Beginner Guide to Fishing Tackle Walleye

Fishing for walleye and being successful at the end of the day with a big catch for supper depends on the tackle and bait you use to catch them with. The walleye is an extremely adapted predatory fish with excellent eyesight and specialized nerve endings, the lateral line, in its skin for use in catching it's prey.

A good fisherman will use these special adaptations of the walleye to his advantage. Taking along bait and tackle that will optimize the walleye's traits will give you a much better chance at catching them.

The most obvious part of any fishing tackle is the rod. Depending on the size and fight of the fish you are fishing for will determine the size, strength, and flexibility of the rod you'll want to use. Fishing for walleye requires a rod that you feel comfortable with that will survive a slight fight.

Graphite is a good choice for this kind of action. Rods with casting and spinning features of about seven feet in length are the most popular. Using a rod with these features will give you better control over working jigs and little cranks. Using a light to medium rod will also allow for better ability in setting the hook when the walleye bites.

Reels that work well in catching walleye are ones that have an excellent drag so that when the line is released it goes smoothly. The reeling in of a walleye will require a good drag setting and not one that erratic and sticky. If your rod won't let out line out smoothly, get a new one.

You want a decent drag setting when you try to pull in that walleye or you are liable to lose walleye altogether as he wins the fight of getting off the hook. The line you choose for walleye fishing should be anywhere between 6# to 10# , up to 14# for larger lures.

Another obvious essential in the tackle needed for walleye fishing is the bait and lures. Paying special mind to the walleye's specialized eyesight would require that your lures be brightly colored. Bright neons for the murky waters, silver and gold for the clearer waters are good choices of artificial lures.

Attach a minnow to these lures for a definite walleye attraction. In shallow waters, use a bait that mimics a crayfish. Dragging the bait along the sandy, gravel bottom that walleye like to inhabit in the morning and evenings are a sure way to pull in a walleye. Lures that make a slight noise like some crank baits will alert the walleye to a food source being near through it's lateral line, sensitive nerve endings that can pick up the slightest vibration of approaching prey. Using the two tactics of color and vibrations will certainly aid in pulling a big catch of walleye!

A popular combination for catching walleye is a walleye bait rig. You will need a line of monofilament structure, a few small beads, a medium lead weight, a spinner blade, and a hook. Making up this combination lure will guarantee a walleye bite. Use a spinner that is brightly colored for better results. This lure will work in moderately deep water.