Top 10 Best Spring Walleye Lures
Walleyes are one of the most sought-after fish in the Upper Midwest and Canada. As the water temperatures begin to warm up, walleyes become more active, typically biting well throughout the day. Using today’s electronics, they can be found relatively easily with a basic understanding of their spring locations. Once found, there are countless baits you can use to catch walleye. The following list includes the most universal and best spring walleye lures available.
Jigs
The jig has undoubtedly caught more walleyes than any other presentation ever created. Its simple and effective design has continued to fool walleyes in all types of fishing scenarios. Paired with livebait, plastic, or hair the jig has been a staple for walleye anglers all across North America.
In spring, walleye anglers tend to use jigs because they catch lots of fish. If you plan on chasing walleyes this spring, you need to have three jigs in your arsenal.
Fire Ball Jig
One of the most famous of the walleye jigs is the Northland Fishing Tackle Fire Ball Jig. The short shank Fire Ball Jig provides a compact live bait presentation ideal for vertical jigging with a minnow, leech, or nightcrawler. Fire Ball Jigs are available in sizes from 1/16-ounce up to 1-ounce and a variety of great fish-catching colors.
These jigs also come standard with a trailer hitch at the jig head’s base, allowing the angler to add a stinger hook for short striking walleyes. The Northland Fire Ball Jig is one of the best spring walleye lures ever created and is a must for any walleye angler.
Tungsten Short Shank Jig
In the last few years, tungsten jigs have become extremely popular with walleye anglers because of their benefits over traditional lead head jigs. Tungsten is 30% denser than lead, which allows the jig to fall faster and have less drag in the water.
This is really advantageous when fishing in current or deep water because you can use a smaller profile presentation while still being heavy enough to keep it in the strike zone. In addition, the hardness of tungsten increases sensitivity and allows anglers to feel exactly what’s on the bottom.
Northland Fishing Tackle’s Tungsten Short-Shank Jig uses Northland’s legendary Short-Shank Fire-Ball Jig design in a Tungsten offering. It features a premium short shank, wide gap hook and dual bait keepers that lock on soft plastics or live bait. The Northland short shank Tungsten Jig comes in three sizes and eight colors patterns.
If you do a lot of spring walleye fishing in rivers, you should definitely add a few tungsten jigs to your tackle box because it is one of the best spring walleye lures available.
VMC Moontail Jig
Hair jigs really shine in cold water scenarios. Whether you fish in lakes, rivers, or reservoirs, hair jigs catch springtime walleyes everywhere.
The VMC Moontail Jig is one of the best spring walleye lures because it has a number of features that allow it to trigger strikes in any scenario.
The VMC Moontail Jig has an oversized flat aspirin head shape that enhances darting and rolling head motion when jigged. It has elongated bucktail fibers that maintain shape and create a life-like action in the water. It also has a TechSet technical locking curve that maximizes hook sets and locks those springtime walleyes in place.
Plastics
Today’s plastics come in just about every shape, color, and size imaginable. One of the biggest reasons plastics have become so popular with walleye anglers is that they are versatile and effective in all different types of fishing scenarios. They’ll catch walleyes in fast-moving, dirty rivers while being just as effective in clear-water lakes. The following plastics are the three best spring walleye options.
Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad
The Suicide Shad has proven itself as one of the best spring walleye lures. Its natural minnow profile allows fish to see and feel it from a distance. The tail design allows it to swim true no matter your retrieve speed. The Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad also comes in a wide range of colors, from natural patterns to glow options. The split belly design allows you to use any rig, whether that’s a weighted hook or jighead.
Scentstation Slim Minnow
Another must-have from Big Bite Baits is the Scentstation Slim Minnow. Made with the Scentsation soft plastic formula for increased fish attraction, walleyes are able to find this bait even in the murkiest of waters. The slim body design with flat sides give it a fast darting action when combined with the flat forked tail. The Slim Minnow was made for snap jigging and is one of the best spring walleye lures.
