The Dark Side Of Spring Walleye Fishing

AND FINALLY

And finally, there's always the classic slipbobber approach, using a lighted bobber to suspend a leech or small minnow just off bottom, or slightly above the top of submerged cover like weeds or wood. Use either a 1/32-ounce jighead, or a baited hook with a split shot positioned 18 inches up the line from the bait, to pull line through the float until the bait settles at the preset depth, dipping and dangling and dancing in place. It's slow, precise, stealthy, and deadly, all rolled into one. Anchor the boat and drift a bait up onto and across a prime focal point like a shallow reef or weedbed. Let it float up near shoreline rocks, until the water becomes sufficiently shallow for the bait to come to rest on bottom.

Or, when fishing from from shore, simply pitch out into the inky blackness, using a long 7- to 9-foot (or longer) spinning rod and light line to facilitate a long cast into a light wind. As the float drifts back in toward shore, or circles in a river eddy, or nears some form of visible emergent cover like reeds or wood, be ready. When the light goes out, fish on. Gently sweepset the long rod to bury the hook.

OK, so night fishing not only works, but often excels, particularly at times when walleyes absolutely refuse to cooperate during the day. And it produces a disproportionate share of larger walleyes per hour of effort. So I therefore officially modify my original premise as far as night stalking is concerned. The night bite is indeed the right bite when the walleyes bite at night and refuse to bite during the day. The rest of the time, well, a little daytime action couldn't hurt--with the option to stay out a little while longer after the sun goes down. Just in case.