Weed Walleye Fishing (Tips & Tactics)
One of the most underrated, under-fished places to catch walleye are up in the weeds. More often than not, your average walleye guy wants to get out beyond the weeds and target fish out on the deeper break lines. Truth be told, some of the biggest walleye in the lake call weed beds home for a large portion of the open water season. In this video, Brad Hawthorne shares his approach for targeting walleye in the green stuff.
Weed walleye fishing can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. There are various tactics and approaches you can take to catch walleyes in or around the weeds. In this article, we will explore some effective techniques for targeting walleyes in weed-infested areas.
Look for Points and Pockets
One strategy for catching walleyes in weeds is to look for points and dense pockets. Even if you’re fishing a weed flat, keep an eye out for depressions within the weeds. Walleyes often utilize these depressions as hiding spots. By focusing on these oddities in the weed structure, you may stumble upon walleyes that are randomly scattered throughout the weeds.
Spinner Rigs with Sinkers
A simple yet effective setup for catching walleyes in weeds is using an eighth or quarter ounce sinker pinched on a spinner rig. This rig can be effective when fishing in dense weed areas. Use a sinker weight between 0.8 to 1 .1 ounces and slowly retrieve the rig through the weeds. The sinker will help keep the bait down in the strike zone and entice walleyes to bite. This technique is particularly useful for bringing walleyes out of the weeds.
Snap Jigging
Another technique for targeting walleyes in weeds is snap jigging. This involves ripping the weeds off your jig as you retrieve it. Use an eighth ounce jig with a shiner bait early in the season when the weeds are just emerging. By snapping the jig and ripping it through the weeds, you can trigger a reaction bite from walleyes hiding in the vegetation.
Fishing the Inside of the Weed Line
One often overlooked strategy is fishing walleyes on the inside of the weed line. In lakes with abundant cabbage weed growth, walleyes can be found right on the inside edge of the weed line in 4 to 5 feet of water. To target these fish, you may need to chop up the weeds with your trolling motor and pitch your bait right into the thick vegetation. This approach can be highly effective for catching walleyes that are tucked away in the weeds.
Adapting to Different Weed Types
When fishing for walleyes in weeds, it’s important to consider the type of weeds you’re dealing with. Different weed types require different techniques. For instance, if you’re fishing in lakes with matted coontail, look for points, pockets, and sparse areas of cabbage. Pitching jigs into these areas and slowly working them through the weeds can entice walleyes to bite. On the other hand, if you’re fishing in lakes with heavily matted vegetation, you may need to experiment with small jigs and different types of spinners to effectively target walleyes.
Keep Your Bait in the Strike Zone
One key to success when fishing in weeds is keeping your bait in the strike zone for as long as possible. This can be achieved by using techniques like drop-shotting in weed holes or fishing depressions and holes in the weeds. These areas can be as small as five feet wide or as large as twenty yards wide. By keeping your bait in these fishy zones, you increase your chances of catching walleyes. Remember, the longer your bait is in the fish zone, the more fish you’re likely to catch.
Understanding the specific weed conditions on your lake is crucial for successful weed walleye fishing. For example, if you’re dealing with matted slimy weeds, it’s unlikely that you’ll find walleyes there unless the weed line breaks and leads to deeper water. In northern Minnesota, cabbage is a common weed type where walleyes can be found. Look for cabbage lines, points, and pockets when targeting walleyes in these areas.
While electronics like Side Imaging can be helpful for locating fish on the outside of the weed line, they are less effective when fish are inside the weeds. In these cases, you’ll need to actually fish the spots to determine if there are fish present.
In conclusion, weed walleye fishing requires a flexible approach and the willingness to adapt to different weed types and conditions. Look for points, pockets, and depressions within the weeds, and consider using techniques like spinner rigs with sinkers, snap jigging, and fishing the inside of the weed line. Keep your bait in the strike zone for as long as possible to maximize your chances of catching walleyes. Remember to experiment and find what works best for your specific lake and weed conditions. Happy fishing!
