What Is the Best Walleye Lures and Rigs for Shore Fishing?
Shore fishing is a great way to catch walleye. It’s also one of the most popular methods used by anglers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The shoreline offers easy access to fish that are often less pressured than those found in deep water. Plus, it’s an excellent option when you’re looking for a quick bite or just want to get out on the water without having to deal with boat traffic or heavy waves.
But how do you know what lures to throw? What rigs to use for your fishing line? What live bait rig is best? It’s important to have the right information so that you don’t waste time and money.
In this article, We’ve compiled some of our favorite rigs and lures so you can find success on your next outing! We will also show you some tips on finding the spot, luring, walleye rigging, and answering some of your questions about fishing from shore and fishing for walleye.
Now let’s head to the main info:
What Are The Best Walleye Lures And Rigs For Shore Fishing?
Here is our list that we think will make your fishing for walleye trips better:
- Keitech Fat Swing Impact
- Berkley Flicker Shad Fishing Hard Bait
- Berkley Gulp Alive Minnow Fishing Soft Bait
- High-Strength Fishing Ball Bearing Swivel
- Dr.Fish 3 Way Swivel Fishing Tackle
Berkley Flicker Shad Fishing Hard Bait
Summary
Berkley Flicker Shad Fishing Hard Bait is one of the best walleye lures for shore fishing. They come in many different sizes to fit your needs and they imitate the real thing so you don’t have to worry about getting bit!
The Berkley Flicker Shad has been tank-tested individually. Its weight transfer and size make it perfect for casts, just like a real shad would be! You should definitely give Berkley Flicker Shads Fishing Hard Baits a try next time you’re out on the water.
Pros
- In addition to big walleye, it works pretty well with trout. It also works with many species including bass and crappie.
- Good action.
- Solid bait.
Cons
- The pain and colour looks cheap.
Keitech Fat Swing Impact Lure
Summary
The Keitech Fat Swing Impact Lure is a heavy-duty lure that has been designed with the needs of walleye and bass fishing in mind. It features a two-tone color injection process using salted plastics. This causes a good balance and action.
You also don’t have to worry about retrieving speed, as it’s good for maintaining the swimming motion. The tapered design makes it very weedless when Texas rigged. The center rigging line provides a good position to rig the bait correctly. With so many features to offer, it’s hard not to be impressed by this product from Keitech!
Pros
- Great action.
- You can get various kinds of species with them.
Cons
- Rips apart very easily.
- Very soft and fragile.
Berkley Gulp Alive Minnow Fishing Soft Bait
Summary
Berkley Gulp Alive Minnow body Fishing Soft Bait is a natural presentation bait with a real-like scent and taste. It has lifelike detail, quivering tail action, and long-lasting results that work for various species.
Berkley’s Live Target Jigs are a great way to target many different types of fish in one jig head. The design features a size of 2.5in. These live minnows also come in three colors: Black Shad- Half-Pint, so you can find a suitable one for your fishing line.
It also comes in a resealable container to keep them safe.
Pros
- Looks and feels like a real thing.
- Suitable for various species.
- Nice natural bait presentation.
Cons
- Not durable.
- A little pricey.
High-Strength Fishing Ball Bearing Swivel
Summary
The High-Strength Fishing Ball Bearing Swivel is one of the best rigs for any fisherman. With 10 per pack, these swivels will last for years and can be used in any situation.
The welded ring ensures the strength of these ball bearing swivels, while also being corrosion resistant. The pack comes in 2 colors black and silver. These ball-bearing swivels come in multiple sizes to meet your specific needs as a fisherman.
Pros
- Very strong walleye rigs.
- Good customer support.
Cons
- Huge in size.
- Tends to rust easily.
- Not suitable for big catches.
Dr.Fish 3 Way Swivel Fishing Tackle
Summary
Dr.Fish 3 Way Swivel Fishing Tackle is a fishing tackle that helps to reduce the tangles and twists in the lines. It’s one of the best walleye rigs for shore fishing out there. It also acts as a splitter for your rigs, allowing you to fish 2 baits on 1 line or drop a sinker and free float bait.
The heavy pound test made of high-strength stainless steel ensures its strength while the nickel-plated finish offers corrosion resistance. This product will be perfect for any avid fisherman who wants to enjoy their time more with less hassle from tangles!
