Trolling for walleye with crankbaits is a productive way to catch fish. If you are a walleye fisherman, you most certainly already have crankbaits on your boat or tackle box. In this article, we focus on techniques you can use to be more effective while trolling for walleye with crankbaits!
Popular Crankbaits for Walleye Trolling
| Crankbait | Brand | Diving Depth | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flicker Shad | Berkley | 6–13 ft | Tight wobble |
| Reef Runner | Reef Runner | 8–25 ft | Wide wobble |
| Husky Jerk | Rapala | 4–20 ft | Darting |
| Bandit | Bandit Lures | 4–12 ft | Strong thump |
Other Essential Gear for Crankbait Fishing
To be successful while trolling crankbaits for walleye, you’ll need the proper rods, reels, line, planer boards, and of course – crankbaits. However, different fishing conditions and the time of year can dictate which tackle is best for your fishing trip. Many fishermen who troll for walleye carry different gear for different situations. Here’s the essential gear for each unique situation:
Rods
Opt for 7′ – 8′ medium power fast action rods for crankbait trolling. The backbone loads up nicely to drive hooks into the walleye’s mouth. The medium power helps with headshakes close to the boat, often, this leads to a lost fish. There are different rods at different price points. To better break down each trolling rod, read our article on trolling rods.
Reels
You’ll want a smooth retrieving trolling reel. This will aid in fish hookups because the walleye can see the braided line. Line counter reels make trolling for walleye with crankbaits easy. Choose a reel with a smooth drag because walleye like to head shake and run when close to the boat. A Smooth drag will minimize lost fish while trolling for walleye with crankbaits.
Line
10-14 lb monofilament like Berkley Big Game or braid in the same range works well for walleye trolling. Braid has less stretch to better transmit strikes. For crankbaits, a mono line with some stretch is best. If you opt for a braided line, make sure you have a long enough fluorocarbon leader attached to the braid.
Planer Boards
Planer boards allow you to troll crankbaits away from the boat and cover more water. Get at least 2-3 high-quality planer boards per side of the boat, depending on how many people you fish with regularly. There are two main manufacturers of planer boards, Offshore and Church tackle. Both manufacturers offer upgrades to the boards. For Church Tackle boards we recommend getting the stainless pins for the back of the boards. These help with not letting the line dig into the pin.
Crankbait Types and Colors
You’ll need an assortment of crankbaits that dive 8-30 feet and wobble enticingly. Opt for sizes from 4-8 inches in natural baitfish colors. Crankbaits come in all shapes, sizes, and diving depths. If you are fishing in a great lake, a crankbait that dives deeper will be more effective. If you fish in shallow rocky or weedy areas, something smaller like a flickershad might be in order. Below, we go into more detail on each type of crankbait for walleye trolling.
| Color | Description | When to Use |
| Fire Tiger | A blend of greens, oranges, blacks | A blend of greens, oranges, blacks |
| Purple | A blend of greens, oranges, blacks | Translucent blue/purple hues |
| Glass Clown | Translucent blue/purple hues | Bright orange belly, greenback |
| Purple Mist | Purple sides, black back | Stained or dark water to silhouette against lit areas |
| Crankbait Depth Range | Typical Uses |
| 5-10 feet | Great for shallow flats, shoreline cover, early/late season |
| 10-15 feet | Effective for shallow to mid-depth structure like points, bars, underwater islands |
| 15-20 feet | Ideal for suspending walleyes relating to offshore structure and deeper flats |
| 20-25 feet | Use when walleyes are on the bottom, humps, shelves |
| 25+ feet | Use when walleyes are hugging bottom on deeper bars, humps, shelves |
Having an assortment of crankbaits that dive to different depth ranges allows you to effectively target walleyes no matter where they are positioned in the water column. Match the crankbait’s diving depth to where you are marking the largest concentrations of walleyes on your electronics.
In general, opt for shallower diving crankbaits earlier and later in the season when walleyes are related more to shallow, warming areas. Then, upsize to deeper diving crankbaits as walleyes move out to deeper haunts during the hotter summer periods. Having this depth versatility gives you a major advantage for putting crankbaits right in the strike zone.
How To: Trolling for Walleye with Crankbaits
With the right gear on board, you’re ready to start cranking up those walleye catches by properly presenting your crankbaits. Following these steps on trolling crankbaits will put more fish in your boat on the Great Lakes and inland lakes.
1. Locate Walleye
Look for areas where walleye are likely to be – points, flats, rock piles, underwater islands, etc. Walleye will be in different areas during different weather patterns and seasons. For example, in the springtime, walleye will be in shallow spawning areas like reefs. In the summertime, they relate to weeds on inland lakes. On the Great Lakes, they relate to food sources in open water. Knowing where bait fish are is key to finding walleye. Locate bait using your electronics.
2. Set Planer Boards
Planer boards are used for trolling for walleye with crankbaits. They are an effective tool for setting multiple rods and getting your baits away from the boat. Ever notice walleye are usually marking lower on your electronics than they are? That is because walleye shy away from your boat and the noise. Planer boards are a must to get your baits out and away from the boat. They also help keep multiple lines organized so they do not get tangled. Using a rod holder tree or multiple rod holders in a row on your gunnel is a must.
3. Control Your Depth While Trolling for Walleye With Crankbaits
When trolling for walleye with crankbaits, keep your lure above the fish. This is done by using a line counter fishing reel. It is good practice to set your crankbaits at different depths until you figure out the sweet spot. Once you figure out which depth is working the best, set all your lines to that depth.
4. Walleye Trolling Speed
Seasons on the Great Lakes dictate what speed to troll for walleye. During the fall, winter, and spring, your trolling speed should be slow. Your speed over the ground should be in the .8-1.2 MPH range. As the water warms up going into the summer, you can pick up the speed. In the summer, it’s not uncommon to run at 2.0 MPH. Sometimes, weather patterns such as a cold front will slow down the walleye fishing. When those conditions arise, slow down.
5. Be Erratic When Trolling for Walleye With Crankbaits
Don’t make straight, monotonous passes. Use S-curves, zig-zags, and speed changes to trigger more strikes from inactive walleyes. Turns will cause your inside and outside planer boards to react and go slower or faster than normal. In the spring, it’s good practice to stall your boat while at a slow trolling speed. This will stop your lures and trigger a walleye strike.
6. Cover Water While Trolling for Walleye With Crankbaits
Remember, walleye are chasing bait while feeding. Trolling crankbaits imitates that bait. Covering water ensures that you put your bait in front of as many fish as possible. Make multiple passes over an area while trolling for walleye with crankbaits. Walleyes could be in just a small zone that takes time to locate precisely. Walleye move, it is necessary to stay on those schools of fish. It is necessary to move around and try different directions.
With some time on the water utilizing the tips above, you’ll be slaying walleye in no time by crankbait trolling! Good luck out there.