Walleye



Walleyes are only naturally occurring in a few places in Indiana. Most fish that are available to anglers are stocked. A list of stocked lakes and rivers can be found on the Indiana DNR site:
This list is not all inclusive and there are plenty of other places (mostly rivers) that contain populations of Walleyes. I typically fish for them in September through November and again in April and May but they can be caught almost any time of the year. I use two simple techniques and a very small selection of lures to fish for Walleyes. In lakes, trolling and casting crankbaits can be extremely effective for Walleyes. Most times fishing just outside of breaklines will produce fish. For rivers, I typically throw lead head jigs with soft plastic bodies. You can either straight retrieve these jigs (try varying the speed of retrieve to draw more strikes) or try jigging and bouncing your jig off the bottom. This technique seems to work better during cooler water periods than a straight retrieve will. Don't be afraid to get your jig right on the bottom. I have had multiple fish eat a jig right after I got it unsnagged.


Here are some of my favorite Walleye Crankbaits. They include the Berkley Flicker Shad (A) in various colors, the Rapala Shad Rap (B), and the Rapala Tail Dancer (C). I prefer size 5 or 6 Flicker Shads for Walleyes but bigger sizes will work. I like the Tail Dancer on natural lakes where it mimics bluegill and other forage fish.




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