Walleye fishing can be a thrilling experience, but it often comes with its share of challenges. One of the most significant factors influencing your success is your choice of walleye fishing lures. Using the wrong lure for the specific technique, or situation, can lead to frustrating outings. To help you have more successful fishing trips, let’s explore the common mistakes to avoid when choosing the correct lure for each situation.

Ignoring Seasonal Patterns

Many anglers make the mistake of not considering the season when selecting their lures. Walleye behavior changes throughout the year due to water temperature, spawning cycles, and food availability. In the very early spring across the Great Lakes, there is typically a large population of gizzard shad that are readily available. Pre-spawn female walleyes tend to target this particular type of prey as they prepare to spawn. During this time, using larger profiled shad patterns will typically be your best bet for landing a trophy walleye. The water is usually on the stained side this time of year, therefore, bright colored patterns with high contrast are best to attract their attention.

Using the Wrong Size Lures

As we approach the warmer months, the large gizzard shad are mostly gone, so walleyes turn to mostly smaller minnows and even bugs as their primary food source. This time of the year, we usually switch to smaller crankbaits, spoons or crawler harnesses. Crawler harnesses do a great job of imitating mayfly larvae, so they can be particularly effective during the bug hatch. It's essential to match your lure size to the size of the bait fish or food source that the fish are chasing at any given time.

Smaller baits work better during the summer months

Neglecting Depth Considerations

How deep your lures are running is another critical factor when fishing for walleyes. In Lake Erie, and most of the Great Lakes and connecting waters, walleyes tend to suspend in the water column. Most of the time, they prefer to feed on prey that are above them in the water. Most of the time, there are fish at multiple levels in the water column. However, the highest fish are typically the ones that are actively feeding, therefore, it is critical to know how deep the fish are that you are targeting and how deep your lures are running, I highly suggest using the Precision Trolling App. It is available for free download on the Apple App Store or Google Play. The dive-curves for each brand and model of crankbait are available for download for a nominal fee. In case you are wondering, the dive-curve for my deep diving lures is similar to the Bandit Walleye Deep, 5/8oz.

Overlooking Water Clarity

In previous articles, I covered the importance of water clarity on fish location.  That being said, water clarity can dramatically impact lure selection and fishing success.

Catching walleyes on crankbaits in super clear water is a challenge, because walleyes have superb vision and can easily spot a fake.  However, your trip can still be a success if you pick the right lure for the job.  Natural patterns are by-far the most effective options in clear water.

My Holographic Natural Shad is an excellent choice for clear water walleyes

In stained water, however, brighter and more vivid colors can help attract fish. The sky conditions play a big role as well.    In dark, low-light conditions, I find that bright-colored baits, with high contrast work the best. Chrome or holographic type baits work best on bright, sunny conditions.  Be observant and adjust your choices to ensure that your lures stand out in the environment.

Here's a large fall walleye that fell victim to my “VooDoo” pattern during low-light conditions

Trolling Speed is Critical

The speed at which you pull your lures can make a significant difference.  In general, we troll slower in cold water and faster as the water warms.   It can vary from 1 mph on the low end, up to 3+ mph during the summer months.   That being said, don’t be afraid to vary your speeds until you determine what they want.  It is usually a good idea to use a series of “S-turns” which speeds up the outside boards and stalls the inside boards.   If you get bites during the turns, it provides insight into what the speeds the fish want that day.

Summing Up:

Avoiding these common mistakes can significantly improve your chances of success when selecting and using walleye fishing lures. Understanding seasonal patterns, choosing the right size, considering water depth and clarity, and varying your trolling speed can all make a difference in your fishing experience.  For those looking to elevate their game, don’t forget to explore Lake Erie walleye fishing techniques for more specialized strategies. At Slimshady Customs, we provide high-quality, custom-painted lures designed to give you an edge on the water. With our products, you can enhance your fishing experience and increase your odds at landing a trophy.