Wind, Waves, & Walleyes

Longline trolling crankbaits—This is an easy tactic for trolling along windy shorelines, snake trolling (weaving) across adjacent shallow weedflats or scouring the tops of long or expansive reefs, typically with minnow-imitating crankbaits or shallow- to medium-diving shad baits. Absolutely nothing fancy about it. Select a lure model that dives to the approximate target depth to scratch the shallowest point on the reef or tick the tops of the tallest weeds. Let out a modest 75 to 100 feet of line and start slowly trolling forward, just fast enough to wobble the lure. If you hang up, shorten your line. If you never hang, try a longer line to reach a tad deeper. To make a shallow minnow-imitator run a bit deeper, add a split shot or two to the line about two feet ahead of the lure.

Slowly troll across your target area, using either the outboard in substantial wind and waves or an electric in moderate wind to calm conditions. Hold the rod, giving it an occasional pump forward, then dropping the rod tip back, to make the lure surge and then pause; change helps trigger following fish. Use the same spinning tackle as for casting cranks, or a long-handled casting rod suitable for trolling, loaded with about 10-pound test.

Anchoring with slipbobbers, jigs, and leeches—In big wind and waves, the object is to avoid snagging your lure or bait on shallow boulders or other cover, not necessarily to be subtle. Use a standard slipfloat with a bit of bulk to handle the waves, and set your bobber stop to dangle the bait somewhere near bottom. Walleyes definitely will strike a bait tossed around off bottom, so you don’t necessarily have to position your bobber stop too precisely. In fact, the bobber and bait will jump up and down as each passing wave crests and falls. If the float lies down occasionally, it means that the bait’s momentarily dragging bottom, which slows its drift if snags aren’t too bad.

In dingy water, switch from a standard plain hook and split-shot rigging to a 1/32-ounce fluorescent orange or chartreuse jighead. The added bit of color helps fish spot the bait amidst the turbulence. Hook a jumbo leech through or just behind the sucker for a tasty, tempting target.

Use a long spinning rod (7 to 9 feet or longer) spooled with 4- to 6-pound monofilament to effectively cast and control lightweight floats in big wind. Anchor on the upwind side of a spot, cast the float rig out to the side, and let it drift downwind until it reaches and passes the prime area. Multiple casts and drifts cover the spot. When you get a strike, point the rod at the float and reel any up wind-caused slack until the line tightens and you feel resistance. Then gingerly sweep the rod upward to bury the small, sharp hook.

In calm conditions when walleyes tend to be spookier, use a skinny bobber’s subtle and precise characteristics to tease reluctant biters from amidst the crevices between boulders. Cast, twitch, and pause the bobber, imparting occasional movement to the livebait, in addition to its inherent lively action.

When anchored, you can also try casting crankbaits or jigs. If walleyes are moving in and out of the area, passing waves of aggressive fish may slam lures. But if the spot is tiny, it’s hard to beat a slipfloat. It’s dead on target for extended periods, rather than wasting time with your lure in the air.

Wind. Waves. Walleyes. A golden oldie dating back to yesteryear. Same old song. Same familiar lyrics. Same right answer—blowin’ in the wind.