ON THE MOVE
To consistently catch walleye on the troll, you need to know when to change your speed and show the fish something different
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Both soft plastics and live leeches (inset) are early-season producersLIVE-BAIT RIGS
A fluttering leech on a single hook, pulled behind a weight dragging on the lake bottom, is about as natural as walleye presentations get. It works very well in the early season, as well as during and after cold fronts. It’s also effective on heavily pressured fish. Trolling speeds of 0.5 to 0.8 mph are best for this set-up so the leech can wiggle and squirm naturally, making it very attractive to walleye.
Your favourite medium- or medium-heavy-action walleye outfit will work for most walleye trolling presentations, but the best option for live-bait rigs is a 6½- to 7½-foot, medium-light-action rod. While helping you feel even the lightest of bites, it’s also quite forgiving if you don’t sense the bite right away.
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This presentation is best trolled with the bail on your reel open, and the line held in your fingers. The moment you feel a bite, feed line to the fish for a few seconds, then close the bail, reel in the slack and set the hook the moment you feel weight of the fish.