The MOXI
Unlike the other two plastics on this list the MOXI preforms the best when fished slowly.
This soft-plastic bait offers incredible action in the water with little jigging required. The MOXI features a thin profile with a beefy belly, while the long tail on this bait thumps loudly to draw in more fish.
The tail of the MOXI moves very similar to a nightcrawler in the water and that actions really tiggers walleyes into biting.
It can be fished anywhere, but it performs particular well on the Great Lakes and in rivers for walleyes.
The Moxi is available in eighteen different color patterns and is one of the best spring walleye lures.
Just remember to slow down your presentation when using it.
Hardbaits
Hardbaits are incredible effective for springtime walleyes. You can cast, troll, and jig catching walleyes anyway you would like.Though they are effective all throughout the season, but there are four baits in particular that shine in the spring.These baits definitely deserve a spot in your walleye tackle box.
Original Floating Rapala
Trolling can be an incredibly effective way to catch spring walleyes. You can cover a lot of water while constantly having your bait in the strike zone.
The Rapala Original floater is the lure that started it all and is still the number one “go-to” lure for spring walleye trolling.
Its wounded minnow action continues to be irresistible to walleyes everywhere.
Paired with premium black nickel VMC hooks, when a walleye bites the Original Floater it isn’t getting off.
While most anglers prefer to troll this bait, it can be just as effective as a casting bait.
Shad Rap
Rapala Shad Rap closely resembles baitfish that walleyes commonly feed on in spring and throughout the year.
Constructed of premium balsa, it is equally effective cast or trolled, performing from ultra-slow presentations to super fast without fail.
Between its tantalizing action and proven color patterns, the Rapala Shad Rap is a must-have bait for all anglers looking to catch springtime walleyes.
Bladebaits
Bladebaits can be deadly for spring walleyes, especially earlier in the year when the fish are still fairly deep. Bladebaits have the perfect vibrating action to entice lethargic walleyes into biting.
They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, but gold, chrome, purple, and UV tend to be the colors preferred by most anglers.
Pop jigging a blade bait off the bottom is a great way to trigger strikes. Simple cast the bait out and let it hit the bottom. Then pop it off a foot or two off the bottom as you work it back to the boat.
Rapala Rippin Rap
The Rapala Rippin’ Rap features a lipless, deep belly profile designed to crank, swim and rip. Its skinny sides allow the bait to flutter as it sinks. When it is reeled in, it has a hard vibrating action on fast or slow retrieves creating a loud, distinctive noise that attracts fish.
You can retrieve and work this bait however you’d like. Trolling, pop jigging it off the bottom, a straight retrieve, and even vertical jigging it will produce bites. The Rippin Rap has similar action to a blade bait but the biggest difference noise it produces and its size profile. The Rapala Rippin Rap has a variable running depth and is one of the best spring walleye lures no matter where you fish.
FAQs
1. What is the best presentation for river walleyes in spring?
All of these baits work and will catch fish, but most anglers tend to prefer jigs paired with live bait or plastics for spring time river walleyes.
2. When using livebait how do I pick the right weight for a jig?
For spring walleyes you want to use the lightest jig you can get away with. As a kind of rule of thumb, the bigger the minnow, the heavier and bigger the jig head needed.
3. What is the best livebait for spring walleyes?
Shiner minnows are regarded as the best livebait for spring time walleyes. However, if shiners are not available, rainbows minnows and fatheads minnows are also very effective.
4. Where can I find spring walleyes?
On lakes and reservoirs wind blown points, inflows and outflows, and spawning areas. On rivers look for confluences, dams, and current breaks. Look for bait. If you can find bait the walleyes will be close by.
5. What is the best color for spring walleyes?
Gold, perch, and orange are the most popular colors. What clarity, forage base, and time of day are just a few of the factors you should consider when choosing a lure color.
