How to Catch a Walleye Trolling
- 1). Most states have rules and regulations governing the sport of fishing. To abide by the law, a fishing license is first required before attempting to catch a walleye or any other fish. A license can be purchased at most sporting goods stores or even online, in many states.
- 2). To troll for walleye, one must first have access to a boat or some other vessel to navigate the fishable water. By law, this vessel needs to be equipped with life preservers, as well as a fire extinguishing device. Once the vessel is legal, launch it into the body of water you have chosen to fish.
- 3). Prepare your fishing gear for trolling in the water. Install several yards of fishing line onto the reel. Walleye can be found anywhere from 5 to 50 feet of water, so plan accordingly. Then, tie a swivel onto the line. This swivel will allow you to connect a weight or bottom bouncer to it, as well as a leader of line with a hook already attached.
- 4). Choose your bait. The bait may be artificial or live, depending on the regulations governing the body of water you are fishing. Attach the bait to the hook, then release some line over the side of the boat. The line should stop when the weight of your lure, or bait, hits on the river or lake floor. This is a good place to begin trolling, because walleye typically feed from the bottom.
- 5). Navigate the structure. Study the maps to determine where the shallow and deep areas are. Use the depth finder to maneuver the body of water as a tool to locate the fish. Start at a shallow depth of around 10 feet and troll it at a deliberate yet patient speed. Manipulate the depth of your line in conjunction with the depth of water you are trolling in. Be aware of where the river or lake floor is at all times by gently dropping the tip of your rod until your weighted rig bounces on the bottom.
Continue this process of trolling along the shoreline and patiently working your bait or lure along the structure it presents. Should your bait enter the path of a hungry walleye, a persistent tapping will be felt on the rod you are holding and it will become time to raise the rod into the air, thus setting the hook.
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