Pros
- Good quality.
- Very strong swivels.
- They don’t tangle.
Cons
- They are small in size.
Where To Find Spring Walleye?
Finding walleyes at this time of year is typically the most difficult aspect of catching them. You’ll be on the biggest fish of the season in no time if you change your search techniques to match the water’s color and temperature.
For walleye anglers, It’s best to practice by throwing your favorite lures into the water at different intervals, and seeing what kind of reactions you get. Generally, when trying to catch spring walleye, it’s best to start with lighter lures- so try tossing in small crankbaits or shallow diver-type plugs. After a few minutes if you don’t get any nibbles, switch up your style by adding various plastics like spinnerbaits or wobbling jigs.
This may also feel a little challenging. For Instance, The two most common issues on the Great Lakes and across the Upper Midwest are straining water from ferocious winds and ice-cold water temperatures, which result from the snow that melts and pours into lakes.
How Does Stained Water Affect The Hungry Walleye Fishing?
When you target walleye, you need to consider the color of the water. There are 2 types of stained water. Let’s talk a closer look at them:
Dirty water
Baitfish are often found in dirty water, which is typically a few degrees warmer than clean or off-color water. Warmth and visual concealment from predatory fish are provided by dirty water. However, years of experience have taught me that attempting to catch any fish in what usually resembles a muddy puddle is difficult. Inversely, The clear water is practically devoid of life, owing to its cooler temperature
Chalky Water
To the right is chalky water, which is stained enough to support a diverse baitfish population but clear enough for walleyes to feed. It’s critical for big spring fish catches.
Chalky water was more difficult to come by than in the past because it doesn’t usually cover a large area. Now, It’s not as difficult as it used to be to find chalky water, since you may now use new marine electronics to reveal key insights such as temperature fluctuations.
Using some satellite images also will help you to narrow down your search for the best walleye fishing spot.
Some Important Tips to Find the Spot to Catch More Walleye
Walleye fishing is all about location, location, and more location. If you know where to look for walleyes in the best season of the year, then you will be able to catch them with the best lures at any time of day or night.
Here are some tips on how to find that perfect spot and to help in catching walleye:
1. Watch For Signs of life
To Find Walleye, Look for signs of feeding fish such as baitfish jumping out of the water near shorelines.
Also, Emergent weed growth is the first indication of new life in many reservoirs. It’s a sign that this place is nutrient-rich and can attract fish. This is also an indication that the water temperature is suitable.
2. Look for docks
Start your search by looking for docks and other structures which may attract fish near shorelines. Walleyes like these places because they offer cover from predators while still giving them access to food sources nearby.
3. Find Major Points
If you want the best chance of catching walleyes, find major points such as harbors, canals, and old dams. These points will be more abundant in these fish than any other shoreline. You can also use a boat to explore these areas and come up with new hotspots that yield results.
4. Learn Discharges effect
There is a certain type of water that many anglers like to fish in early spring when the temperature is still cool and low. This warm-water location will be found at culverts, discharges, or power plants on lakes.
5. Water Direction is important
The northern half of the lake, which faces more sunshine, will always be the warmest area.
6. Did you know that Walleye react to wind?
The constant movement of water pushes plankton for baitfish. This causes Walleyes to follow their food source. Wind movements promote water flows. It also covers what you’re doing in the water and prevents walleye from running away.
FAQs
What colors are best for walleye?
The best lure colors for targeting walleye are chartreuse, white, purple, pink, and orange. We choose them because they are similar to the colors that walleye are used to feed on.
On sunny days, the most successful hues will be metallic, chrome, and natural ones.
What are walleye attracted to?
One of the things that Walleye are attracted to is illumination at night, so utilize lighted or glow-in-the-dark jig heads.
How do you jig for walleye?
It’s better to be seen so you can get a full understanding of it. Here is a video that demonstrates it all:
The Bottom Line
Inshore fishing is a great way to catch some fish without having to venture too far from shore. Shorelines are often rich with baitfish, which attracts the walleye that you’re looking for. We’ve compiled 5 of our favorite lures and rigs that we think can make your next fishing trip a more success and more enjoyable. We also included tips on how to fish effectively in this article.
We hope that this article answered some of your most common questions and provided value for you.