Because of their mild yet delicious taste, walleyes are a well-sought-after freshwater species among anglers. Their characteristic large glassy eyes make them easy to identify, making them an easy option. Catching walleye will require you to not only have decent fishing skills but also to know what sizes and colors of lures are best for walleye fishing.
Moderately heavy to light jig heads of about ⅝ to ⅛ ounces (17.72 to 3.54 grams) with hooks and brightly colored lures are best for walleye. This is due to their relatively large size and impressive range of vision, even in low light.
Walleye love to reside in shaded, cool waters; knowing where they are is only the first step in making a great catch. This article will guide you on the sizes, colors, and types of lures sure to bring in the walleye in great numbers.
What Size of Lure Is Ideal for Walleye Fishing?
Walleye rarely come close to the surface unless it is dark, cloudy, or they are desperate. To find walleye, you need to seek them where they lie beneath the surface. During the day, this is usually anything from twelve to thirty feet below the surface, along the riverbed, or beneath some aquatic plants.
These are some parameters you might want to keep in mind when selecting a suitably-sized lure for walleye:
- River depth. The ideal size of lure for walleye has to be roughly the same as a typical prey, like the minnow.
- Walleye size. You should consider the relative size of your potential walleye catch and select a lure that matches that size.
The lure would ideally measure from 2 to 5 inches (5.08 to 12.7 cm) in length. This size is typical of minnows and yellow perches, the walleye’s favorite prey.
The Best Size of Lure for Walleye Fishing
The best size of walleye lure would weigh between ⅛ to ⅝ ounces (3.54 to 17.72 grams). This size lure is heavy enough for catching an average-sized walleye of about one to two pounds.
The lure should be heavy enough to sink to the depths where walleye love to hang out and maintain position in light undercurrents that exist at depth.
At the same time, it should be light enough to dart underwater with the flick of the wrist. Walleye are aroused by sudden movement, so to ensure the lure gets noticed by the fish, it should be light enough to dart around.
This movement helps mimic the movement of small fish that walleye love so much. Also, lightweight lures and jigs are easier to feel the typical soft bite of a walleye.
What Colors of Lure Are Best for Walleye Fishing?
Walleyes are probably most famous for their unusually pearly eyes. To the novice, the walleye appears blind, but those eyes see exceptionally well, especially at night or in dim lighting.
The silver eye patch that Pisces genetics has gifted the walleye helps them reflect even the tiniest bit of light. This ability gives them an undue advantage when hunting at night, similar to other animals with this distinctive feature, like cats.
Consequently, walleye are most sensitive to bright colors at the beginning of the spectrum, such as red, orange, yellow, and green. The best colors of lure for walleye include:
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
- Chartreuse
- Metallic colors, like gold, silver, bronze
- White
- Purple
- Fluorescent colors
The environmental and weather conditions also dictate what color of lure would be most effective when fishing walleye.
Tip: My best color for pacific northwest walleye has always been lime green mixed with chartreuse. This color presents less in bright sunny conditions, making it a great performer at 20 to 30 feet depth during mid-day.
Do Colored Lures Help Catch Walleye at Night?
Brightly colored lures can help catch walleye with great results, even at night. Nighttime, or any time after dusk, up till dawn, is when the walleye come out to play– and feed. Your chances of catching a lot of walleye increase with lower light intensity.
Even if you’re not a fan of night fishing, cloudy days and turbid waters are your best bet. The walleye hunt by looking out for the metallic markings on their prey. A colored lure easily mimics this eye-catching color. Colors of lure found to yield the most results when walleye fishing at night include:
- Silver
- White
- Gold
- Fluorescent orange
- Fluorescent green
At night, dim light is sure to attract walleye. This is why many artificial lures are coated in UV brighteners, even though walleye aren’t the best at detecting UV. Fluorescent and phosphorescent lures make a more than fair attraction to walleye at night, in murky waters, or under bad lighting.
Contrasting Lure Colors for Walleye Fishing
Some anglers use lures with contrasting colors to achieve a natural-looking bait and fool the walleye into thinking it’s real fish.
Minnows and yellow perches have characteristic metallic body markings that the walleye uses to pinpoint them even in shadowy water. Many anglers recreate it by using patterned lures with contrasting colors. Some of the contrasting colors often used to attract walleye include:
- Black and chartreuse
- Black and orange
- Black and silver
- Brown and orange
- Orange and white
Some people go a step further by marking the patterned lure with tinges of metallic hues. They achieve this using paint or strips of reflective material. Anything to catch the eye of the walleye!
Do Walleyes Prefer Live or Artificial Bait?
Walleye are aggressive predators that prefer to hunt in low light. They are often attracted to eye-catching colors and sudden movements. As a result, both live and artificial baits work exceptionally well.
This tricolored freshwater fish has been a sport fishing favorite for decades. Much effort has gone into studying walleye preferences to ensure bigger, better catches. As a result, the difference between artificial and live bait for catching walleye is a topic of much debate.
Some anglers even choose to use a fusion of both! They could attach minnows, yellow perch, or leeches to brightly colored lures, appealing to the aesthetic and predatory preferences of the walleye fish.
Artificial and live bait are equally effective in catching walleye. The goal is to catch the eye of the walleye, and with eyes that big, any shiny, darting bait should do the trick.
Conclusion
Walleye fishing can be even more rewarding and enjoyable when you use the suitable types, sizes, and colors of lures. Bright warm colors make all the difference when it comes to walleye fishing!
