Pared-down presentations shine when bad weather or too much fishing pressure make for a tough bite

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

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Trolling during the spring mayfly hatch can be lethal

#4  TROLL SLOW-DEATH RIGS

One of the prime times for keeping things simple occurs in June in most parts of the country when the giant mayfly hatch peaks, especially during even-numbered years such as this one. The Hexagenia limbata has a two-year life cycle, with most of that time spent burrowed in hollow warrens in soft lake bottoms. But come June, near the end of their life cycle, hundreds of millions—billions in big lakes and reservoirs—will emerge from the mud and silt and rest on bottom like chocolate-covered almonds, free for the eating. Then they’ll struggle to the water’s surface, where the exquisite flies emerge from their nymph-like exoskeletons.

You can wait until you see the transparent, skin-like wrappers floating on the surface to get in on the action, but I like to get a head start in the middle of the month, counting on the fact that the burrowing bugs are carpeting the bottom of the lake getting ready to ascend.

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Another clue the bonanza is getting underway is that the walleye activity around hard-bottomed structures such as underwater points, saddles and rock reefs will slow down a bit. That’s a sure indication the walleye are sliding over to the soft, muddy flats and gobbling up those defenceless chocolate-covered almonds blanketing the bottom.

The nub of a nightcrawler (top left) on a slow-death hook (top right) can imitate a mayfly nymph (bottom left) as it emerges to become an adult (bottom right). Photos: Rob Hille, worm; Ian Alexander, nymph; Ryan Hodnett, adult, all Wikimedia Commons

Simply find a flat in the 15- to 25-foot depth and scope it out with your sonar unit set on side-imaging mode. You’ll typically see the fish strung out across the plain like barnyard chickens, rooting out the mouth-watering, protein-packed nymphs. The random location of the fish is perfect for the simplest, most effective two-timing tactic you can employ.

It starts by leisurely trolling at 0.8 to 1.25 mph, pulling a curved #2 or #4 slow-death hook tipped with nothing but the nub of a nightcrawler. Just tie the hook to the end of a four-foot, 10-pound-test leader trailing behind a bottom bouncer. Before lowering the rig to the bottom, place it in the water beside the boat so you can first see that it’s twirling properly in a tantalizingly manner.

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The key is to thread the worm onto the hook right down the middle so that its head covers the eye of the hook. Then you need to cut the worm an inch behind the bend in the hook so that the entire presentation is only three or so inches long. Now as the worm spins a foot off the bottom, it looks for all the world like the first vulnerable mayfly of the season, driving the walleye crazy. No spinner blade, no beads—just a bent hook and chunk of crawler. Are you kidding me? What could be simpler, or more deadly?

BONUS TIP: MAYFLY MINEFIELDS Mayfly larvae have tiny tusks they use to dig out burrows in silty lake bottoms, where they live and avoid hungry walleye. They feed on detritus, converting the organic matter into soft, savoury, nutritious protein devoured by walleye. The best flats are typically doughy—not hard or rocky—and shallow enough to receive sunlight. My favourite flats are typically 15 to 25 feet deep.

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