Randy Johnson posted on July 16, 2005 00:01 :: 3133 Views
With summer bearing down on us, the walleye
action is really starting to pick up. When the summer sun raises water temps
into the 70 degree+ range, walleye daily activity also increases. Although some
may find the going a little tough, this time of the year, those who are willing
to change the way and where they fish for walleyes, can still take home some
nice catches.
As walleyes move from early season hideouts, in favor of deeper summer haunts,
there's a period of time the fish are in transition. When there aren't that many
fish shallow, and there aren't that many deep, fishing can be sporadic at best.
However, as more and more fish move to their summer hangouts, the action can
only get better. Walleyes don't all do the same thing at the same time, and when
it comes to feeding movements, it's like they take turns. Some will be inactive,
some may be starting to feed a little but won't move far to take a bait, and
others may be extremely aggressive and willing to take just about anything you
put in front of them. Summer location can include deep, offshore structure, like
sunken
islands, bars and humps. Look for structures that have most of their mass above
the thermo cline. Structure that is too deep will see little walleye activity,
if any, until after the fall turnover.
Remember
larger structures often out produce the smaller ones, simply because they can
offer more feeding opportunities for 'eyes on the hunt. The larger structures
will require you to spend a little time watching your electronics, and less time
fishing. Walleyes can be anywhere, and it doesn't pay to fish where they're not.
To find them, you can save some time by passing over the entire structure,
making note of where you saw the largest
schools of fish.
One of the best places to start your search, is near a fast drop into deeper
water. The top of deep structure can play host to perch, baitfish, insects and
crayfish. Active walleyes will often be found near the top edge of a break,
where they can quickly move up to grab a bite to eat.
Another
place to find summer walleye, that is often overlooked, is the transition line
where hard bottom meets soft. Where gravel or rock, changes to mud or silt, a
transition line is created, and can concentrate fish.
Once you've found a potential area, and have marked a few
fish, it's time to get down to business. The early season presentations of
rigging and jigging may still produce, but quicker methods, like trolling
spinners, really start to pickup. Rising water temps can push a walleye's
metabolism to the boiling point, and increase the chances that he'll react to a
speedier technique.
RandyMan's favorite lure this time of year is a spinner and live bait combo. To
get a spinner in the "zone", it's hard to beat a spinner and bottom bouncer
combination. A bouncer can get a bait where you want it, and run relatively snag
free. Also by keeping it close to the bottom you can react to sudden depth
changes. You can also lift the bait off the bottom, to get it in front of any
high riding fish that you mark on your depth finder. You'll want to keep the
spinner snell short, three feet or less is best. Longer snells allow for more
drop, and result in more snags.
Mid summer walleye fishing can get tough, but it doesn't have to be that way.
The key is to find them, and then find out what they want. Most often, what they
want is something with a little speed. Think about it, not only does a walleye's
metabolism increase, but so does it's prey.
Enjoy the experience RandyMan
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