Fishing

Walleye Fishing Tactics: West Central Minnesota

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Walleye Fishing Tactics: West Central Minnesota

Spring

<50°F (Early Spring)

In early spring, walleyes concentrate in the warmest shallow water along shore, holding on south- or west-facing flats and gravelly points (often 2–8 ft deep) near deeper water.

  • Tactics: Pitch lightweight jigs tipped with a live minnow or soft-plastic; drift or slowly troll Lindy rigs with minnows.
  • Gear: Medium-light, fast-action 6–7 ft rod with 6–8 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
  • Baits: 1/16–1/8 oz jigs in chartreuse or white with fathead chubs or spawn sac.
  • Structure/Depth: 2–8 ft gravel/sand flats, rock bars or riprap adjacent to deeper channel edges.

50–60°F (Mid–Late Spring)

  • Tactics: Slow jigging, rigging, and active presentations like swim jigs or flutter spoons near points and flats.
  • Gear: Same as early spring; 6–7 ft medium-light rods with 6–8 lb line.
  • Baits: 1/8–1/4 oz jigs with minnows or plastics; leech on Lindy rig.
  • Structure/Depth: 5–15 ft flats, points, windblown shorelines, gravel points.

60–70°F (Late Spring to Early Summer)

  • Tactics: Slow “Lindy” rigs with crawlers/leeches; active jigging along weed edges and humps.
  • Gear: Medium-action 7–8 ft rods; 10–12 lb braid with 8–10 lb leader.
  • Baits: Lindy rig with crawlers; 3–4″ plastics or minnows on jigs.
  • Structure/Depth: 8–17 ft weedlines, flats adjacent to deeper holes, gravel/sand breaks.

Summer

60–70°F (Early Summer)

  • Tactics: Lindy rigs, trolling crankbaits, casting spinners along weed edges.
  • Gear: Medium 7 ft rods; 8–10 lb braid/mono for jigs and cranks.
  • Baits: Crankbaits (2–3″), slow-death rigs, soft plastics on jigheads.
  • Structure/Depth: 10–20 ft over weeds, mid-depth cover, humps near basins.

>70°F (High Summer)

  • Tactics: Troll crankbaits 2.2–2.5 mph; bottom-bouncers in 12–25 ft; cast reaction baits.
  • Gear: 7–8 ft medium-heavy rods; 15–20 lb braid for trolling, 10–12 lb mono for casting.
  • Baits: Perch-profile crankbaits, swimbaits, glidebaits, soft plastics.
  • Structure/Depth: Shallow flats in low light; deep humps, sandbars, weed edges during day.

Fall

60–70°F (Early Fall)

  • Tactics: Live bait and trolling; pitch and swim jigs; crankbaits on flats.
  • Gear: Medium rods (6–7 ft); 8–10 lb line for jigs, cranks, slip rigs.
  • Baits: Jigs with minnows or plastics; crawler harnesses; shallow crankbaits.
  • Structure/Depth: 10–15 ft sand/gravel bars, humps, riprap shorelines, stumps.

50–60°F (Mid-Fall)

  • Tactics: Troll crawler harnesses; jig rigs on deeper flats and humps.
  • Gear: 6–6.5 ft medium rods; 10–12 lb braid.
  • Baits: 1/2–3/4 oz jigs with large chubs; half-crawler rigs.
  • Structure/Depth: Points, bars, basin edges, 20–30 ft holes, steep drop-offs.

<50°F (Late Fall)

  • Tactics: Drift/anchor on shallow breaks; stealthy jigging or slip-bobbers.
  • Gear: 6.5–7 ft medium-light rods; 6 lb fluorocarbon.
  • Baits: 1/16–1/8 oz jigs with fathead minnows; slip-bobber rigs.
  • Structure/Depth: First drop-offs, green weeds, rubble or sand flats 6–12 ft.

Devils Lake Walleye Fishing Tactics

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Walleye Fishing Tactics: Devils Lake, ND

Spring

<50°F (Early Spring)

  • Tactics: Slip-bobber rigs with leeches, slow plastic retrieves, small crankbaits on warm afternoons.
  • Gear: Medium-light to medium 7–9 ft rods, 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader.
  • Baits: Paddle-tail plastics, small stickbaits, fatheads, leeches.
  • Structure/Depth: Dark-bottom bays, flooded timber, shallow gravel areas.

50–60°F (Late Spring)

  • Tactics: Shallow presentations, spinner rigs, blade baits, shallow cranks.
  • Gear: Medium-power rods 7–8 ft, 8–10 lb braid.
  • Baits: 3–4″ plastics, crankbaits, leeches or minnows on Lindy rigs.
  • Structure/Depth: 5–15 ft flats, weedbeds, culverts, flooded timber.

Summer

60–70°F (Early Summer)

  • Tactics: Fish low-light with spinners/cranks; jig weed edges; slip-bobber in timber.
  • Gear: Medium rods 7–8 ft, 8–12 lb line for jigs/cranks.
  • Baits: Hair jigs, crankbaits, swimbaits, live bait on slip rigs.
  • Structure/Depth: 10–15 ft humps, weedlines, flooded timber, channel edges.

>70°F (Mid-Summer)

  • Tactics: Trolling crankbaits, bottom-bouncers in 15–30 ft, vertical jigging.
  • Gear: Medium-heavy rods 7–8 ft, 15–20 lb braid.
  • Baits: Crankbaits, glidebaits, crawler harnesses, heavy jigs.
  • Structure/Depth: Deep humps, drop-offs, mid-lake reefs, basin edges.

Fall

60–70°F (Early Fall)

  • Tactics: Slip-bobbers in timber, jigs with minnows, crankbaits on flats.
  • Gear: Medium rods 6–7 ft, 8–10 lb line.
  • Baits: Bucktail jigs, Gulp minnows, shallow crankbaits.
  • Structure/Depth: 5–15 ft points, shorelines, flooded wood, culvert mouths.

50–60°F (Mid-Fall)

  • Tactics: Troll crawler harnesses, vertical jigging deeper flats/humps.
  • Gear: Medium rods 6.5–7 ft, 10–12 lb braid.
  • Baits: Jigs with large chubs, leeches, spoons, glidebaits.
  • Structure/Depth: 20–30 ft points, deep edges, flooded roadbeds, humps.

<50°F (Late Fall)

  • Tactics: Slow jigging, slip-bobbering, night fishing with crankbaits.
  • Gear: 6.5–7 ft medium-light rods, 6–8 lb fluoro.
  • Baits: Fathead minnows, jigging raps, leeches.
  • Structure/Depth: 6–12 ft flats, timber, rocky drops, staging areas.