Topwater walleye? You bet—if you try these tips and techniques

GEAR

Two categories of flies and lures work well for walleye on top. One is poppers, which sit idly on the water until they’re tugged, making the aforementioned schloop sound. The other is what I refer to as “disturbance lures,” in that they constantly disturb the surface during a steady retrieve. In both cases, I tie on the same topwater flies and lures that I use for bass and pike.

When fly fishing, I use poppers and small frog patterns about two inches in length. Since it’s the sound and motion that attracts the fish, colour really doesn’t matter. For the rest of my set-up, I use a 6- to 8-weight outfit with a weight-forward floating line and a nine-foot tapered leader with a 3X tippet. If I know northern pike are in the area, I include a wire tippet instead, such as Toothy Critter from Rio Products.

When spin fishing, classic popper lures, such as the Rebel Pop-R, work great. The Original Floating Rapala will do in a pinch, but it’s a little more difficult to get that schloop sound. As for disturbance lures, baits such as the Jitterbug and Whopper Plopper are must-haves.

Since you never know when a giant northern pike or muskie could attack your offering, it’s best to be prepared with extended pliers and jaw spreaders for removing inhaled hooks. A headlamp also comes in handy during the shoulder hours, as are lighted navigation tools, such as a GPS.