Top 10 Lures Every Walleye Angler Needs

Walleye can be finicky, but having the right lures in your box means you're ready for whatever conditions you encounter. Here are the ten essential walleye lures every angler needs.

1. Jig + Minnow

The most classic and consistently effective walleye presentation. A 1/4 to 3/8 oz jig tipped with a live minnow catches walleye in almost any situation. Work it along the bottom with a lift-and-fall motion. Essential colours: chartreuse, fire tiger, orange, and white.

2. Jig + Plastic

When live bait isn't available, soft plastic paddletail swimbaits on a jig head are the next best thing. Brands like Mister Twister, Berkley PowerBait, and Northland Tackle produce excellent walleye plastics. Paddletails, ring worms, and minnow imitations all work.

3. Crankbait (Shad Rap / Reef Runner)

Deep-diving crankbaits are the go-to for covering water and finding active walleye. Reef Runners, Rapala Shad Raps, and Bandits in 6-15 foot diving depths are essential. Fire tiger, perch, and crawdad colours are reliable across North America.

4. Bottom Bouncer + Spinner Rig

The bottom bouncer rig is the standard for river walleye fishing and lake trolling. The wire weight bounces along the bottom while a spinner harness with beads and a nightcrawler or minnow trails behind.

5. Slip Bobber + Minnow

When walleye are suspended or holding in specific spots, a slip bobber rig with a live minnow is deadly. It's particularly effective in spring when walleye are in shallow spawning areas.

6. Blade Bait

Blade baits like the Cicada or Heddon Sonar are excellent for vertical jigging or casting in deeper water. The tight vibration attracts walleye from a distance. Effective in cold water when walleye are less active.

7. Spinnerbait

Walleye spinnerbaits (smaller than bass versions) in white, chartreuse, or gold are effective in murky water or when walleye are aggressively feeding. The thumping blade attracts attention.

8. Lipless Crankbait

Lipless crankbaits like the Rat-L-Trap or Red Eye Shad are excellent for searching water and triggering reaction strikes. Burn them over weed beds or rip them out of the bottom to trigger strikes.

9. Worm Harness

A simple spinner harness with a nightcrawler is one of the most productive walleye presentations on any lake. Troll it behind a bottom bouncer or snap weight. Gold blades with red beads are a classic combination.

10. Live Bait Rig (Lind Rig)

The Lind Rig (sliding sinker rig) is perfect for fishing live bait on the bottom in current or wind. A walking sinker slides on the line above a swivel, with a leader and hook tipped with a minnow or leech.

Essential Walleye Colours

• Clear water: Natural colours — perch, gold, crawdad, silver
• Stained water: Bright colours — chartreuse, fire tiger, orange
• Dark water / night: Black, dark blue, purple
• Cloudy days: Gold, white, bright green

Log Your Walleye Success

The CatchTales app helps you track which lures, colours, and presentations work best in different conditions and lakes. Build your personal database of what catches walleye where you fish.

Published July 2026 by the CatchTales team.