Bass fisherman asking for walleye advice. I don't want to bring any live bait, but was considering spending some of my precious bass time to go for some walleye this year. I know that seems backwards to most people on these message boards, but I just love bass fishing.

Anyway, what are everyone's favorite lures and tactics for walleye? Bonus points if I already own them as bass lures. I'll be up in the Gun Lake / Crooked Lake area in the last week of May.

Thanks!

The stuff you may already own would be mid-depth running cranks or jig/plastics.

Examples....rapalas of varying sorts. Most bass guys don't seem to carry flicker shads or flicker minnow but that type or style of bait. Wally diver. Again...not likely to overlap into your bass only bag but if you've got cranks that go 6-10 or 8-15 you're good. If yours happens to be a deep KVD...who cares.

Jigs and plastics....I really like the b-fish-n plastics. Moxi or ringworm 3-4" type stuff...pick your favorite colors. Lately I go on their site and buy the factory 2nd bigger bags to get an assortment of styles and colors that are still good baits. Jigs...just basic round head w/ plastic keeper barb in different sizes and colors will get the job done. Good old fashioned twister tails and stuff work too. You can get fancy with the VMC mooneye jig and all that if you want but a lot of times if you're in the right spot it won't matter.

Try some swimbaits on a quarter oz jig. Like some Tickle Tails & some jerk minnow jr's. Jig them.

I'll second the b-fish-n plastics. I found out about them via youtube, and the guys doing the review were fishing a weedline and catching walleye and smallies. I've had good results with the moxie tails fishing in current.

White impulse grubs or similar triple tips are my other go-to. 2" to 4".

This first lure I like to call the “producer” because it typically produces walleye when I need a shore lunch. The J9, 3-1/2”, gold, jointed (broken back) Rapala is my preeminent lure for walleye. This lure can be used with success during all open water seasons (spring, summer and fall). It works best when trolled around points and any extending flats adjacent to the area. If the points are not productive, move out into the lake and fish reefs by maneuvering the canoe back and forth over the structure. Casting this lure over young weed beds and any areas that have current are also good locations to hunt walleye in the spring. Wind blowing between islands in the “saddle” can be a highly effective spot during the spring time as well. Typically, if you find one walleye there is a good chance another will be nearby. Once a fruitful area is determined, set an anchor if possible and cast over the structure.

This next lure, the 4-3/4”, gold colored, Rapala Husky Jerk is fished in a similar manner as the J9. Use it during all the open water fishing seasons by trolling and casting this lure over the same areas as mentioned previously. When the structure holding walleye is deeper switch from the J9 to the Husky Jerk. The Husky Jerk can be trolled a touch slower due to its neutral buoyancy which allows the lure to suspend when paused and precipitates deadly strikes by walleyes. When casting this lure always incorporate a pause into the retrieve after a couple of jerks.

While trolling a rubble shore line just past a point in 2003, I caught a walleye on Basswood Lake that measured 32 inches long using the gold colored Husky Jerk. This fish won the annual catch and release contest held by the Ely Echo newspaper.

I am inclined to catch and release the majority of the walleye caught in Quetico. I only keep a few each trip for a couple of shore lunches. The lunkers are always returned to breed or to allow the opportunity for someone else the catch of a lifetime. If we all use these guidelines the quality of Quetico walleye fishing will remain for generations to come.

The closest I’ve been to fishing live bait in Quetico is using either Berkley PowerBait or Gulp! leeches. Once a good walleye location is determined, return to the area with a PowerBait leech and jig over the structure and surrounding area. Using non-lead 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. black colored jigheads seem to work best.

If you do not prefer jigging, another effective method is to Texas rig the leech on a red 1/0 worm hook so it is weed-less. Then about 18 inches up the line use a small weight to maintain the lure depths down in the strike zone. This method is best used while drifting over a walleye structure or reeled just enough to make sure it remains off the bottom while casting from a stationary position.

When there is a good chop on the water rig up the leech on a jighead under a slip float. The movement of the float in the waves causes erratic movements of the leech below the surface enticing finicky walleyes. This procedure alleviates snags by allowing the lure to hover over the bottom. Again, this lure can be used during all open water fishing seasons, but is used primarily during the summer when walleye move out into the lake and set up over the reefs and shoals.

Listen to Quetico Mike !

Mike da man, i.e. da fishin' man!

I know husky jerks have won a few smallmouth tournaments. They are great for walleyes fished the same way that bass guys fish 'em or long-line trolled with erratic rod pumps and sweeps.
Bring leeches and hang 'em under a slip bobber near bottom.

In addition to many rapala's or cranks you likely already own, might I also suggest a jig with a white Mr. Twister plastic. 3" would probably be good for early spring.

We typically troll perch colors shad raps. Size 5 and 7 depending on the depth. 5 is usually more popular around late May and Early June but if water levels are high the 7 can be valuable.

Pretty excited to try some of Mikes recommendations tho!