a line. I have an locator with side imaging, I am comfortable using it.
I guess my that in my head I always thought that at certain times of the year you should be using, say a jig, but then switch to pulling spinners, and then over to cranks, and then to whatever… I kind of thought that water temp and or the time of year dictated what you’d use and when, but it sounds more like it is a matter of:
A) find the fish first
B) let the wind/weather tell you what to use
C) be versatile

Am I missing anything?

I am a bit confused as what “the mood of the fish” is.

Mr Sticks wrote:

I am a bit confused as what “the mood of the fish” is.

Fish are like women…they always have a mood but you rarely know what it is or how to act during certain moods.

You probably guess wrong a lot but sometimes you dial in the mood and the right presentation and you get lucky.

Matt Moen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mr Sticks wrote:</div>
I am a bit confused as what “the mood of the fish” is.

Fish are like women…they always have a mood but you rarely know what it is or how to act during certain moods.

You probably guess wrong a lot but sometimes you dial in the mood and the right presentation and you get lucky.

Sums it up perfect, even though it’s not PC.

Ha! Love it!

Sticks,

The Whitefish chain can be tough. My folks have a place there. I’ve never had much luck on the underwater humps etc. They seem to attract fisherman, not fish. Weeds is where I catch the majority of my eyes. I am no expert however, 2-3 eyes a day on the chain is a good day for me.

I’ve long since given up pulling Lindy rigs. Most of my luck comes off of cranks and spinners. Also, the night bite can be good.

PM me if you’d like to discuss more and share thoughts.

PS take a day trip to mille lacs, you’ll feel like Al Lindner compared to fishing the chain, lol.

once I changed my mindset that walleyes aren’t these fickle/dainty fish…. they’re predators and you can get them to bite just like any other fish. that really changed how I approached fishing for them and my success has greatly increased, especially for bigger fish.

Tuma wrote:

Let us know when you get done writing your book. I will buy the first copy.

I might have to write a walleye book with a sturgeon insert to sell 2 copies