boat until it’s vertical at the side of my
boat. By jigging it down the face of the
rocks I’m not only making it look like a
wounded baitfish, I’m covering a variety
of depths taking note of where the walleye
are feeding. However, regardless of the
depth I find the active feeding walleye, I
will cast past the walleye and bring my
presentation to them, as that’s what’s
naturally happening. Using this technique
I’m presenting the same thing the walleye
are used to seeing. The next time you arrive
at a lake and the wind has been blowing for
a few days, smile and head directly to the
windswept rocks.
LOCATING FISH
LEARN TO LOVE THE WIND
I’ve been to many lakes and talked with
many anglers that were frustrated because
the wind was blowing creating much more
than the proverbial “Walleye Chop”. Yes,
the wind at times can be frustrating to fish
in, however, the wind can also provide
some of the best summertime fishing
conditions a walleye angler can ask for.
For example: If the wind is blowing
when I arrive at a lake the first place I begin
fishing is the windblown rocky shorelines
as walleye are sure to be in the area. The
wind and waves will often push baitfish
against the rocky shoreline or points and
often beat the baitfish against the rocks
dazing and wounding them. The beat-up
and disorientated baitfish become an easy
meal for feeding walleye. During windy
conditions, one of two things will happen.
Walleye will move in shallower than most
people realize to feed on these helpless
baitfish and literally gorge themselves. I
like to posi tion my boat in 10 to 15 feet of
water and cast a jig tipped with a frozen
minnow or a soft plastic minnow with
the wind towards the rocks. I retrieve my
presentation down the face of the rocks
imitating a wounded baitfish. And don’t
be afraid to cast right to the edge of the
shoreline. I’ve caught walleye as shallow
as two feet of water during windy/wavy
conditions. These are also the perfect
fishing conditions for shoreline anglers to
take advantage of an aggressive walleye
bite.
The second thing that will happen is the
baitfish will do everything in their power to
get away from the rocks that they are being
beaten against. As they struggle to get
away from the rocks to protect themselves,
they are forced to go deeper into the calmer
water only to be welcomed by walleye that
are patrolling the rock edges feeding on
fleeing baitfish.
By staying back away from the rocks
I protect my boat and I don’t scare the
shallow feeding walleye. I cast my jig into
the shallow water and jig or swim my
presentation down the rocks and to the
WHEN THE LAKE IS CALM AS GLASS
It’s common knowledge that walleye are
very sensitive to light. When the lake is
calm and the sun’s hot rays are penetrating
through the water column, walleye will
move to deeper water to avoid the light and
it’s not uncommon for walleye to hold in
the deeper water until low light conditions
such as evening, night, and early morning.
Whenever I’m fishing a new lake during
the summer months, after launching my
boat I cruise the shorelines looking for rock
transitions adjacent to deep water drop-
offs. At the same time, I’m watching my fish
finder for sunken humps and deep sharp
transitions in the bottom.
For example, if I’m in 20-feet of water
and it drops to 25-feet or deeper for a boat
length, I will jig the transition into the
deeper water. Even a two-foot difference
is enough of a change in depth, light, and
water temperature to hold walleye.
It’s not uncommon for a spot within a
spot to only be a foot in depth difference. As
soon as I find a rock location, regardless of
its size, I will spend time fishing it and the
deeper water adjacent to it gets thoroughly
fished as well. However, I have come up
with a routine that has served me well
during tournament and personal fishing
conditions during the heat of summer.
As soon as I locate a rock structure, I will
bottom bounce not only the rocky area but
also the surrounding area. Speeds will vary
due to conditions, but I like to move just fast
enough that my bottom bouncer is hitting
the bottom every two feet. I start with a
three-foot lead and my favourite bottom
bouncing blade colours of hammered brass,
silver, and gold. I believe these colours
give off a flash which closely resembles the
flash of a minnow swimming through the
water. Again, speed will be determined by
the conditions but you must be moving fast
enough to keep the blade turning which not
only creates the flash but also a vibration
through the water column reaching the
walleye’s lateral-line and causing them to
turn and investigate your presentation.
During the summer months, I’ve had my
best luck bouncing rocky locations ranging
from 16 to 30-feet of water. The brighter
the sun the deeper I’ve caught walleye.
Wild Guide
. Summer 2017
8