LIVE BAIT FOR WALLEYES

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Over 75 percent of walleyes caught in Wisconsin, are taken on live bait. Even fishermen who favor artificial lures for walleyes, switch to live bait when fish are difficult to catch. They know that an artificial lure cannot duplicate the smell, action and texture of the real thing. Most fishermen stick with baits and rigs that have produced in the past.

MINNOWS:
My favorite live bait is a fathead minnow 2 and a half to 3 inches in length, hooked on a 1/16 ounce or 1/8 th ounce jig. To present live minnows naturally, fishermen must use the right type of line and terminal tackle. If the line is too visible or the hook too big, a walleye will ignore even the most appetizing bait. If the jig or hook you are using, or if the sinker is too heavy, the fish will feel too much resistance and quickly drop the bait. Most live-bait fishermen use clear monofilament line, because it is least visible to the fish.

Thin-diameter, flexible mono enables anglers to present bait naturally. You can land a heavy fish on light line. I prefer using 6-pound line, with a medium light graphite rod, 6-ft to 6.5 ft in length. This combination of proper rod, line, and hook size, allows me to best feel the walleye bite. When fishing with a jig presentation, I hook the minnow through the lips, from bottom up. Avoid putting the jig too far back into the head of the minnow, which will cause the minnow to die rapidly. On those finicky days, you want as lively a minnow as possible. When fishing with a hook and slip-bobber, I will hook the minnow through the back, right behind the dorsal fin, allowing the minnow to swim freely. Hardiness and Action are the most important considerations, because nearly all game fish prefer fresh, lively baits. Although an emerald shiner may look attractive, it may not stay alive long enough to reach your fishing destination, especially during warm weather. Fatheads, on the other hand, can withstand drastic changes in water temperature, low oxygen levels and rough handling/ Generally the hardiest species are liveliest on the hook. However, regardless of temperatures, I prefer to keep my minnows in a aerated minnow bucket. Aeration adds oxygen to the water, increasing the number of minnows you can keep alive. Minnows work best in spring and fall, but in our northern lakes where natural foods are scarce, minnows are effective for walleye year-round.

LEECHES AND NIGHTCRAWLERS:
In the summer, when walleyes are sluggish and well-fed on baitfish, some anglers switch from minnows to leeches and nightcrawlers. The wiggling action of a crawler, or the rippling motion of a leech may entice a walleye to bite. During hot weather, walleyes frequently suspend several feet off bottom. To keep the bait at the level of suspended fish, dangle a worm or leech from a slip-bobber. Leeches work better than worms because they wiggle constantly , even when the bobber is motionless. When drifting or trolling (where legal), anglers catch suspended walleyes on slip-sinker rigs and floating jigs tipped with a crawler or leech. You can also inflate a crawler so it glides a few feet above bottom. When walleyes are not suspended, use a slip-sinker rig and keep the bait near the bottom. A walleye inhales a leech or nightcrawler with one quick gulp. Wait a short time, to make sure the fish has swallowed the bait, then set the hook. If bobber fishing, do not wait as long, because the fish may detect resistance from the float and drop the bait. Walleyes prefer baits that move naturally. When trolling or casting, hook a crawler through the tip of the head, or a leech through the sucker. When fishing with a bobber, I hook the leech in the middle of the back, allowing the leech to swim freely, and this also prevents the leech from winding itself into a ball. Because the use of crawlers and leeches is mainly in the summer, it is important for proper care of both. Leeches are easier to keep alive, they are not as sensitive to temperature changes as minnows, and they require relatively little oxygen. But they will soon die if left on a boat seat in the hot sun. I always keep my containers of crawlers and leeches on ice, in the cooler on my boat. In the summer months I will have minnows, crawlers, leeches on board, then experiment to see which works the best. In all cases of live bait, it is very important to keep your bait lively as possible, through proper care and handling. You will catch many more walleyes using healthy live bait.

Remember; keep it light and feel the bite

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