[BASSSURF]

Hello,
I am going to a lake in pennsylvania that has walleye in the lake. I have never fished for walleye before but I know that in the summer they move to the deeper parts of the lake. You can rent rowboats there but they have no depth finders. Is there any point during the day where they can be caught from the shoreline. If so, when, what should I look for, and what kinds of baits and lures will be productive.
Thank you for any info that you have.

 

[DandJfish]

Summer Walleye

Very, Very doubtfull that you will find any Walleyes along the shoreline at this time of year. Even from a Boat you would need a portable depth sounder and the ability to fish at night or at least very early morning or late evenings. As for shoreline fishing look for a flat that quickly drops off into deeper water. I would suggest using spinning tackle with 6lb test, along with 1/8 - 1/2 oz yellow or chartruse Fuzz-e-grubs tipped with 1/2 (the front half) of a nightcrawler. Simply cast, let the jig hit the bottom and slowly work it back. Continue walking until you get action. Also, keep in mind you will catch perch and bass this way as well. Without a boat thats how i would approach it.Good luck, let us know how you make out.

 

[BASSSURF]

Thanks. I might give it a try. It is a lake I have never been to but fishing for most types of fish is supposed to be very good. I will be fishing more for bass and pickerel than for walleye but I might give walleye a try.

 

[Tomthebomb]

I live in CNY and have grown up fishing walleyes on Oneida lake. I will say this. Depending on the lake Walleye fishing can be excellent in shallow in summer, weed edges are key and often weed type is important as well. in Oneida its cabbage, at least lately that is key, you can very often find lots of fish along weed edges and just out from weed edges that will readily take a crankbait such as a wally diver, grappler shad, shad rap or minnow rap, my go to crank has been the grappler shad for quite a while now. And contrary to what most folks think these cranks have to be retrieved quite quickly, ripped really. I would suggest 10 lb braid with a 10-15 lb fluoro leader maybe 18" long. the braid lets you cast farther and that means the crank will be in the "zone " longer. The added sensitivity doesn't hurt either. Helps when you get tangled in the weeds as well. Often this method is best fished while drifting along a weed edge and casting down wind. also of paramount importance is the pause. by this I mean steady cranking should be interrupted mid retrieve by a pause or two and absolutely never just pull your lure out of the water without stopping it a few feet from the boat often these pauses will trigger a strike. Your best bets are morning and evening into dark but I've caught limits of fish at 11:00am, in 6 ft of water, in July! Did it last weekend!

Good luck

 

[DandJfish]

Excellent advice

and yes, you can find Walleyes shallow, even at this time of the year. However, to take advantage of it you will need a boat, a portable depth sounder (or very good knowledge of the lake), and as you correctly pointed out the ability to either fish very late or very early, or if you are like me "both". After the "early morning" bite they tend to move out to deeper waters, and return towards dusk.

 

[Tomthebomb]

You know I've been told that "the fish go deep later in the day" alot this year and I think that although they may turn off and some may go deep. That is often not the case, Where I fish they seem to just stop biting, and on sunny days it seems go deep into the weeds but they are still there, and will hit especially if you present something that looks too good to pass up (usually a worm harness or worm tipped jig) or something that as it passes them by makes them hit just cause it looks like a fleeing minnow and they have to make a decision as its speeding by. Obviously many factors come into play, water clarity,depth,type of forage, its been my experience that walleyes eating alewives are tough and often require that late night tactic but spend a little time near the weeds in a lake with yellow perch or shad or emerald shiners as forage and they can be found, and yes the bite will pick up at dusk into the night but often they move after dark just because they get more active. They can still be had near the weeds but often folks don't fish there cause its a pain. I would agree though that you really need a boat but a depthfinder is not absolutely necessary, I fished without one for decades, I would be lost without a few marker floats though.

 

[BASSSURF]

Thanks guys, I just returned on saturday and did not catch any walleye but decided to not really target them. My dad hooked something that I think might have been walleye but it wrapped around something and got himself snagged. We landed a bunch of bass at 6-11 inches and one at 14.all on worms. Lots of catfish from 8-17 inches. 2 pickerel, my dads was 23 in and mine 25 in. The fattest pickerel I have ever seen. They were caught on live sunnies and they are our largest pickerel ever. Lots of sunnies, a few crappies, and a perch were also mixed in. A great trip.