I'd like to hear your #1 choice for walleye lure.
I've always had good luck using a blue/silver Rapala at night...especially casting from shore.

I'm gonna beat TGO to this one, Minnows on a lindy rig! but if you don't take them then go with the rapalas!.

Short shank Jig & gulp minnow grub, 2".

Sorry TGO, we only get one and it will outlast a live fella.

Bright orange jig-head with 3" white twister tail.

anywhere, anytime: trolling with a lindy rig, 90% leeches, once in a while minnows.

Fairly new to this site-had to check 'thecanoeman's' profile, since that is our go to combination to a T. 3" white twistertails/orange jighead. BINGO!

In my nit-picky mind, live bait is not a lure. So I'll say the rapala husky jerk. This is an extremely versatile lure; they will troll very fast, or you can literally stop them and let them sit for a minute. I get hits on the sit, especially in cold water, and on the troll in warmer water. The down deep husky jerk works great too, but now that's two lures. But, after live bait, I've caught more fish on husky jerks than any lure.

I don't really fish for walleye with lures. Usually leeches. If I'm fishing with lures, I'm fishing for bass, northern or trout.

ringworms, jointed shad rap(crayfish color), and deep tail dancers.

Blue rapalas work like a charm. Best luck has been trolling them. Have caught many, many walleyes on them throughout the BWCA. Going up 5/27 - 6/2 and planning to try Gulp minnows for the first time (along with the old reliable--live leeches)

Kind of on a dare, I once fished the entire trip with a silver and blue Rat-L-Trap. Caught as many fish as any of my buddies; walleye, small mouth bass, northerns, and sunfish.

When fishing the Rapala for walleye is getting the lure deep enough an issue? I usually think a Rapala is good for a max of 3' of depth. Perhaps a split shot? I will be in the BW first of June and always used jigs for the eyes but obviously need to learn the Rapala way.

Kentucky Mark,
The more line you let out the deeper the lure will go. sometimes we will let out 100' to 150' of line while trolling, when the lure hits the bottom reel up a little line. we call this long lining.

If I get to pick one "bait", it is definitely leeches on a jig with a slip bobber. That has caught more walleye than all my other baits combined.

If I am forced to pick one "lure", I'll have to second the husky jerk. I like the firetiger HJ9. It has also caught a lot of fish.

Shap Rap perch

K Mark, Different rapala lures will dive to different depths. Make sure you look into this before you go off buying these spendy but effective lures. Line weight will play a factor, but usually a typical 6-10 lb. should allow your rapala to run at the manufacturers labeled depth. These are one of the most effective ways of fishing on the move and covering lots of water. Your arsenal should definitely include a variety of raps.

jig tipped with a twister tail or leach

Pink jig with white twister tail. Todd

Countdown Rapala if were picky with the word "lure". Drop shot weight with floating jig if were not.

Firetiger HJ9

Lindy rig and a big shiner.

Spinner harness with a pinch of a worm.

A jig if i could only have one lure, but a close second is a blue silver rapala ..

definently a jig

Mustard Color stick bait from Walmart. Not joking.

#9 jointed gold or orange rapala

Kentucky: Rapala makes a little pamphlet with the depths various lures will run on different lengths of line. Also, the book Precision Trolling gives dive data for a multitude of lures. Typically, a serious walleye fisherman will use a line counter reel to manage how much line is out. In the BWCA, I'll take a bobber stop and and mark the line at the desired spot. For example, I have a six-foot wingspan, so I'll measure out 200' of line(while standing on shore) if I am using big tail dancers that will run 35' down on 200', and tighten the bobberstop and then reel in.
The original rapala's dive curve is unique in that it dives optimally at a slower speed. With a split shot, though, it is pretty easy to get down ten feet or so.
Sorry to ramble; I'm pretty excited about fishing. Good luck!

A 1/4 oz. jighead with 3" twister tail. Hands down, the best and most consistant walleye lure around.

If live bait can be figured into the equation, I'd go with a leech on a #6 bare hook under a slip bobber.

As a first timer coming in late June, could you be more specific as to the lures mentioned? Is it the Rapala® XRS08 Silver Blue X-Rap Shad that seems to be working well or another Rapala and if so in which size? Also, is it the Original Rat-L-Trap in Chrome/blue back (and again in which size). Will be using 6-8 lb mono.

Thanks.

Mimic Minnow spinner in "Perch" color. Absolutely the go to lure last year. After that, I would go with a leach under a slip bobber.

bump ;-)

I'm like Mad Angler. Bait of choice for me is some sort of leech presentation, but if I'm going with a lure, it's a rapala. For years it was a floating chartreuse original, but lately I've migrated to a black and silver sinking rap.

I throw the floating raps up near shore, let them sit for a second or two, give them a twitch, let them sit another couple seconds, and then start the retrieve. More often that not they get hit after the twitch.

Long lining works well with original floating rapalas. I catch all the fish I want/need that way. I just paddle along in 6-10 feet of water, or just off the reef edges.

I am a fall fisherman in the Q, so we cannot use anything live.

This one outfishes any lure 3 to 1.




