June walleye fishing can be frustrating. These Canadian guide tips will change that

TOP TACTICS

Once you’ve found fish, presentation is everything. June walleye can be aggressive one day and finicky the next, so versatility is the name of the game. Here are the tactics you should have at the ready.

Jigs

The humble jig remains king in early summer, and in the first half of June, minnows still shine. Then as the water warms up, I’ve found soft-plastics and worms or leeches become increasingly effective. Use lighter jigs than you think. Subtle glides and slow falls can trigger as many bites as pounding bottom.

Slip Bobbers

Typically underused in June, slip bobbers excel along weed edges, breaklines and shallow points. They allow for precise depth control, and they’re especially effective during low-light periods.

Live-Bait Rigs

Leeches and crawlers come into their own as summer approaches. To efficiently cover water and appeal to neutral fish, drift or slow-troll spinner rigs (worm or minnow harnesses) along breaks and flats. Don’t be afraid to lip-rig a dead minnow on each hook of a standard worm rig and troll it at low speeds, just as you would with a crawler. Boat control is important when pulling these types of rigs. Speeds of 0.8 to 1.6 kph are often ideal, but don’t be afraid to move a little faster, especially if you’re trolling with the wind. Fish know which way the wind is blowing, so a bait moving quickly in the same direction can look natural to them.

Cranks & Jerkbaits

When walleye roam, crankbaits find them. Flatline trolling, short leadcore set-ups and even heavier bottom-bouncing rigs work well with cranks along basin edges and windblown structure. Fan-cast diving cranks over deeper spots, but use jerkbaits in the shallows. Earlier in June, natural colours dominate. Brighter patterns excel as plankton blooms increase in clear systems, and they’re always worth trying in stained water.