When early-season walleye get lockjaw, try these 5 simple baits and tactics

#3  RETHINK YOUR BAIT CHOICES

Most walleye anglers use minnows that are far too small. After all, the science folks have shown us conclusively from their diet studies that walleye prefer prey measuring up to 45 per cent of their body length. That means a modest 16-inch walleye has no hesitation—in fact, prefers—gobbling down four- and five-inch-long shiners, chubs, dace, perch and suckers.

Now, extrapolate that out to the walleye we hope to catch in the 30-inch-plus trophy range. It’s likely you’ve never offered these fish a minnow that’s pushing 45 per cent of their body length, but you should. There’s a reason anglers on the trail of trophy walleye favour six-, seven- and eight-inch-long swimbaits attached to big, heavy jig heads, as well as similar-sized crankbaits, minnowbaits and jerkbaits.

Not that you should only use minnows early in the season. For years, the walleye live-bait mantra was to fish minnows during the cold-water periods of spring and fall, leeches in the shoulder times and nightcrawlers when the water warms up in the middle of summer. Owing to the changing climate, however, I’ve started six of the last eight walleye openers with a leech slithering on my jig and drop-shot presentations, never touching the minnow pail.

Meanwhile, when you opt instead to tip your jig or drop-shot hook with a nightcrawler, here’s a simple but deadly trick. Instead of snipping a thick, juicy crawler in half, then threading the cut end onto the shank of your jig, as is the common practice, do the reverse. That way, the succulent scent from the trailing cut end will waft right into the noses of the fish.