Old Hoosier

Hoosier-
Frame that picture! Definitely worth a thousand words.

If I had one lure it would be a silver Rapala size 7. It will catch just about anything.

I'm just a novice and take most Walleye (and smallies and Northern) trolling a shallow shad rap Perch.
Old Hoosier, I'm hitting Quetico in September. Where do you like to get barbless hooks or do you bend/file the barbs down?

My new fav is a 4" Gulp Grub on a 3/8oz head. I snap jig this for 'eyes and they hit it like a ton of bricks.

Hoosier-
Frame that picture! Definitely worth a thousand words.

Yes - that was a brand new lure when we started the trip. One of six identical lures I had in the box.

I had a rookie with me that year who had never caught a fish on any type of lure - ever. I had told him we would "solve that problem" but he did not believe me. That was his lure! He caught a 9 lb pike first day within 3 minutes of starting to fish. He also caught 3 walleye over 7 lbs that trip. (He asked to come back the next year, too!)

Old Hoosier

quote Old Hoosier: ""

What IS that beat up old thing?

:)

I don't really consider a jig to be a lure, so that being said, my best luck so far has come on a Rapala Shad Rap #9 (I think, maybe #7) in blue with the silver belly. Retrieve it as slowly as possible while still feeling the lure wag.

jighead and a leech

No-snag weight or bb-sized split shot ahead of a floating jig (when using live bait). I have not experienced enough success with plug-type lures to have a "#1 choice."

MeatGun,

We simply bend the barbs down. The Q rules allow you to have barbed hooks in your tackle box, but the one on your line MUST be bent down or barbless - otherwise you are in violation. So you don't have to "re-do" all your lures. Just the ones you actually put on your line.

We have become comfortable with barbless over the years. Don't seem to lose any more fish than before barbless. BUT - and it is a big BUT - you MUST keep a tight line. Experienced fishermen do this naturally, so we don't notice any difference.

However, rookies are slow to learn to keep a tight line. Usually, they lose a real good fish, then they start listening.

Old Hoosier

Schweady,

I honestly cannot recall. I'll look to see if I can find the details and reply later.

I purchased it for several reasons:
1) It has the loudest internal rattle I have ever heard
2) It has a blue body (for walleye) plus it has an orange stomach (like native perch)
3) The lipless design tumbles over rocks extremely well without snagging.
4) It sinks - so I can run it down as deep as I want by varying speed (I mostly troll)

Maybe someone else can identify the lure right away. I'll go see if I can dig the name up.

It is by far my top lure for "up north" fishing. The same lure in fire tiger and silver/black would catch about anything you want.

Old Hoosier

quote nathanweidman: "#9 jointed gold or orange rapala"

+1 ( gold )

Jig and a twister tail!

Depending on the time of year...
A red #6 hook, split shot and an egg sinker. (homemade lindy rig)
or
A red lead head jig
both the above with a minnow or leech
or
A perch colored shad rap

Old Hoosier,
Thanks for the tip. No doubt this rookie will lose a few, but I'll think "tight line" right after I think, "don't horse it" which will probably be after "Sweet, Fish ON!".

That lure looks like a Rat-L-Trap to me. I have only cast them, I'll have to try trolling one! Link Below:

RatLTrap

This little beauty will work with live bait or twister. When the bite is tough, this is the one I go to. It seems to loosen up the "lock jaw", especially on the big ones.

Meatgun,

Agree - RatLTrap it is. But the back dorsal fin is not there. Maybe broken off or perhaps I purchased a RatLTrap knock-off.

Either way, it is a super producer. Use one - you'll be glad you did!

By the way - where you headed in Q?

Old Hoosier

Greenman,

Glad you mentioned this little jig. I have to agree with you as well.

I went to Q with Ted Bell and his son about 3 years ago. First day paddling in we pulled up to camp site and started unloading the canoes. Tucker was 9 at the time. He started casting from shore with the little jig you show. He had 5 eater size walleye flopping on the rocks before we got the canoes unloaded!

In Tennessee we call them "horsehead jigs" and they do well in the rocks. They don't get snagged near as bad and this allows you to creep right along the bottom where the "eyes" stay. The little spinner on the bottom side is an added attractant due to vibration and flash.

I am just learning how to use them. Have used 3 inch plastic minnows, twister tails and Berkeley power worms. Did OK, but felt I should have done better.

But I like this lure. Just have to learn more about it.

Old Hoosier.

Gulp leech on a lindy.

+ = the one (Northland Eyeball jig and a Gulp minnow)

Old Hoosier,

Would love your input. We are still very much in the planning stages. Headed in at LaCroix, East toward Poohbah, South and out either through Mudro or Moose.

If e-mail is easier:
chasmc852000@yahoo.com

Thanks!
MeatGun

If I could only bring one walleye lure, I'd bring TGO!

Z Too.

Meatgun,

I sent you an Email at the address provided.

Old Hoosier

Old Hoosier,

It did not come through. Mind trying to resend?

Thanks,
MG

I would have to say firetiger minnow rap. For me, the most consistent and productive color.