Club | September 2024

7 Tips for Mastering Fall Walleye Fishing with Crankbaits

By: Captain Lance Valentine

As the leaves begin to turn and the temperatures drop, anglers know that fall is one of the best times to target walleye. This season brings changes in water temperature, walleye behavior, and feeding patterns, making it the perfect time to utilize crankbaits to land these elusive fish. Whether you're a seasoned walleye fisherman or new to the sport, understanding how to effectively use crankbaits in the fall can significantly increase your catch rate. Here’s how to make the most of your fall walleye fishing with crankbaits.

Why Crankbaits in the Fall?
During the fall, walleye begin to feed heavily in preparation for the winter months. This period, often referred to as the "fall feedbag," sees walleye becoming more aggressive and moving into shallower waters to chase baitfish like shad, minnows, and perch. Crankbaits are an ideal lure choice during this time because they effectively mimic the movement and appearance of these prey species.

Crankbaits also allow anglers to cover a lot of water quickly, which is crucial when targeting active fish. Their ability to dive to specific depths, combined with the variety of sizes, shapes, and colors available, makes crankbaits versatile and effective in different fishing conditions.

Choosing the Right Fall Crankbait
Selecting the right crankbait for fall walleye fishing depends on several factors, including water temperature, clarity, and the type of forage available. Here is a quick list of things to consider when stocking your tackle box for the fall walleye crankbait bite!

1. Diving Depth:
Walleye can be found at various depths in the fall, depending on the water temperature and time of day. Crankbaits that can reach depths of 10 to 20 feet are ideal for this time of year. Deep-diving crankbaits work well when fish are holding in deeper water, while shallow-diving models are great for targeting walleye in shallower areas or along weed edges. Be sure your lure collection has multiple different options for lure diving depths because it can be a KEY detail in how many fish you catch (see ACTION section)

2. Speed Range:
After being in the right spot and having your lure at the right depth, being versatile with speed control is a critical piece to the fall crankbait puzzle. Remember, speed is a trigger that absolutely needs to be dialed in each day and a difference of only 1 or 2 tenths of a mile an hour can make a BIG difference. Be sure to have crankbaits that perform well at all speed ranges, from a slow under a mile an hour roll all the way up to lures that work at speeds up to 3 mph!

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FALL TROLLING SPEED

3. Size:
In the fall, walleye often target larger prey, so opt for bigger crankbaits, typically in the 3 to 6-inch range. Knowing what type of baitfish swim in the water you are fishing is a good start to picking a bait size that should be effective. Have a good selection of baits in the 3-7” range for fall walleye, and even bigger as winter gets closer. Remember, walleyes are trying to fatten up for the winter and won’t stop eating, even when they are full!!!

4. Shape:
Again, knowing what type of bait the walleye you are targeting are feeding on is key to picking the right crankbait shape each trip. Smelt are long and skinny; shad are wider and fatter. A lure that represents each will look different to you and more importantly, the fish! Lure size and shape are key, and I believe much more important to crankbait success than color is!

5. Action:
Okay, listen up!! This is one of the biggest mistakes that fall crankbait trollers make. The tendency is to grab a “deep diving” lure when you need to get a lure deep. Most deep diving crankbaits have a large, long and rounded bill that give the crankbait a specific action. Well, what if those walleyes down 25’ want a tighter, rolling action that a shallow diving crankbait with a smaller, square shaped bill provides? STOP only using deep crankbaits to target fish and shallow crankbaits to target shallow fish! Some days, actually a LOT of days, especially in colder water, it may be better to get a shallow lure deep (inline weights, snap weights, leadcore, divers) than it is to just use a deep crankbait. Also, don’t hesitate to run a “deep”crankbait on short leads when targeting shallow depths….ACTION IS CRITICAL TO CRANKBAIT SUCCESS!

6. Color:
Color selection should be based on water clarity and light conditions. Lure color can create a passionate discussion amongst anglers, but here are a few thoughts about picking fall crankbait colors we have learned from keeping good records of our fall walleye fishing for over 3 decades. First, dull bodies seem to work best. Bases of white, bone, gray, black and dark purple work better than shiny metallic bases most days. Second, dots and stripes on a lure seem to make it more effective. Third, pay attention to the bottom color of your crankbait. Pink, red, orange and purple bottoms are some of my favorites.

CLICK HERE FOR SOME QUICK THOUGHTS ON FALL CRANKBAIT TYPES AND COLORS

7. Some more thoughts:
Here are a few more tips for fall crankbait success. Change your hooks! Using QUALITY “locking” hooks like Mustad Triple Grips or Gamakatsu EWG trebles will improve hooking and landing percentages. Use a crankbait snap to attach lures. A round bend crankbait snap is all you need-NO swivel at the lure!! Think about upgrading your split rings if you have a chance to catch a BIG walleye. Most walleye crankbait manufactures save a few pennies by using inexpensive hardware. If you are chasing the fish of a lifetime, check your split rings, both the ones that hold the hooks on and the lure attachment, and upgrade to stronger ones if necessary.

Conclusion
Fall is a prime time to target walleye, and crankbaits are an essential tool for any angler looking to capitalize on the season’s opportunities. By understanding how to choose and use crankbaits effectively, you can increase your chances of landing trophy walleye as they prepare for the winter months. So, as the temperatures drop and the leaves change color, grab your gear, head to the water, and get ready for some exciting fall walleye fishing with crankbaits.