Our guide on how to fish for Walleye

Walleye fishing is one of the most popular angling activities in the spring. Once Walleye season opens, many anglers target Walleye (or Pickerel as it is also known) in many of the Kawartha lakes. There are so many techniques it can be overwhelming at times. This is when having a fishing guide can help you be more successful.

Where to find Walleye

In the springtime, once Walleye have finished spawning, they tend to gather in large schools on shallow muddy flats or along small drop offs. Walleye like to stick together, so once you catch one, chances are you’ll catch more. In most lakes you will be able to find shallow water that has emergent weed growth or standing dead weeds from the previous season. Many times these areas also have discoloured or stained/dirty water. When you find these areas you have already solved half of the puzzle. 

Using the right lures

When I’m fishing in the Kawartha Lakes for Walleye,  I like to use lures that can be worked along the bottom or retrieved slowly through the water column. These baits include Bucktail jigs, crankbaits, jigs tipped with a plastic minnow shape or twister tail and in-line spinners. The bottom type baits can be hopped or bounced along the bottom or dragged through weeds and are very productive when Walleye are not actively feeding. Often, a bite will go undetected and you won’t know you have a fish on the line until you go to lift your rod tip.

The crankbait type lures are great for covering a large amount of water quickly and can induce violent strikes. Be sure to have a variety of baits that dive at different water depths and vary your retrieve speed. In-line spinners have been very popular for many years and there are several different styles. Some have treble hooks dressed with a bit of feather or hair while others have heavy weighted heads and a bare hook that can be tipped with a worm or minnow. Spinners can be especially effective in low light conditions as Walleye can detect the vibrations caused by the spinning blades easily which allows them to zone in on your offering.

To find out the best time for Walleye fishing near me or talk with one of our expert Walleye fishing anglers, call our team at GOAT Angling Adventures today. Google “Walleye fishing Kawartha Lakes” or “Walleye fishing near me”, to find us online and view a full list of our services. We offer a wide variety of Walleye ( pickerel ) fishing opportunities throughout the Kawartha Lakes area, including both Full day and Half day fishing charters and guided fishing trips. We offer our guided fishing trips and fishing charters in many locations including Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, Peterborough, Bobcaygeon and surrounding areas. There are many lakes to choose from such as:  Balsam Lake, Buckhorn Lake, Chemong Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Pigeon Lake, Cameron Lake and many more! Call GOAT Angling Adventures and book your Walleye guided fishing trip or Walleye fishing charter today!