The ideal walleye trolling speed depends on bait, season and conditions. This expert guide explains all

CRANKBAITS

During late summer and into the fall, walleye switch back to feeding on baitfish. That’s when they can be caught by trolling crankbaits between 1.5 and three mph. On some days, your electronics will reveal the fish feeding right on the bottom, while at other times they’ll be suspended and targeting bait balls.

Once you determine your fishing depth, select a crankbait that dives deep enough to get to the fish. When targeting suspended walleye, you want your crank to run just above the fish, not below them where it’ll go unnoticed. When fishing for bottom-feeding walleye, meanwhile, run your crankbait deep enough that it periodically bounces off the lake bottom.

Using trial and error to get your cranks to the right depth can be frustrating. To speed up the process, try the Precision Trolling Data app, which provides detailed information on exactly how deep specific crankbaits will dive at various speeds, as well as how much line you need to let out to get your lure down to the desired depth.

In my experience, walleye show a preference for longer, thinner, minnow-shaped crankbaits over shorter, chubby ones. I like the Rapala X-Rap Deep (pictured), SPRO Madeye Minnow, and Acme Reef Runner 600. As for colours, I always start with lures that mimic local baitfish, such as perch, ciscoes and shiners. If those don’t produce, I’ll switch to high-vis, psychedelic-coloured baits.