I'm starting to build up my walleye trolling crankbait collection for my trip in July. Someone suggested that I use a full size Reef Runner which is 6-1/4 inches when you include the lip and it dives to 28 feet when trolling. Does anyone else use large crankbaits like this? What's the largest one that you have used for walleyes?

Hey Bromel .....
Beat that!!!

Woodpecker

I've used the j-13 jointed rapala with success. have had 1 pound walleyes try to inhale it.

dont include the lip- this is not what the fish are seeing. also dont include the trebles.

Bromel,

Taking live bait with plain hooks and light sinkers, or 1/8th or 1/4 oz. jigs, and tipping them with either minnows or leeches will give you your best chance of catching Walleye, and other species. Some artificial leeches, such as Slimers and Gulp Leeches will also work well. I know it's easy to get caught up in the crank bait hype with all the TV fishing programs, but I'm suggesting to you what will get you the most fish, while trying to make your trip more memorable. Some people feel that using live bait is cheating, but these are the same people that use a crank bait that looks more like a minnow than a minnow does, has two or three trebles (6-9 hooks) and feel that this is OK. If you just like to cast, and be minimally successful, well, that is your choice.

I will agree with Great Outdoors somewhat.

I am a live bait guy myself. Nothing beats the leech and leadhead in my opinion. But that is not to say that the crankbait won't catch fish. There are times when the artificials will outfish the real stuff.

In general especially as the heat of the summer comes along the bigger the lure the bigger the fish. You might catch a fewer fish, but quality will be better.

Think of it this way. You are a big fat hungry guy sitting on the couch and someone puts a hot dog in front of you and someone else puts a super-sized McDonalds value meal in front of you which one will you reach for? The value meal right! You get more energy with less effort---big fish think the same way.

Of course there are always exceptions to this rule, but with your trolling you are trying to find the actively feeding aggressive fish. I can't remember your original list of lures, but you had plenty of good options so unless you already had this lure I wouldn't go out and buy more. You will find you probably only use 1-3 of those lures listed for trolling.

Tim

we used some of the big original rapalas on sand point lake and did phenomenal. by big I mean 7-10 inches long w/ out the lip.

Tryg,

WOW... How big of a net do you bring?