While most walleye anglers don’t use these types of lures as much for walleye, they can be very effective. When walleye are in the shallows during the spring or early summer, an in-line spinner that runs 3 to 4 feet deep can do very well, especially in the morning, evening and at night. Once water temperatures warm up in the summer time, you are not going to catch as many walleye in the shallows, so these lures are usually not as effective unless you are fishing at night or very early in the morning and late in the evening when some walleye move into the shallows to grab and easy meal. If you fish these lures deeper on a Carolina rig or with a bottom bouncer, you can still catch plenty of walleye. It’s just not very common among most anglers. A slow and steady retrieve at the correct depth will definitely catch walleye though.
Spinnerbaits are not a very popular lure for catching walleye, but many anglers have caught walleye on accident while fishing for bass or northern pike. When walleye move into the shallows to actively feed, a spinnerbait can tempt them into eating. Try using spinnerbaits that resemble the colors of the bait fish they are feeding on and you will get more bites. The best times to target walleye with a spinnerbait are early in the morning, late in the evening and at night.
Underspins are great for targeting walleye. Most anglers use the smaller underspins for live bait such as worms, leeches and minnows. Soft plastic grubs, finesse worms and swimbaits can also be very effective. Slow troll these along the bottom and you’ll definitely catch some walleye.
