Crankbaits
Rapala Shad Rap
A tight-wobbling crankbait that walleye anglers troll and cast.
Check PriceSpecies / Walleye
Perch
Walleye Fishing
The signature fish of Northern lakes and big rivers. Walleye feed at dawn, dusk, and night and are caught jigging, trolling, and through the ice.
Best Months: Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov
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Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Walleye
Month
4 picks for October.
Suspending Jerkbait 4 to 5 in
LureHard Bait · After dark.
Shop This LurePaddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in
LureSoft Plastic
Shop This LureJig and Minnow 1/8 to 3/8 oz
LureJig
Shop This LureLive Minnows 1 to 3 in
BaitLive Bait
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Rod & Reel
Walleye Setup
Walleye
Spin / Cast 6.5 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader.
The US
Where to Catch Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · Colorado
Lake Pueblo
A Front Range reservoir with walleye, wipers, and bass in a high desert setting.
Walleye · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass
Rivers & Streams · Iowa
Mississippi River (Guttenberg)
Upper Mississippi backwaters and wing dams with walleye, sauger, and panfish.
Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · Iowa
Okoboji Lakes
Clear glacial lakes in northwest Iowa including West Okoboji and Spirit Lake.
Walleye · Yellow Perch · Smallmouth Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Illinois
Fox Chain O'Lakes
A chain of connected glacial lakes in northern Illinois with muskie, walleye, and bass.
Walleye · Muskellunge · Largemouth Bass
Rivers & Streams · Illinois
Illinois River
A big working river with spring walleye and sauger runs and strong catfish populations.
Walleye · White Bass · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Kansas
Cheney Reservoir
A windy prairie reservoir west of Wichita with excellent white bass and wipers.
White Bass · Walleye · Crappie
Lakes & Reservoirs · Kansas
Milford Lake
The largest lake in Kansas, known for white bass, wipers, and blue catfish.
White Bass · Walleye · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Kentucky
Lake Cumberland
A deep, clear reservoir known for striped bass and big smallmouth.
Striped Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · Maryland
Deep Creek Lake
Maryland's largest freshwater lake in the western mountains.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Yellow Perch
Rivers & Streams · Michigan
Detroit River
A spring walleye run of national fame on the river between Detroit and Windsor.
Walleye · Smallmouth Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Michigan
Lake St. Clair
A shallow lake between Lakes Huron and Erie, among the best smallmouth and musky fisheries anywhere.
Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · Michigan
Saginaw Bay
A shallow arm of Lake Huron with big walleye numbers and perch through the ice.
Walleye · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Lake of the Woods
A vast border lake called the walleye capital of the world, with a big winter ice fishing scene.
Walleye · Northern Pike · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Lake Vermilion
A rocky Northwoods lake with about 340 miles of shoreline and 365 islands.
Walleye · Muskellunge · Smallmouth Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Leech Lake
One of Minnesota's largest lakes, with walleye and big muskies.
Walleye · Muskellunge · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Mille Lacs Lake
Classic Minnesota walleye lake with a big ice fishing community and trophy smallmouth.
Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge
Lakes & Reservoirs · Montana
Fort Peck Lake
A 134 mile Missouri River reservoir on the plains with walleye, lake trout, and pike.
Walleye · Lake Trout · Northern Pike
Rivers & Streams · Montana
Missouri River
Tailwater below Holter Dam from Wolf Creek to Cascade, plus the big trout of the Hauser to Holter reach.
Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · North Dakota
Devils Lake
A prairie lake famous for jumbo perch through the ice and walleye.
Walleye · Yellow Perch · Northern Pike
Lakes & Reservoirs · North Dakota
Lake Sakakawea
A huge Missouri River reservoir with walleye, pike, and a chinook salmon fishery.
Walleye · Northern Pike · Chinook Salmon
Rivers & Streams · North Dakota
Missouri River (Bismarck)
A walleye river between Garrison Dam and Lake Oahe.
Walleye · Northern Pike
Lakes & Reservoirs · Nebraska
Lake McConaughy
Nebraska's largest reservoir with white sand beaches, walleye, wipers, and white bass.
Walleye · White Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Nebraska
Merritt Reservoir
A Sandhills reservoir and Nebraska's top musky water.
Muskellunge · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · New York
Oneida Lake
A big, shallow Central New York lake with strong walleye and perch fishing.
Walleye · Yellow Perch · Smallmouth Bass
Rivers & Streams · New York
St. Lawrence River
The Thousand Islands region with world-class smallmouth and trophy muskies.
Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge · Northern Pike
Lakes & Reservoirs · Ohio
Indian Lake
A shallow western Ohio lake known for saugeye and crappie.
Walleye · Crappie
Lakes & Reservoirs · Ohio
Lake Erie
Western basin walleye water around Port Clinton, the self-styled Walleye Capital, with smallmouth around the islands and perch through fall.
Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Ohio
Mosquito Creek Lake
A northeast Ohio reservoir with walleye and crappie.
Walleye · Crappie · Largemouth Bass
Rivers & Streams · Pennsylvania
Susquehanna River
A wide, shallow river near Harrisburg with famous smallmouth fishing.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · South Dakota
Lake Oahe
A huge Missouri River reservoir and one of the best walleye lakes in the country.
Walleye · Northern Pike · Smallmouth Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Tennessee
Dale Hollow Lake
A clear, rocky lake that produced the world record smallmouth bass.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · Washington
Potholes Reservoir
A desert reservoir with sand dunes and flooded willows full of bass and walleye.
Walleye · Largemouth Bass · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Wisconsin
Green Bay
A Lake Michigan bay with trophy walleye, musky, and smallmouth around Sturgeon Bay.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Muskellunge
Lakes & Reservoirs · Wisconsin
Lake Winnebago
Wisconsin's largest inland lake with walleye, white bass, and a sturgeon spearing tradition.
Walleye · Yellow Perch · White Bass
Rivers & Streams · Wisconsin
Wolf River
A spring spawning run river where walleye and white bass push up from Lake Winnebago.
Walleye · White Bass
Rivers & Streams · West Virginia
New River
A big, rocky river through the New River Gorge with excellent smallmouth.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Muskellunge
Lakes & Reservoirs · West Virginia
Summersville Lake
West Virginia's largest lake, with clear water and rocky smallmouth bass structure.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · Wyoming
Boysen Reservoir
A central Wyoming reservoir with walleye and trout above the Wind River Canyon.
Walleye · Rainbow Trout
Recommended
Gear for Walleye
Nets & Tools
Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net
A fish-friendly rubber net that does not tangle hooks.
Check PriceRod & Reel Combos
Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo
Nearly unbreakable and sensitive enough for most freshwater fishing. A safe first combo.
Check PriceRods
St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod
A sensitive, lightweight rod for finesse plastics and jigs.
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Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel
A smooth, durable reel in sizes for trout through inshore saltwater.
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Pflueger President Spinning Reel
Light and smooth for its price. A favorite for finesse and panfish rods.
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Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament
Limp, easy-casting mono for spinning reels and general fishing.
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Seaguar Red Label Fluorocarbon
Low-visibility fluorocarbon for leaders and clear water.
Check PriceHard Baits
Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait
A suspending jerkbait that shines in cold, clear water.
Check PriceRigs
Northland Baitfish-Image Spinner Harness
Crawler harnesses trolled behind bottom bouncers for summer walleye.
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